Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. HARTFORD

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

Records: Maine 10-8 (4-3 America East), Hartford 12-7 (5-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 37-11, Hartford 58-35 on 3/10/06

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Bracey Barker (15.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.1 bpg, .532 FG pct., .929 FT pct.), 5-8 G Ashley Underwood (13.7 ppg, .356 3-pt. pct.), 6-2 F Katie Whittier (10.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, .529 FG pct.), 6-1 F Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa (8.4 ppg), 5-8 G Kris Younan (6.6 ppg, 3.0 apg), 5-7 G Abby Greene (4.0 ppg, 2.7 apg); Hartford – 6-1 F/C Danielle Hood (12.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg), 5-8 G Ikea Witt (10.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 5-6 G Lisa Etienne (7.7 ppg, 2.5 apg), 5-10 G MaryLynne Schaefer (7.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 6-1 F Katie Kelley (6.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears, seeking their third straight win, face the Hawks, who have won three in a row and five of six. UMaine, looking to hold onto third place, will have to play one of its most complete games to beat Hartford, the two-time defending league champion. The Hawks win with defense, having allowed a conference-low 53.0 ppg on 32 percent shooting in AE games. UMaine counters by shooting almost 47 percent from the floor but has been less effective defensively (63 ppg). The Bears must exhibit the kind of offensive balance (five players in double figures) they showed in Wednesday’s win at UMBC. However, their key statistics are limiting both their own turnovers and Hartford’s offensive rebounds.

Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. HARTFORD

Time, site: Saturday, 2 p.m.; Reich Family Pavilion, West Hartford, Conn.

Records: Maine 9-11 (4-4 in America East), Hartford 9-11 (3-5)

Series, last meeting: Hartford leads 26-23, Hartford 62-60 on 1/3/07

Key players: Maine – 6-3 G Kevin Reed (13.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 6-1 G Jon Sheets (11.5 ppg, 3.1 apg, 2.4 rpg), 6-5 G Junior Bernal (10.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.3 apg), 6-4 F Chris Bruff (10.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 6-6 G Mark Socoby (7.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg), 6-6 F Philippe Tchekane Bofia (7.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg); Hartford – 6-5 F Bo Taylor (14.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 6-0 G Joe Zeglinski (13.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg), 6-2 Jaret Von Rosenberg (10.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.8 apg), 6-8 F Alex Zimnickas (6.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 6-5 G/F Michael Turner (6.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.2 apg), 6-1 G Rich Baker (6.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears are looking to extend their win streak to five games and avenge a two-point loss to the Hawks in a game they dominated statistically earlier this month. Hartford wants to extend a three-game win streak over Maine and snap a four-game losing streak overall. The Hawks are averaging 63.8 points and 31.6 rebounds per game, but also 13.2 turnovers. If the Bears play the same kind of game (solid shooting, defense, and rebounding) that they did against Hartford last time and avoid any costly mistakes down the stretch, Maine should emerge with another win. Maine is averaging 67.2 points, 35.0 rebounds, and 13.8 turnovers per game.