Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Time, site: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 4-13 (1-3 America East), Boston University 9-7 (2-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 39-21; BU 63-61 on 2/17/07

Key players: Maine – 5-11 F Tanna Ross (9.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 6-0 F Brittany Boser (9.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, .516 FG pct.), 5-8 G Emily Rousseau (8.1 ppg, 1.9 apg), 6-0 F Colleen Kilmurray (8.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 5-9 G/F Amanda Tewksbury (6.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 5-6 G Kris Younan (5.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.5 spg); Boston University – 6-1 F Jesyka Burks-Wiley (14.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg), 6-3 F Kasey Devine (10.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.2 apg), 5-7 G Cheri Raffo (9.6 ppg, 3.1 apg), 6-1 F Aly Hinton (8.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 5-8 G Christine Kinneary (6.8 ppg, 7.3 apg, 4.1 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears continue a tough stretch against the Terriers in what is the 200th women’s game at Alfond Arena. UMaine has lost three in a row, including Saturday’s 56-38 decision against Hartford. The Bears have received a boost from Tewksbury, a sophomore who is averaging 14 points and nine rebounds in the last two games. UMaine encounters a BU ballclub that has tremendous inside-outside balance. The Bears must contend with the frontcourt trio of Burks-Wiley, Devine and Hinton, who have helped make BU the league’s top scoring team (68.2 ppg). The Terriers lead AE in FG pct. (.410) and FT pct. (.789). UMaine will have to crash the boards hard to limit second shots and keep turnovers in check.

Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. ALBANY

Time, site: Wednesday, 7 p.m.; SEFCU Arena, Albany, N.Y.

Records: Maine 5-13 (1-4 America East), Albany 9-9 (4-2)

Series, last meeting: Tied 6-6; Albany 71-55 on 2/7/07

Key players: Maine – 6-5 G Mark Socoby (13.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.2 apg), 6-5 G Junior Bernal (11.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.4 apg), 6-4 G Kaimondre Owes (11.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.7 apg), 6-9 C Brian Andre (10.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 6-6 F Philippe Tchekane Bofia (6.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 6-10 F-C Jordan Cook (4.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg); Albany – 6-5 G-F Brian Lillis (16.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.1 apg), 6-8 F Brian Connelly (10.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 6-8 F Brent Wilson (10.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg), 5-9 G Jon Iati (8.2 ppg, 2.2 apg), 6-0 G Tim Ambrose (7.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg), 6-2 G Josh Martin (6.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.5 apg)

Outlook: The Black Bears will be playing their fourth game in eight days while also trying to snap a three-game losing streak. Maine, which is averaging 65.1 points and 37.3 rebounds per game, has shown improvement in many areas the last two games despite the losses, but turnovers and foul shooting are still problems. Defending league champ Albany, which has won four of its last five games, matches up very well with Maine both size-wise and statistically, averaging 67.6 points and 38.3 rebounds per game. Both teams are coming off games against Hartford, which Albany beat by 10 and which Maine lost to by five. The Great Danes are averaging 15.9 turnovers per game to Maine’s 19.2.