Maine women vs. Delaware

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

Records: Maine 15-7 (13-1 America East); Delaware 7-16 (5-10)

Series: Maine leads 10-1

Key players: Delaware – 6-2 F Shanda Piggott (15.2 ppg, 10.0 rpg), 5-7 G Keisha McFadgion (13.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.0 apg), 5-6 G Kristen Stout (9.1 ppg), 5-10 F Jackie Porac (7.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 6-2 C Christine Seifert (5.0 ppg); Maine – 5-9 G Cindy Blodgett (25.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.7 spg), 6-4 F Jamie Cassidy (14.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.0 bpg), 6-4 C Stacey Porrini (9.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg), 5-7 G Amy Vachon (5.7 ppg, 3.8 apg, 2.0 spg), 5-9 G Sandi Carver (5.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg).

Outlook: Maine’s quest for a full 40 minutes of execution and intensity continues tonight against Delaware. The Bears pounded the Blue Hens 89-47 in their Jan. 18 meeting, holding Delaware to 18 first-half points. Maine, which has won 27 straight league games at home, is two wins away from clinching home court throughout the America East Tournament. The Bears have won two in a row, while the Hens have dropped two straight and three of four. Eighth-place Delaware is trying to avoid the preliminary round, which involves seeds Nos. 7-10. Maine leads the conference in scoring (76.5 ppg), FG percentage (.477), FT percentage (.695), scoring defense (62.7 ppg), FG percentage defense (.361), and rebounding (43.3 rpg).

Maine men vs. Delaware

Time, site: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Carpenter Center, Newark, Del.

Records: Maine 9-15 (5-8 America East), Delaware 13-12 (7-8)

Series: Delaware leads 10-5

Key players: 6-5 F Terry Hunt (16.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg), 5-10 G John Gordon (14.7 ppg, 3.5 apg, 2.8 rpg), 6-5 F Ramone Jones (10.4 ppg, 3.0 apg, 4.3 rpg), 6-6 F Allen Ledbetter (10.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg); Delaware – 6-7 F Greg Smith (20.7 ppg, 11.3 rpg), 6-4 G Keith Davis (15.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 6-9 F Peca Arsic (13.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg), 5-11 G Tyrone Perry (5.4 ppg, 3.7 apg, 2.4 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears hope to notch three wins in a row for the first time this season in the potentially tough confines of Carpenter Center. The Blue Hens nipped UMaine on Jan. 18 in Orono after trailing for 35 minutes. The potential game-winner in that contest was a 3-pointer fired up by Black Bear soph Gordon as time ran out. Count on the Blue Hens seeing a lot more of Gordon – the sharpshooter is on a torrid tear lately. Over his last 11 games, the Wilmington, Del., native has connected on 35 of 62 3-point attempts, a sizzling .565 success rate. And his mere presence will help ease the pressure of playing in the conference’s top-drawing arena. Gordon is a Delaware hero, and his mother bought and distributed hundreds of tickets for last year’s homecoming. As of mid-January, Blue Hens’ brass had limited her ticket-buying for this one.