UMaine capsules

Men’s Basketball

MAINE vs. QUINNIPIAC

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

Records: Maine 3-1, Quinnipiac 2-2

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 1-0, Maine 64-59 on 11/20/07

Key players: Maine – 6-5 G Mark Socoby (11.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.8 apg), 6-3 G Gerald McLemore (10.8 ppg, 1.0 apg), 6-5 G Junior Bernal (9.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.0 apg), 6-3 G Kaimondre Owes (8.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg), 6-7 F Troy Barnies (7.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 6-7 F Sean McNally (5.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg); Quinnipiac – 6-4 G James Feldeine (16.8 ppg. 7.5 rpg, 1.8 apg), 6-2 G Jeremy Baker (12.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.3 apg), 6-7 F Justin Rutty (10.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg), 6-0 G James Johnson (10.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.3 apg), 5-11 G Bryan Geffen (6.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.8 apg), 6-6 F Louis Brookins (4.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears will try to get back on the winning track in their home opener after dropping their first game of the season to a tough Big East Providence team. The Bobcats have already played two America East schools, beating Hartford 63-62 and losing to defending AE champ UMBC 76-71. Quinnipiac is averaging 62.5 points per game while giving up an average of 65.7. The Bobcats are committing 15.2 turnovers per game while Maine is averaging 16.5. The Bears would like to establish their inside game and control the boards against a smaller Bobcats lineup while still using defensive pressure to force turnovers and generate more points in transition.

Women’s Hockey

MAINE vs. VERMONT

Time, site: Tuesday, 7 p.m., The Colisee, Lewiston

Records: Maine 3-9 (1-5 Hockey East); Vermont 3-9 (0-4 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 11-2-3, UVM 6-1 on 3/2/08

Key players: Maine – RW Jennie Gallo (6 goals, 4 assists), C Vanessa Vani (2 & 8), C Jenna Ouellette (4 & 5), D Lexie Hoffmeyer (3 & 6), RW Amy Stech (5 & 1), G Genevieve Turgeon (2-9, 4.65 GAA, .881 save pct.);Vermont – C Erin Barley-Maloney (5 & 4), RW Teddy Fortin (2 & 6), LW Kyleigh Palmer (4 & 3), D Peggy Wakeham (1 & 5), RW Chelsea Furlani (3 & 2), D Shannon Bellefeuille (1 & 4), G Kristen Olychuck (2-7, 3.93, .831)

Outlook: The Black Bears snapped a five-game losing streak with their stunning upset of No. 5 Boston College (5-3) nine days ago and look to transfer that momentum into another win. This will be their first trip to Lewiston. Vermont has lost nine of its last 10. Maine is looking to avenge season-ending 5-1, 6-1 home losses to the Catamounts and climb toward a playoff berth. Furlani had three goals and two assists in the sweep and Olychuck stopped 38 of 40 shots. She also made 21 saves in a 0-0 tie earlier in the year. Maine will be bolstered by the return of junior defenseman Elyce Thomas, who has missed four games with a knee injury. Special teams will be telling. Maine is 22.1 percent on the power play while UVM has killed off just 77.5 percent of opposing power plays. But Maine has to do a better job on the penalty kill (73.6 percent).