Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 8-8 (2-3 America East), Boston University 9-8 (1-3)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 38-20, Maine 69-66 on 1/3/06

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Bracey Barker (14.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.3 apg, .553 FG pct., .911 FT pct.), 5-8 G Ashley Underwood (13.3 ppg), 6-2 F Katie Whittier (10.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg), 5-8 G Kris Younan (6.6 ppg, 2.9 apg, 1.2 spg), 5-7 G Abby Greene (2.8 ppg, 2.8 apg), 6-1 F Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa (7.8 ppg, .544 FG pct.); BU – 5-9 G Katie Meinhardt (14.9 ppg, 3.1 apg), 6-0 F Erica Kovach (11.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg), 5-7 G Cheri Raffo (8.9 ppg), 5-10 G Kristi Dini (7.9 ppg), 6-1 C Aly Hinton (7.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears are looking to end a three-game losing streak. UMaine struggled with poor rebounding and turnovers in Wednesday’s loss to Stony Brook and has allowed 75 ppg in its last two league contests. BU snapped a four-game skid Sunday against Albany but hasn’t played since. UMaine should be able to use its balance to score against the Terriers, who have surrendered a league-high 70.3 ppg. Underwood needs 24 points and Barker 27 to reach 1,000 for their careers. One key matchup pits heady BU guard Meinhardt against the tenacious Underwood. The Bears must contest BU’s perimeter shooters, whose per-game average of 3-pointers attempted (20) and made (6.7) lead AE. UMaine should be able to hold its own rebounding and needs to limit turnovers to take advantage of its league-leading shooting accuracy.

Women’s hockey

MAINE vs. VERMONT

Time, site: Saturday, noon, Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 6-12-2 (1-7-2 Hockey East); Vermont 3-17-2 (1-9-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 8-0-2, Maine 3-0 on 2/12/06

Key players: Maine – C Vanessa Vani (9 goals, 13 assists), LW Sonia Corriveau (10 & 8), RW Robyn Law (8 & 10), C Brigitte Laflamme (8 & 7), C Jenna Ouellette (5 & 6), D Kelly Law (3 & 6), G Genevieve Turgeon (3-8-1, 4.47 goals-against average, .895 save pct.); Vermont – C Chelsea Furlani (5 & 3), RW Karen Sentoff (3 & 5), C Kristi Anderson (2 & 2), D Jackie Thode (2 & 2), LW Kate Lesniak (1 & 3), G Jennilee Roy (1-9-1, 4.69, .862), G Shivaun Siegl (2-6-1, 3.92, .844)

Outlook: Vermont has been shut out in its last three games and in six of its last eight. The Catamounts have scored only 22 goals in 22 games. Turgeon was named the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week after making 98 saves on 108 shots in 7-0 and 3-1 losses to New Hampshire, ranked third in the country. This is a must-win game for Maine if the Bears hope to make a late challenge for one of four Hockey East playoff berths. Maine is 10 points out of fourth place with only 11 games remaining. Maine visits fourth-place Providence on Sunday at 4 p.m. but can’t afford to look past the Catamounts, who have an impressive win over third-place Connecticut.