MAINE vs. RICE

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

Records: Maine 7-6; Rice 8-3

Series/last meeting: First meeting

Key players: Maine – 6-4 C Jamie Cassidy (19.2 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.1 bpg), 5-7 G Amy Vachon (10.7 ppg, 6.7 apg, 2.4 spg), 6-4 F Martina Tinklova (6.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg), 5-11 F Kizzy Lopez (5.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.2 spg), 5-10 G Kristen McCormick (7.8 ppg), 5-9 G Tracy Guerrette (1.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg); Rice – 6-1 F Kirra Jordan (13.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg), 5-9 G Marla Brumfield (13.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.5 apg, 2.7 spg), 5-10 G/F Kim Smallwood (6.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.3 spg), 6-1 F Kenya Tuttle (6.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 5-7 G Kim Lawson (4.7 ppg, 3.4 apg).

Outlook: The Bears face the Owls in their final non-conference game of the season. Maine has won three in a row, including Saturday’s overtime victory over Hartford. Rice, which plays in the Western Athletic Conference, has won three straight and is coming off a Jan. 3 victory against Texas A&M. The Bears have to rebound hard, limit Rice to one shot and try to take advantage of their height in the post at the offensive end. Both squads have been prone to turnovers. Maine is searching for improved offensive chemistry, but will face an aggressive Owl defense. The Bears are without senior Katie Clark, who broke her left “pinky” finger in Saturday’s game and is out 2-3 weeks, and guard Ellen Geraghty, who has the flu.