Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. NEW HAMPSHIRE

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

Records: Maine 5-11 (1-2 America East), New Hampshire 4-12 (1-3)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 108-62; Maine 65-56 on 2/3/07

Key players: Maine – 6-5 G Mark Socoby (12.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.2 apg), 6-5 G Junior Bernal (11.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.4 apg), 6-9 C Brian Andre (11.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 6-4 G Kaimondre Owes (10.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.2 apg), 6-6 F Philippe Tchekane Bofia (6.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg), 6-10 F-C Jordan Cook (4.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg); New Hampshire – 6-2 G Tyrece Gibbs (14.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.9 apg), 6-2 G Alvin Abreu (13.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg), 6-8 F Mike Christensen (12.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.7 apg), 6-0 G Eric Gilchrese (11.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.7 apg), 6-2 G Tyrone Conley (8.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg), 6-6 F Rony Tchatchoua (5.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg), 6-8 C Dane DiLiegro (4.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg)

Outlook: Maine is trying to find some consistency after following up its best game of the season with one of its worst. The Wildcats have lost four straight and 11 of their last 12 games. The ‘Cats are averaging 69.1 points and 36.0 rebounds per game, but giving up an average of 70.3 points per game. Maine should be able to utilize a slight size advantage, especially if Andre can beat double teams and/or find the open man with regularity. The Black Bears must also limit turnovers, which have plagued them to the tune of 19.6 per game this season.

Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. HARTFORD

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

Records: Maine 4-12 (1-2 America East), Hartford 12-4 (2-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 37-13; Hartford 58-40 on 2/27/07

Key players: Maine – 5-11 F Tanna Ross (10.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, .379 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-0 F Brittany Boser (9.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 6-0 F Colleen Kilmurray (8.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 5-8 G Emily Rousseau (8.2 ppg, .379 3-pt. FG pct.), 5-9 F Amanda Tewksbury (6.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg), 5-8 G Kris Younan (5.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.3 spg); Hartford – 6-1 F/C Danielle Hood (15.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg), 6-2 F/C Diana Delva (10.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, .602 FG pct.), 5-10 G MaryLynne Schaefer (8.0 ppg, 2.1 apg), 6-0 F Erica Beverly (7.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg), 5-6 G Lisa Etienne (5.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.6 apg)

Outlook: The Bears face one of their toughest tests of the season. UMaine has lost two straight, including Wednesday’s 75-68 setback at Stony Brook. Hartford, which has won the last five meetings with UMaine, downed New Hampshire 71-56 Wednesday. A tenacious Hawks defense likes to pressure the ball. That means UMaine must take excellent care of the ball to avoid turnovers and transition baskets. Tewksbury is coming off a career-best 17 points and eight rebounds. Hartford features one of the top frontcourts in the league, so the Bears’ post players will have their hands full. The Hawks have allowed only 57.7 ppg and lead America East in FG pct. defense (.380).

Men’s hockey

MAINE vs. PROVIDENCE

Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m.; Schneider Arena, Providence, R.I.

Records: Maine 7-10-2 (3-7-2 Hockey East); PC 8-8-2 (5-4-2)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 55-36-4; PC 1-0 on 11/10/07

Key players: Maine – D Bret Tyler (5 goals, 6 assists), C Wes Clark (4 & 7), RW Rob Bellamy (3 & 8), LW Andrew Sweetland (4 & 3), C Jeff Marshall (2 & 5), LW Matt Duffy (4 & 1), D Travis Ramsey (1 & 3), G Ben Bishop (7-10-2, 2.65 GAA, .907 save pct.); Providence – RW Jon Rheault (12 & 9), D Matt Taormina (5 & 12), RW Pierce Norton (9 & 6), LW Kyle Laughlin (7 & 7), D Cody Wild (4 & 9), C Nick Mazzolini (4 & 7), G Tyler Sims (7-7-1, 2.56, .903)

Outlook: The Friars were 7-3-1 in their last 11 games entering a Friday night game against UMass. Maine is 1-7-2 in its last 10 league games. The Friars have averaged 45 shots over their last eight games. Maine has five forwards sidelined by injury including assistant captain Billy Ryan (hip). Brett Carriere will join Duffy as a converted defenseman playing wing. The 12 forwards Maine will have in the lineup have scored 50 goals in 450 career games. Providence is very aggressive and effective with its I-formation forecheck. The Bears can’t panic when the Friars generate a sustained forecheck. PC has the best power-play (27.8 percent) and penalty-killing (90.2 percent) units in league games. Maine is last in both (7.8 and 78.7, respectively). In all games, Maine hasn’t allowed a PPG in seven games (27 of 27).

Women’s hockey

MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Sunday, 3 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 1-18-2 (0-6-2 Hockey East); NU 5-13-2 (4-5)

Series, last meeting: NU leads 13-11-2; NU 6-2 on 12/3/06

Key players: Maine – RW Taryn Peacock (3 goals, 6 assists), C Vanessa Vani (3 & 6), LW Jennie Gallo (4 & 3), RW Robyn Law (2 & 4), C Jenna Ouellette (2 & 3), LW Amy Stech (3 & 1), G Genevieve Turgeon (1-12-2, 2.84 GAA, .904 save pct.); Northeastern – LW Nikki Petrich (10 & 7), LW Kristi Kehoe (8 & 9), RW Chelsey Jones (7 & 6), D Lindsay Berman (4 & 9), D Katy Applin (1 & 9), C Alyssa Wohlfeiler (4 & 5), G Leah Sulyma (5-10-2, 3.27, .901)

Outlook: The Bears are looking to snap a 20-game winless streak (0-18-2) and a six-game losing streak, while NU would like to put back-to-back wins together after upsetting Boston College 3-2 on Thursday night behind freshman Sulyma’s 41 saves. That snapped a four-game winless skein (0-3-1). Maine has been shut out nine times this season. Maine is 6-3-1 vs. NU over the last 10 games. NU has a respectable power play (16.3 percent), so Maine will have to stay out of the penalty box. Maine is killing penalties at just 78 percent. Maine’s power play has struggled mightily (5.3 percent), but the Bears did score a power-play goal in last Saturday’s 4-3 loss to Wayne State.