North Atlantic Conference Championship

MAINE vs. VERMONT

Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 26-4; Vermont 18-10

Series: Maine leads 29-13

Key players: Maine – 5-9 G Cindy Blodgett (27.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.7 spg), 6-4 C Stacey Porrini (12.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.5 bpg), 5-9 G/F Trisha Ripton (8.0 ppg, 4.1 apg), 6-0 F Steph Guidi (7.6 ppg), 5-11 F Catherine Gallant (7.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg); Vermont – 6-2 C Alex Lawson (18.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg), 5-9 G Lori Taylor (11.6 ppg, 4.8 apg), 6-0 F Shannon Burke (9.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg), 5-9 F Carrie Kirvin (9.0 ppg), 5-6 G Christie Lauzon (6.0 ppg).

Outlook: The right to compete in the first round of the NCAA Tournament is riding on the outcome as two perennial NAC powers meet for the league title. The Black Bears and the Catamounts meet for the third time this season, with Maine having won the previous two meetings by an average of 20 points. The Bears beat Vermont 86-67 at Burlington on Jan. 16, then posted an 87-66 win in Orono on Feb. 18. Maine has outscored Vermont 48-12 from the foul line in the two games. The Catamounts prefer to work the inside-outside game, balancing between Lawson in the post and Taylor from 3-point range. The Bears let Blodgett control the flow in the open court, but attempt to establish the inside game with Porrini.