Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY

Time, site: Wednesday, noon; The RAC, Baltimore, Md.

Records: Maine 9-8 (3-3 America East), UMBC 10-9 (1-3)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 5-1, UMBC 60-47 on 2/22/06

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Bracey Barker (15.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, .508 FG pct., .920 FT pct.), 5-8 G Ashley Underwood (13.7 ppg, .400 3-pt. pct.), 6-2 F Katie Whittier (9.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg), 5-8 G Kris Younan (6.7 ppg, 3.0 apg), 5-7 G Abby Greene (3.5 ppg, 2.8 apg), 6-1 F Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa (9.5 ppg); UMBC – 5-11 F Shari Rohde (14.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg), 5-7 G Brittnie Hughes (11.1 ppg, 4.8 apg), 5-7 G Kristin Drabyn (10.7 ppg), 6-3 F Amanda Robinson (10.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 5-10 G Morgan Hatten (4.4 ppg)

Outlook: It will be an exercise in patience and focus for the Bears against the Retrievers. UMaine will be forced to play long stretches of defense against UMBC, which runs the deliberate Princeton offense featuring lots of passing and screening. The Retrievers boast excellent scoring balance. On offense, UMaine likely will try to exploit its frontcourt height advantage with Barker, Whittier and Hugstad-Vaa. The Bears, who beat Boston U. on Saturday, would benefit from forcing a quicker tempo when the opportunity presents itself. However, this game likely will come down to the usual key factors, rebounding and turnovers. UMaine needs to keep UMBC off the offensive boards and take good care of the ball. The Bears continue to lead the league in FG and FT percentage.