UMaine capsulesa

Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY

Time, site: Saturday, 12:45 p.m.; RAC Arena, Baltimore

Records: Maine 6-15 (3-5 America East), UMBC 6-15 (2-6)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 8-1, Maine 67-55 on 1/5/08

Key players: Maine – 5-11 F Tanna Ross (9.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 6-0 F Brittany Boser (9.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, .519 FG pct.), 5-8 G Emily Rousseau (8.5 ppg), 6-0 F Colleen Kilmurray (8.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 5-9 G/F Amanda Tewksbury (7.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg), 5-6 G Kris Younan (5.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.2 spg); UMBC – 5-9 G Carlee Cassidy (16.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg), 5-7 Kristin Drabyn (10.7 ppg), 5-8 G Chantay Frazier (9.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 5-10 G Morgan Hatten (7.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg), 5-8 G Melissa Book (6.1 ppg)

Outlook: As the second half of league play begins, a victory would keep the Bears in seventh place and temporarily out of contention for the play-in game at the AE tourney. UMaine, 0-4 in league road games, hopes to be refreshed and refocused after having a week between contests. UMBC presents a significant challenge with its Princeton offense, which UMaine hopes to counter by shutting off penetration and contesting 3-pointers. The Bears hope to exploit their post game with Kilmurray and Boser against the Retrievers’ limited inside game. UMaine will try to attack the basket and get to the foul line often. If the Bears can control the rebounding and limit turnovers, they have a good shot to earn a victory. UMBC freshman Chelsea Barker of Waterville is coming off a career-high 15-point performance in Wednesday’s loss at Hartford.

Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. NEW HAMPSHIRE

Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m.; Lundholm Gym, Durham, N.H.

Records: Maine 6-16 (2-7 America East); New Hampshire 7-15 (4-6)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 108-63, UNH 81-75 on 1/19/08

Key players: Maine – 6-5 G Mark Socoby (13.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.2 apg), 6-4 G Kaimondre Owes (12.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.9 apg), 6-5 G Junior Bernal (11.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.3 apg), 6-9 C Brian Andre (9.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 6-6 F Philippe Tchekane Bofia (6.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg), 6-7 F Sean McNally (5.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg); New Hampshire – 6-3 G Tyrece Gibbs (14.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.1 apg), 6-2 G Alvin Abreu (12.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg), 6-8 F Mike Christensen (12.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 6-0 G Eric Gilchrese (10.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.0 apg), 6-2 G Tyrone Conley (8.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 6-8 C Dane DiLiegro (4.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg)

Outlook: The last time they met, the Bears outshot the Wildcats from the field and committed fewer turnovers but still lost. The difference was UNH hit 13 of 27 3-pointers while Maine went 7-for-24 and UNH outshot and outscored Maine at the line (22-for-33 to 14-for-23). Maine must attack UNH inside on offense and pressure the UNH shooters on defense. The ‘Cats, who have lost two straight, are shooting 39.7 percent from the field and getting 68 points and 34.7 rebounds per game. UNH is averaging just 14.4 turnovers a game to Maine’s 18.7, so the Bears must take care of the ball again to avenge the earlier loss.