UMaine Capsules

Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY

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

Records: Maine 3-10 (0-0 America East); UMBC 4-9 (0-0)

Series, last meeting: UMaine leads 7-1; UMaine 79-72 on 2/24/07

Key players: Maine – 6-0 F Brittany Boser (10.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, .542 FG pct.), 5-10 G/F Tanna Ross (9.6 ppg, .390 3-pt. FG pct.), 5-9 G Emily Rousseau (8.8 ppg, .426 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-0 F Colleen Kilmurray (7.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg), 5-7 G Kris Younan (5.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.5 spg); UMBC – 5-9 G Carlee Cassidy (16.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.2 spg), 5-7 G Kristin Drabyn (9.6 ppg), 5-8 G Chantay Frazier (7.8 ppg), 5-10 G Morgan Hatten (7.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.0 spg), 5-8 G Melissa Book (6.1 ppg, .550 3-pt. FG pct.)

Outlook: The Bears play at home for the first time since Nov. 24 against the defending AE champs in their mutual league opener. UMaine, which has played eight straight on the road, is 2-2 in its last four games after dropping seven in a row. UMaine has been unable to solve its turnover problems (24.5 per game). The Bears have shot well from the field (.401), but have let opponents shoot 43 percent. The Bears must contend with the Retrievers’ often methodical “Princeton” offense, which can lull opponents to sleep and employs frequent 3-pointers. UMBC is second in AE field-goal percentage defense (.384). The Retrievers lead the league in 3-pointers (7.3 per game) and 3-pointers allowed (8.5) and trail the pack in rebounding margin (minus-9.4 per outing). Cassidy is the leading scorer in America East, having hit 30 3-pointers. Former Messalonskee High star Chelsea Barker is a reserve for the Retrievers.

Men’s hockey

MAINE vs. RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

Time, site: Sunday, 2 p.m.; Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland

Records: Maine 6-8-2 (entering Friday game vs. Northeastern), RPI 8-9-3

Series, last meeting: RPI leads 5-3; Maine 8-5 on 12/30/94

Key players: Maine – D Bret Tyler (4 goals, 5 assists), LW Billy Ryan (3 & 6), C Wes Clark (2 & 7), RW Andrew Sweetland (4 & 3), D Simon Danis-Pepin (1 & 1), G Ben Bishop (6-8-2, 2.47 GAA, .914 save pct.), G Dave Wilson (0-0, 9.08, .727); RPI – LW Andrei Uryadov (6 & 10), LW Tyler Helfrich (3 & 13), RW Chase Polacek (4 & 9), LW Jonathan Ornelas (6 & 6), D Peter Merth (1 & 8), G Mathias Lange (4-4-2, 2.07, .929), G Jordan Alford (4-5-1, 2.72, .902)

Outlook: The Engineers have lost four straight, but all four were to teams ranked in the top six in the country, including a pair of setbacks to No. 1 Miami. RPI is a run-and-gun team, so Maine will have to protect the puck and not fuel RPI’s transition to offense by turning the puck over. These are two of the few teams in the country whose power-play percentages are under 10 percent. Maine is at 7.8 percent and RPI is at 7.4. Maine played Northeastern Friday night while the Engineers have been idle since losing to Notre Dame 3-1 in the consolation game at the Lightning Classic in Tampa, Fla., on Dec. 30. The Black Bears have to play physical to slow the Engineers down and get the crowd into it.

Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. STONY BROOK

Time, site: Sunday, 2 p.m.; SBU Arena, Stony Brook, N.Y.

Records: Maine 4-9 (0-0); Stony Brook 3-10 (0-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 13-3; Maine 63-61 on 2/25/07

Key players: Maine – 6-5 G Junior Bernal (12.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.5 apg), 6-5 G Mark Socoby (12.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.2 apg), 6-9 C Brian Andre (11.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 6-4 G Kaimondre Owes (10.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg), 6-6 F Philippe Tchekane Bofia (5.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg), 6-10 F-C Jordan Cook (5.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg), 6-7 F Troy Barnies (4.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg); Stony Brook – 6-4 G Ricky Lucas (12.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.3 apg), 5-11 G Mitchell Beauford (10.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.2 apg), 5-11 G Michael Tyree (8.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg), 6-1 G Nick Carter (7.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg), 6-6 F Demetrius Young (7.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg), 6-9 C Emanuel Neto (4.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg), 6-1 G Eddie Castellanos (2.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 3.3 apg)

Outlook: The Black Bears want to snap a five-game losing streak and start off their conference schedule with a win. The Seawolves have lost three in a row. SBU’s strength is in its backcourt, so the Wolves will want to pressure the Bears into turnovers and crank up their transition game. Maine will try to exploit its size advantage, pound the boards, dominate the paint and play an inside-out game. SBU is averaging 60.8 points and 36.2 rebounds per game while opponents are averaging 66.8 ppg and 35.3 rpg. Maine (63.9 ppg, 38.2 rpg) is giving up 70.0 ppg and 36.8 rpg.