MAINE vs. ILLINOIS

Time, site: Saturday, 2 p.m.; Huff Hall, Champaign, Ill.

Records: Maine 1-1, Illinois 1-2

Key players: Maine – 6-0 F Stephanie Guidi (9.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg), 5-9 G Cindy Blodgett (12.5, 5.5 rpg), 5-7 G Seana Dionne (8.5 ppg), 5-9 G Erin Grealy (3.5 ppg), 6-0 C Rita Sullivan (2.0 ppg), 5-9 G Trisha Ripton (11.0 ppg, 4.0 apg); Illinois – 5-9 G Krista Reinking (11.3 ppg), 5-10 F Ashley Berggren (10.7 ppg), 6-0 F Krista Dupps (10.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 4.7 apg), 6-1 F Anita Clinton (10.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg), 5-9 G Ann Henderson (8.0 ppg), 6-3 C Cindi Hanna (7.3 ppg).

Outlook: The Black Bears venture back into testy waters against the Fighting Illini. Maine saw Illinois play twice during last January’s Portland Shootout, but did not face the Illini. Illinois, which finished 10th last season in the tough Big Ten, beat Southern Illinois Tuesday for its first win of the season. Maine will try to bounce back from its loss to Northern Illinois by solving its shooting woes. The Bears have shot only 35 percent from the field. Rebounding will be crucial against Illinois, which has good overall size and quickness. Dupps, who will make her 85th straight start for Illinois, is its catalyst. Maine, which is averaging only 12 turnovers a game, looks to take even better care of the ball. The Bears have utilized a balanced scoring attack, but have relied heavily on their perimeter game, which has been inconsistent.