MAINE women vs. NEW HAMPSHIRE

Time, site: Sunday, 1 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 9-12 (6-6 America East); New Hampshire 7-14 (5-7)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 30-15; UNH won 79-72 on Jan.14

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F/C Heather Ernest (14.4 ppg, 11.0 rpg), 5-11 G/F Kizzy Lopez (11.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (8.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.6 apg), 6-1 F Anna James (5.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 5-9 G Tracy Guerrette (5.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.3 apg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (5.0 ppg); New Hampshire – 6-3 C Anna Matthias (12.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 5-8 G Heidi Plencner (10.2 ppg, 1.6 apg), 5-9 G/F Kelly Donohue (7.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.6 spg), 6-0 F Taylore Jarvis (7.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg), 6-3 C/F Maren Matthias (7.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears have won five of their last six and are coming off a confidence-boosting road win at Vermont, but likely will face a tough test against the Catamounts. New Hampshire features good frontcourt height with the Matthias sisters, who combined for 26 points and 19 rebounds in the first meeting. Though a tad undersized down low, UMaine looks to limit the ‘Cats’ shots in the post while avoiding early foul trouble, which it can’t afford. The Bears, who lack depth, have been more successful of late with their front-the-post philosophy. UMaine grabbed a 55-44 rebounding edge last time out and must again win the battle of the boards, limiting second shots. The ‘Cats are 1-9 on the road this season, while the Bears are 6-3 at Alfond Arena. UMaine sits in fifth place, one game behind 7-5 Vermont and Northeastern, which are tied for third.

MAINE men vs. NEW HAMPSHIRE

Time, site: 1 p.m. Sunday, Lundholm Gym, Durham, N.H.

Records: Maine 15-7 (8-5 America East), New Hampshire (6-16, 5-8)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 97-59, UM won 108-93 on Jan. 14

Key players: Maine – 6-10 F Julian Dunkley (15.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg), 6-6 F Carvell Ammons (14.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg), 6-2 G Huggy Dye (13.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 6-3 G Errick Greene (10.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson (6.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg); New Hampshire – 6-6 F Austin Ganly (13.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 6-0 G Marcus Bullock (8.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg), 6-8 F Jeff Senulis (7.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 6-6 F Allen Gould (7.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 6-2 G Colin Donahue (6.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

Outlook: A couple of interesting trends collide here: The Black Bears have swept the season series against UNH both of the last two years, and will do so again with a win here; Standing in their way is the fact that UMaine has lost four of its last five road games. New Hampshire will attack the Bears with a frenetic, wall-to-wall style of play, and UMaine will counter by trying to play fast without rushing. The Bears will get plenty of wide-open shots against some of the mismatches caused by the unorthodox five-man substitution pattern employed by the ‘Cats. In Orono, the game plan “disrupted” Maine to the tune of a 108-point offensive afternoon. Maine-bred Ganly is the lone UNH player averaging in double figures, but he was among the nation’s scoring leaders before coach Phil Rowe decided to play 10 or 12 men an equal number of minutes. Since then, Ganly’s minutes have fallen: He’s playing 22.8 per game.