MAINE vs. HOFSTRA

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

Records: Maine 10-4, 4-0 NAC; Hofstra 4-6, 1-2

Series: Maine leads 4-0

Key players: Maine – 5-9 G Cindy Blodgett (23.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.4 spg), 6-4 C Stacey Porrini (12.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.1 bpg), 5-9 G/F Trisha Ripton (8.1 ppg, 2.9 apg), 5-11 F Catherine Gallant (8.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 6-0 F Steph Guidi (6.6 ppg); Hofstra – 6-0 F/C Kate Gordon (15.1 ppg, 10.9 ppg), 5-8 F Colleen Montague (14.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 6-2 C Kerry Hamill (6.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg), 5-9 G Nora Anderson (5.5 ppg, 4.9 apg), 5-4 G Susan Mulqueen (5.3 ppg).

Outlook: Coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie and the Black Bears return to the Alfond for the first time in a month with a North Atlantic Conference game against the Flying Dutchwomen. Hofstra makes its second trip of the season to Orono, having played St. Peter’s in the one-day ECAC Holiday Holiday Classic. The Dutchwomen boast one of the league’s top performers in Gordon, who is the No. 13 rebounder in Division I. Hofstra enjoys a fast pace and ranks among the most prolific shooting teams from 3-point range and the foul line. However, the Dutchwomen have allowed opponents to shoot 46 percent from the field and have not been consistent in rebounding. Hofstra also averages 21 turnovers per contest. Maine is 21-3 in its last 24 games at the Alfond. Maine, which is 21-3 in its last 24 games at the Alfond, continues to follow the offensive lead of Blodgett, the most recent NAC Player of the Week.