Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. STONY BROOK

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

Records: Maine 6-17 (3-7 America East); Stony Brook 6-17 (1-9)

Series, last meeting: tied 7-7, Stony Brook 72-65 on 1/16/08

Key players: Maine – 5-11 F Tanna Ross (9.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg), 6-0 F Brittany Boser (9.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, .500 FG pct.), 6-0 F Colleen Kilmurray (8.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 5-9 G/F Amanda Tewksbury (8.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 5-6 G Kris Younan (5.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.3 spg), 6-4 F Christina Mosher (4.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg); Stony Brook – 6-0 G Aly Young (9.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.3 spg), 6-1 F Dana Ferraro (9.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg), 5-10 F Kirsten Jeter (8.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 5-9 G Kairsten Nunn (7.0 ppg), 5-5 G Misha Horsey (5.1 ppg)

Outlook: This game could wind up being the matchup for the play-in game at the AE tournament next month if the Bears don’t start winning. UMaine’s task may be even tougher down the stretch as freshman guard Emily Rousseau went down with a knee injury in Wednesday’s loss to Albany. The Bears, who have lost four of five, are especially thin at guard with only Younan, Tewksbury and Kristin Baker in the regular mix. Stony Brook has lost seven in a row dating back to its win over UMaine. In league games, the struggling Seawolves rank last in scoring (52.7 ppg), FG pct. (.325), FT pct. (.642), 3-pt. FG pct. (.160), scoring defense (67.9 ppg) and FG pct. defense (.435). Rebounding will be a key area as the Bears lead the conference in rebounding margin (plus-5.5) while SBU is an excellent offensive rebounding squad, led by the tenacious Ferraro.

Women’s hockey

MAINE vs. BOSTON COLLEGE

Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m., Sunday, 2 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 3-22-3 (2-10-3 Hockey East); BC 11-11-6 (6-7-2 HE)

Series, last meeting: tied 11-11-4, BC 3-2 on 10/27/07

Key players: Maine – C Vanessa Vani (5 goals, 10 assists), LW Taryn Peacock (5 & 10), LW Jennie Gallo (5 & 4), RW Amy Stech (4 & 2), LW Abby Barton (4 & 1), D Kim Meagher (1 & 2), G Genevieve Turgeon (3-15-3, 3.70 GAA, .906 save pct.); BC – C Kelli Stack (15 & 15), LW Deborah Spillane (11 & 17), LW Allie Thunstrom (13 & 5), RW Meghan Fardelmann (9 & 9), RW Becky Zavisza (4 & 6), D Maggie Taverna (2 & 8), G Molly Schaus (11-11-6, 2.28, .923)

Outlook: BC has won the last five meetings. The Black Bears are going to have to find a way to neutralize the line of Spillane-Stack-Fardelmann. Stack has 84 career points in just 64 games and Spillane has 128 in 128 games. Stack was the Hockey East Player and Rookie of the Year last season with 54 points. Thunstrom, who was also a freshman a year ago, scored 30 goals. Maine must stay out of the penalty box and do a thorough job in the defensive zone. Turgeon will have to be sharp. BC is just 5-8-5 in its last 18 games. Maine is 2-4-1 in its last seven. Maine has been held to one goal or less 16 times and must generate more offense. The Bears spotted the Eagles a 3-0 lead in their last meeting before scoring twice in the final 7:35 to make things interesting.

Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. BINGHAMTON

Time, site: Sunday, 2 p.m.; Events Center, Vestal, N.Y.

Records: Maine 7-17 (3-8 America East); Binghamton 11-14 (7-6)

Series, last meeting: Binghamton leads 9-6, BU 69-58 on 1/27/08

Key players: Maine – 6-5 G Mark Socoby (14.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg), 6-4 G Kaimondre Owes (12.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.4 apg), 6-5 G Junior Bernal (11.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.2 apg), 6-9 C Brian Andre (9.7 ppg. 5.3 rpg), 6-6 F Philippe Tchekane Bofia (6.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 6-7 F Sean McNally (5.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg), 6-10 F-C Jordan Cook (3.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg); Binghamton – 6-8 F Lazar Trifunovic (14.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg), 6-0 G Mike Gordon (12.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.8 apg), 6-0 G Richard Forbes (11.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.6 apg), 6-3 G Dwayne Jackson (8.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg), 6-6 F Reggie Fuller (6.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg)

Outlook: With three starters (Bernal, Andre and Cook) all day-to-day with injuries suffered within four days of each other, it’s unclear which area will be crucial when it comes to Maine’s chances. If all three are out for a second straight game, the Bears must get accurate perimeter shooting from Socoby, Owes and Bofia and/or transition points to win. If one of the big men, or two of the three injured play, the battle of the boards will likely determine the winner. Either way, turnovers will again be a huge factor. When Maine takes care of the ball, it is in the game from start to finish. Binghamton is averaging five fewer rebounds per game, but six fewer turnovers (at 13.4) and 1.5 more points (66.5).