MAINE vs. HARTFORD

Time, site: Thursday, 7 p.m.; The Sports Center, West Hartford, Conn.

Records: Maine 20-4 (14-0 NAC); Hartford 12-10 (8-6)

Series: Maine leads 21-1

Key players: Maine – 5-9 G Cindy Blodgett (27.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.7 spg), 6-4 C Stacey Porrini (12.0 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.2 bpg), 5-9 F Trisha Ripton (8.1 ppg, 3.9 apg), 5-11 F Catherine Gallant (7.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 5-7 G Stacia Rustad (5.9 ppg, 1.3 spg); Hartford – 6-0 F Heather Weindorfer (17.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Candace Ward (14.2 ppg, 3.7 apg, 3.3 spg), 6-1 F/C Shawna Murphy (9.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg), 5-11 F Eryn Ivnik (6.4 ppg), 5-7 G Maureen DiJulia (5.2 ppg, 5.1 apg, 2.1 spg).

Outlook: Having posted their third consecutive 20-win season, the Black Bears can lock up home court throughout the North Atlantic Conference tournament and clinch their third straight league regular-season title by beating the Hawks tonight. Maine, winner of 12 in a row, pounded Hartford 90-41 in Orono only two weeks ago. This is the final road game for the Bears, who play their last three regular-season contests at Alfond Arena. The Hawks, who are fighting to maintain fourth place and a quarterfinal home game, have won their last two outings. Hartford is a half-game in front of fifth-place Northeastern and a full game behind No. 3 New Hampshire.