MAINE vs. RHODE ISLAND

Time, site: Sunday, 2 p.m.; Keaney Gymnasium, Kingston, R.I.

Records: Maine 4-1; Rhode Island 1-6

Series: Rhode Island leads 9-6

Key players: Maine – 5-9 G Cindy Blodgett (30.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 5.0 apg), 6-4 C Jamie Cassidy (16.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg), 6-1 F Klara Danes (8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.0 spg), 5-10 G Kristin McCormick (8.4 ppg), 5-7 G Amy Vachon (6.4 ppg, 6.2 apg, 3.0 spg); Rhode Island – 5-11 F Ela Lapciuk (13.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.7 spg), 6-2 C Amber Jansen (12.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg), 6-1 F Nikki Blakemore (11.1 ppg, 2.4 spg), 5-8 G Dena Cocchiola (7.1 ppg, 4.3 apg), 5-8 G Rhonda Pacheco (7.5 ppg).

Outlook: The Bears visit Rhode Island for the second of four straight road games to end 1997. Maine encounters a young URI squad devoid of seniors and juniors. The Bears handled the Rams 78-56 a year ago in Portland. URI is averaging 29 turnovers and has struggled with rebounding. Maine, surrendering 71.8 points per game, seeks defensive improvement. The Bears like to mix their defensive looks, combining full-court pressure, a half-court matchup zone, and man-to-man. The teams appear to match up well size-wise. Maine continues to stress rebounding after getting outrebounded in three of five games. The Bears were outrebounded only six times last season, losing all of those games.