Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. ALBANY

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

Records: Maine 9-13 (4-7 America East); Albany 15-8 (10-2)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 6-3; Albany 76-56 on 1/7/06

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Ernest Turner (15.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.0 apg), 5-10 Rashard Turner (10.1 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.8 rpg), 6-6 F Philippe Tchekane Bofia (10.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 6-1 Jon Sheets (9.5 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.5 rpg), 6-4 F Chris Bruff (6.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 6-10 C Olli Ahvenniemi (6.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg); Albany – 6-1 G Jamar Wilson (17.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.8 apg), 6-8 F Brent Wilson (10.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg), 6-6 F Levi Levine (7.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 6-2 G Lucious Jordan (7.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 7-1 C Kirsten Zoellner (7.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg), 5-9 G Jon Iati (7.0 ppg)

Outlook: The league-leading Great Danes are looking for their sixth straight win while the Black Bears are tying to snap a two-game losing skid. Only 11/2 games separate the seventh-place Bears from a fourth-place tie with Boston University and New Hampshire, and a win against the Danes would give Maine a big confidence boost in the stretch run as they could win four of their final five with three games at home. Maine is averaging 64.3 points per game and giving up 66.9 ppg, while Albany is scoring at a 66.6 clip and yielding 63.5. Albany is averaging 34.1 rebounds per game and Maine is at 34.6, putting them both at the bottom of the league. Maine must find a way to counter the terrific guard play the Danes have with Wilson, Levine, and swingman Brian Lillis.

Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. ALBANY

Time, site: Sunday, 2 p.m.; Recreation and Convocation Center, Albany, N.Y.

Records: Maine 6-14 (2-7 America East), Albany 5-16 (1-9)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 10-0, Maine 60-52 on 1/11/06

Key players: Maine – 6-1 G/F Bracey Barker (13.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, .800 FT pct.), 5-8 G Ashley Underwood (12.4 ppg, 2.7 apg, .346 3-pt. pct., .798 FT pct.), 6-3 C Abby Schrader (11.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg), 5-6 G Margaret Elderton (5.3 ppg, 2.4 apg), 6-1 F Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa (3.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg); Albany – 5-8 G Jen Schumacher (10.9 ppg), 6-0 G/F Gia Sanders (7.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.2 bpg), 5-11 G Sherri Mikus (6.7 ppg, 2.8 apg), 5-9 G Amanda Ward (6.5 ppg), 6-4 C Kirsten Peterson (4.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears need a win, especially if they want to stay in contention for the No. 7 AE seed and stay out of a tournament play-in game. UMaine has lost four straight, while Albany has dropped six in a row. The Bears need big efforts from Barker, Underwood, and Schrader against an Albany squad that is averaging a league-low 49.3 ppg on .346 FG shooting in conference games. A thin UMaine ballclub won’t be able to extend its defense much, so playing tight half-court defense, including getting out on the Great Danes’ 3-point threats, and dominating the rebounding will be pivotal. The team that is able to limit its turnovers also will benefit, as both have had trouble taking care of the ball.

Women’s hockey

MAINE vs. VERMONT

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

Records: Maine 13-6-6 (5-6-4 Hockey East); Vermont 3-23-2 (1-13-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 5-0-3; Maine 2-0 on 01/21/06

Key players: Maine – C Brigitte Laflamme (14 goals, 11 assists), D Julie Poulin (6 & 17), D Kelly Law (5 & 17), RW Sonia Corriveau (9 & 11), LW Vanessa Vani (11 & 7), G Rachel Gettings (5-1-1, 1.30 GAA, .934 save pct.), G Genevieve Turgeon (6-5-4, 2.47, .886); Vermont – LW Kate Hudspeth (4 & 2), LW Lindsey Tilbury (4 & 2), C Abbey Kaknes (3 & 3), D Caitlin Barnes (0 & 6), RW Caroline Donahue (4 & 1), D Frankie Williams (3 & 0), G Katelyn Nichols (0-11-1, 2.87, .914)

Outlook: Vermont has lost 15 of its last 16, but the Catamounts gave Maine a battle in Burlington, losing 2-0 including an empty-net goal. Nichols made 37 saves as Maine outshot UVM 39-17. The Black Bears are trying to catch UConn for the fourth and final Hockey East playoff spot, and they enter this series four points behind the Huskies with one game in hand. The Bears need to sweep. They can’t afford to squander any points if they’re going to catch UConn. The line of Patricia Gagnon-Laflamme-Corriveau has been exceptional for the Bears. Gagnon has five goals and five assists since becoming eligible seven games ago. Maine can’t take Vermont lightly.