NAIA District 5 Final Four

ST. JOSEPH’S (Maine) vs. ST. JOSEPH’S (Vt.)

Time, site: Monday, 1 p.m., at the Portland Expo

Records: St. Joe’s (Maine) 20-7; St. Joe’s (Vt.) 15-5

Key players: St. Joseph’s (Maine) – C Stephanie Carter (16.6 ppg), F Jill Bourget (14.3 ppg), G Sheri McCarthy (8.6 ppg, 4.8 apg); St. Joseph’s (Vt.) – F Catrina Rainey, F Kim Thomas, F Katie Timmons, G Kelli Russo, F Sue Snow

Outlook: The Monks of Standish against the Saints of Rutland, Vt. Offensively, Coach Mike McDevitt’s Monks have more weapons with the outside shooting of McCarthy mixed in with the inside game of Carter and Bourget. Coach Kelly Nobert’s Saints, however, have one of the district’s best inside players in Rainey, a freshman. When Rainey puts forth an effort, she’s very tough to stop. A big matchup will be Carter and Rainey down low. The Monks can’t be looking past the Saints toward a possible championship-game showdown against Husson.

HUSSON vs. U-NEW ENGLAND

Time, site: Monday, 3 p.m., at the Portland Expo.

Records: Husson 22-4, U-New England 14-10.

Key players: Husson – C Stephanie Lebel (16.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg), F Anne Cote (13.1 ppg, 5 rpg), G Vicki Mazerall (10.2 ppg, 4 apg, 4.1 spg), G Kristi Wildman (8.4 ppg, 3.2 spg), G-F Steph Shaw (3.9 ppg), F Amy Dyer (4.4 ppg); U-New England – G Cathy Bickford (19 ppg), F Stacey Fondak, G Karen Bailey, C Maureen Cahill.

Outlook: It’s suddenly an injury-plagued Husson squad which will taking the court on Monday. With two starters injured – Darci Collins (sprained ankle), Michelle Hamlin (hip injury) – Husson’s depth is going to play a key role. Lebel and Cote will have to stay out of foul trouble and Mazerall and Wildman will have to hit the open jumpers. Husson has contained Bickford in previous two meetings, both Husson wins. Coach Karol L’Heureux’s Knights can’t get into a running game with the Braves. Like St. Joe’s (Maine) in the other semi, Husson, ranked eighth in the country, can’t look past UNE to Tuesday’s title game.

Tourney format: Winners play Tuesday at 6 p.m.