Time, site: Wednesday, 7 p.m., Mullins Center, Amherst, Mass.
Records: Maine 1-1, Massachusetts 0-2
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 14-8, Maine 86-55, Nov. 29, 2013
Key players: Maine — 6-1 F Liz Wood (12.5 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game), 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (19 ppg, 3 rpg, 2.5 apg), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (7.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg), 5-11 F Bella Swan (5.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 5-10 F Sheraton Jones (7 ppg, 5.5 rpg); UMass — 6-0 F Kim Pierre-Louis (13 ppg, 6 rpg), 5-9 G Cierra Dillard (11.5 ppg, 3 rpg), 6-1 G Rashida Timbilla (8.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3 apg), 5-10 G Leah McDerment (2.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2 apg), 6-2 F Kymber Hill (2 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
Game notes: Maine coach Richard Barron will look for continued improvement from his Black Bears, who rebounded from a 65-52 loss to Bryant with a 65-59 overtime win over LIU Brooklyn. He will be particularly looking for a better performance on the boards because they have been outrebounded 45-34 through their first two games. Barron said his players have to improve their rebounding technique in addition to getting tougher on the glass. UMass has three 6-footers in its starting lineup so boxing out will be critical for the smaller Bears. The Bears will also have to reduce their turnovers as they have averaged 26 per games. Maine did do a commendable job in its matchup zone against LIU-Brooklyn. UMass will be making its home debut after losing at Western Michigan (63-41) and Central Michigan (72-70). UMass returned three starters and eight players off last year’s 4-27 team. Koizar had a career-high 22 points in the win over LIU-Brooklyn.