MEN’S BASKETBALL

MAINE vs. ALBANY

Time, site: 1 p.m. Saturday, Albany, NY

Records: Maine 15-7 (9-4 in America East), Albany 4-18 (2-11)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 5-0, Maine 56-60 Jan. 17

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Kevin Reed (14.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.4 spg), 6-3 G Eric Dobson (13.0 ppg, 5.5 apg, 3.6 rpg), 6-10 F Mark Flavin (11.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.0 bpg), 6-7 G-F Joe Campbell (7.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 6-3 G Chris Markwood (5.9 ppg, 2.6 apg, 1.9 rpg); Albany – 6-6 F Levi Levine (15.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.5 apg), 5-9 G Jon Iati (14.4 ppg, 3.0 apg), 6-6 F Aquawasi St. Hillaire (9.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg), 6-6 F Chris Wyatt (5.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg), 6-0 G Courtney Johnson (5.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.6 apg)

Outlook: The Black Bears are on a roll and looking for their sixth straight win. The Great Danes have lost nine of their last 10 games. Maine is averaging 68.8 points a game while holding opponents to 61.3. Maine is shooting at a 44.8 percent clip from the field. The Danes are shooting 40.6 percent from the floor and averaging 58.6 points per game while yielding 66.0. Albany has plenty of height in its lineup, but the Bears have already shown they can more than hold their own on the boards against bigger teams thanks to the rebounding propensity of their guards.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MAINE vs. ALBANY

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

Records: Maine 16-5 (11-0 America East); Albany 8-12 (5-6)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 5-0; Maine 73-53 on 1/17/04

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (17.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (11.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.7 apg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (8.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, .909 FT pct.), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (7.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, .500 FG pct.), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (5.2 ppg, 3.7 apg), 6-3 F Abby Schrader (4.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, .826 FT pct.); Albany – 5-11 G Becky Ayers (13.2 ppg, .861 FT pct.), 6-4 C Danielle Hutcheson (12.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg), 6-1 G/F Alicia Learn (9.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.9 bpg), 5-8 Jen Schumacher (9.2 ppg, .415 3-pt. pct.), 5-8 Sarah Sweetland (6.9 ppg, 4.4 apg, .879 FT pct.)

Outlook: The Bears seek their 28th straight regular-season AE win against the Great Danes. UMaine is coming off Wednesday’s win at New Hampshire, without Ernest, and has won 11 in a row. Albany, winner of three straight, edged Binghamton in overtime. The Bears, who in league games lead AE in scoring defense (51.8 ppg), FG pct. defense (.362) and rebounding margin (plus-5.8), must continue their balanced play. UMaine’s keys remain the same: play hard-nosed man-to-man defense, crash the boards, run when possible and play unselfishly on offense. Despite a 3-6 road record, Albany is a dangerous club, evidenced by a win over Hartford. The Great Danes spread their scoring around with good inside and outside threats.