Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m.; Chace Athletic Center, Smithfield, Rhode Island
Records (last season): Maine 17-15, Bryant 17-15
Series, last meeting: tied 2-2, Maine 75-65 on 11/16/13
Key players (2013-2014 statistics): Maine — 5-10 G/F Liz Wood (12.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.1 steals), 5-8 G Lauren Bodine (7.4 ppg, .405 3-pt. FG pct.), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (5.5 ppg.), 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (4.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.5 apg), 6-2 F Mikaela Gustafsson (4.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 5-10 G/F Chantel Charles (4.5 ppg); Bryant — 5-6 G Jenniqua Bailey (13.4 ppg, 4.9 apg, 2.2 spg), 5-11 G Breanna Rucker (10.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg), 5-8 G Tiersa Winder (6.0 ppg), 6-2 C Morgan Olander (3.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg), 6-1 F Alex Klein (1.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
Game notes: The Black Bears hope to get off to a good start against a Bulldogs team that had a solid 2013-2014 season. UMaine is a year older and deep, but must replace the production of departed guards Ashleigh Roberts and Cherrish Wallace. Bryant, coming off its best season in Division I, lost three of its top four scorers, but has 12 returners led by All-Northeast Conference second-teamer Bailey. In the last meeting, Koizar tallied 16 points as UMaine scored 34 points off 19 turnovers and shot 54 percent from the floor. However, Bryant dominated the rebounding action 39-22. The Bulldogs were picked sixth in the NEC preseason poll.