NAC Women’s Tournament

MAINE vs. HARTFORD

Time, site: Friday, 8:30 p.m., at Memorial Gym, Orono.

Records: Maine 18-8 (9-1 NAC), Hartford 11-17 (5-5 NAC)

Series: Maine leads series 11-0.

Key players: Maine – C Rachel Bouchard (23.2 ppg, 10.9 rpg), G Carrie Goodhue (10.9 ppg, 3.4 apg), G Julie Bradstreet (10.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.7 apg), F Tracey Frenette (9.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg), F Heather Briggs (8.8 ppg), G Chris Strong (6.2 ppg, 3.8 apg); Hartford – C Mary Jane Besselink (11.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg), F Lana Thomas (11.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg), F Betsy Anderson (7.6 ppg), G Maura Rodgers (4.8 ppg), G Kelly Penwell (2.4 ppg).

Outlook: Hartford has never beaten Maine. The Black Bears have owned the Hawks this season with victories of 29 and 41 points, respectively. Maine is coming off its lone NAC loss of the season (to Vermont, 74-65) after winning six games in a row. Last time Maine hosted Hartford, Besselink and Thomas got into early foul trouble. To have any hope, they must stay out of foul trouble this time around. Maine’s bench, which numbers only three players anyway, disappeared vs. Vermont helping in the loss.

VERMONT vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Friday, 6:30 p.m., at Memorial Gym, Orono.

Records: Vermont 21-6 (8-2), Northeastern 3-25 (0-10).

Key players: Vermont – G Missy Kelsen (18.2 ppg), G Jennifer Niebling (15.7 ppg), F Sharon Bay (9.0 ppg), C Sheri Turnbull (12.0 ppg), G Maureen McCarthy (5.0 ppg); Northeastern – F/C Michelle Brown (11.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg), G/F Carrine Jones (10.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg), F Hillary Harwell (8.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg), G Darlene Strong (6.6 ppg), G Lynn Mayo (4.2 ppg, 3.4 apg),

Outlook: Northeastern proved it is still a tough postseason team with upset win over Boston University in quarterfinals. Vermont, however, is no BU. The Catamounts are first NAC team to win more than 20 games in a regular season in three years (then Seaboard Conference). Vermont has best one-two scoring punch in NAC with Kelsen and Niebling. Bay and Turnbull have been playing well inside. Turnbull’s return from a stress fracture makes an already tough team even tougher. Northeastern will have to play better than they did Tuesday to win.

The rest of the tournament: Winners will play Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Memorial Gym for the NAC women’s title.