America East Semifinals

MAINE vs. DELAWARE

Time, site: Friday, 8 p.m.; Patrick Gym, Burlington, Vt.

Records: No. 2 Maine 19-9; No. 3 Delaware 21-7

Series/last meeting: Maine leads 16-2; Delaware won 84-70 (OT) on Jan. 23

Key players: Maine – 6-4 C Jamie Cassidy (21.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.5 bpg), 5-7 G Amy Vachon (10.4 ppg, 6.6 apg, 2.6 spg), 5-11 G/F Kizzy Lopez (8.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.0 spg), 6-0 F Katie Clark (3.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg), 5-10 G Kristen McCormick (7.8 ppg), 6-4 F Martina Tinklova (6.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg); Delaware – 5-11 F Danielle Leyfert (14.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg), 5-8 G Cindy Johnson (17.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 6-1 F Christina Rible (11.9 ppg, 9.4 rpg), 5-6 G Christine Koren (6.6 ppg, 4.0 apg), 6-2 C Christine Cole (3.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg).

Outlook: The Bears split two regular-season games with the Blue Hens, losing at Alfond Arena. The big key for UMaine is rebounding as Delaware leads America East, outrebounding opponents by seven per game. UMaine held a 55-38 edge in the first meeting, but UD led 48-38 in Orono. On defense, the Bears must stop Johnson from penetrating and keep close tabs on Leyfert along the baseline and Rible near the foul line.