MAINE vs. NEW HAMPSHIRE

Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m.; Whittemore Center, Durham, N.H.

Records: Maine 8-4 (4-0 America East); New Hampshire 10-2 (4-1)

Series/last meeting: Maine leads 26-13; UNH won 75-65 on 2/1/98

Key players: Maine – 6-4 C Jamie Cassidy (25.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.5 bpg), 6-4 F Martina Tinklova (11.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 5-10 G Kristen McCormick (12.9 ppg), 5-7 G Amy Vachon (8.5 ppg, 7.9 apg, 4.0 rpg, 2.6 spg), 5-11 F Kelly Bowman (5.1 ppg); New Hampshire – 6-2 C Orsi Farkas (17.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.2 spg), 6-1 F Aubrey Danen (9.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg) 5-9 G Kelly Donohue (9.3 ppg, 3.5 apg), 5-5 G Kiki Proctor (8.8 ppg, 2.5 spg), 5-10 F Adriane Domanski (5.4 ppg)

Outlook: The Bears, playing the third of four straight road games, look to make a statement against the Wildcats in this early battle for America East supremacy. Inside, the Cassidy-Farkas matchup pits two league Player of the Year candidates. UNH is one of the league’s stingier defensive squads, allowing 59.8 ppg. The Wildcats are efficient on offense and feature good balance. Maine likely will have to negotiate UNH’s full-court pressure and needs a strong rebounding effort after a shaky outing against Hofstra. The Bears will try to shut off the middle, forcing Farkas and the ‘Cats to get most of their points from outside.