Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. NEW HAMPSHIRE

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

Records: Maine 7-21 (4-11 America East), New Hampshire 6-20 (3-11)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 43-22, UNH 70-55 on 1/30/08

Key players: Maine – 5-9 G/F Amanda Tewksbury (9.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 6-0 F Colleen Kilmurray (9.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 6-0 F Brittany Boser (8.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, .495 FG pct.), 5-6 G Kris Younan (5.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.1 spg), 6-4 F/C Christina Mosher (4.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg); UNH – 5-10 G Ashley Cerniglia (11.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 5-10 G Amy Simpson (11.0 ppg, 2.8 apg), 5-11 F Denise Beliveau (10.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.1 spg), 6-0 F Candace Williams (10.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg) 6-2 F Rachael Fowler (5.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears can guarantee themselves a spot in next week’s quarterfinals with a victory in their regular-season finale. A loss means UMaine is relegated to the March 13 play-in game against Stony Brook. The Bears have lost four straight, including Saturday’s 67-45 setback at Hartford. The Wildcats have lost six in a row and have been held to 50 points or fewer the last three outings. UNH is 1-11 in road games this season. UMaine must be prepared to play cohesive defense against the Wildcats, who connected for 12 3-pointers in the first meeting. The Bears are now a bit deeper up front with the emergence of Mosher, but Younan and Tewksbury will need to provide some offensive spark off the dribble with freshmen Tanna Ross and Emily Rousseau out with knee injuries. If UMaine can minimize its turnovers and rebound up to its potential, it should head into the tournament with a victory.