Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. NEW HAMPSHIRE

Time, site: Saturday, noon; Lundholm Gymnasium, Durham, N.H.

Records: Maine 10-9 (4-4 America East), New Hampshire 6-13 (2-6)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 43-20, Maine 64-47 on 1/4/07

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Bracey Barker (15.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.7 bpg, .934 FT pct.), 5-8 G Ashley Underwood (13.3 ppg, .352 3-pt. pct.), 6-2 F Katie Whittier (9.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, .528 FG pct.), 6-1 F Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa (8.3 ppg, .554 FG pct.), 5-8 G Kris Younan (6.7 ppg, 3.1 apg); UNH – 6-0 F Danielle Clark (14.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 5-6 G Whitney Edwards (7.9 ppg, 4.1 apg, 2.6 spg), 6-1 F Danielle Flowers (7.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg), 6-0 F Ray Williams (6.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg), 5-10 G Amy Simpson (6.5 ppg)

Outlook: The Bears begin the second half of league play on the road hoping to improve their fourth-place standing. UMaine hasn’t played since Saturday’s home loss to Hartford. The Wildcats have lost seven of nine, but beat Albany 58-44 Wednesday. Corinna native and Nokomis High product Clark leads the way for UNH. In AE play, she ranks second in scoring (16.9 ppg) and 3-point pct. (.452). UMaine’s fortunes rest on its ability to play better defense (63.5 ppg in conference play), rebound well, and limit its turnovers (17.6 per contest). The Bears feature nice scoring balance, led by Barker and Underwood, and are shooting an AE-best 45 percent from the field. UMaine must keep close tabs on the versatile Clark both in the post and beyond the arc while limiting penetration by the speedy Edwards.

Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. NEW HAMPSHIRE

Time, site: Saturday, 3 p.m.; Lundholm Gym, Durham, N.H.

Records: Maine 10-12 (5-5 America East), UNH 8-15 (4-6)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 107-62; UNH 73-68 on 1/6/07

Key players: Maine – 6-3 G Kevin Reed (13.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg), 6-1 G Jon Sheets (11.5 ppg, 3.1 apg, 2.4 rpg), 6-5 G Junior Bernal (10.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.1 apg), 6-4 F Chris Bruff (10.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 6-6 G Mark Socoby (7.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg), 6-6 Philippe Tchekane Bofia (7.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg); New Hampshire – 6-8 F Blagoj Janev (14.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.8 apg), 6-8 F Mike Christenson (13.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 6-1 G Jermaine Anderson (13.0 ppg, 3.9 apg, 2.9 rpg), 6-2 G Tyrece Gibbs (10.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 6-1 G Dan McGeary (5.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg), 6-5 F Radar Onguetou (4.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg)

Outlook: After winning four of five, the Wildcats have lost three straight, including a three-point loss to AE-leading Vermont in double overtime. The Bears saw their win streak end at five Wednesday vs. BU. The ‘Cats feature good offensive balance and are scoring a solid 61 points per game but giving up 65.7. The Bears must get a better perimeter shooting effort against UNH and continue to post solid rebounding and inside scoring numbers against a tall, physical UNH squad to notch their eighth win in their last nine meetings with the ‘Cats. Maine is averaging 66.5 points and 35.0 rebounds per game.

Women’s hockey

MAINE vs. CONNECTICUT

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

Records: Maine 7-15-2 (2-10-2 Hockey East); UConn 14-10-2 (9-4-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 10-6-2, UConn 8-3 on 10/21/06

Key players: Maine – C Vanessa Vani (10 goals, 13 assists), LW Sonia Corriveau (12 & 8), RW Robyn Law (8 & 10), C Brigitte Laflamme (9 & 8), D Kelly Law (3 & 8), D Elyce Thomas (0 & 8), G Genevieve Turgeon (4-11-1, 3.99 GAA, .899 save pct.); UConn – C Jaclyn Hawkins (16 & 15), C Dominque Thibeault (12 & 9), D Natalie Vibert (7 & 13), RW Amy Holstein (11 & 7), RW Kristen Russell (2 & 11), D Cristin Allen (2 & 6), G Brittany Wilson (14-9-2, 2.35, .922)

Outlook: UConn set a Hockey East record with six power-play goals (on 10 chances) in October’s 8-3 win. The Bears must match UConn’s work rate and intensity and create a net-front presence against Wilson, who has been outstanding. Hawkins has 10 power-play goals. Maine was shut out in its last two games. UConn is a big, strong team, so the Bears will have to move their feet and beat the Huskies to loose pucks. UConn is 3-1-1 in its last five, including a 3-3 road tie against No. 1 Mercyhurst. Maine also has to stay out of the penalty box.