Women’s Basketball
Black Bear Thanksgiving Classic
MAINE vs. BROWN
Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m., Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Maine 1-3, Brown 1-3
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 6-5, Maine 60-59 on 12/7/13
Key players: Maine — 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (15.2 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game), 5-10 F Liz Wood (10.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.0 apg), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (6.8 ppg), 6-2 F Mikaela Gustafasson (4.5 ppg), 5-11 F Bella Swan (3.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg), 5-8 G Lauren Bodine (4.5 ppg); Brown — 5-10 G Jordin Alexander (18.2 ppg, 3.0 apg), 5-11 G Sophie Bikofsky (14.0 ppg), 5-9 Rebecca Musgrove (9.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 6-2 F Janie White (8.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg), 5-11 F Natalie Ball (7.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg)
Game notes: The Black Bears hope to start developing some consistency as they face Brown to open the tournament. Weather prevented Wright State from making the trip to Bangor, thus the Thanksgiving Classic will feature a round-robin format. UMaine is coming off Sunday’s 59-58 loss to Sacred Heart in Bangor. Brown is out to halt a three-game skid after losing 67-60 to Bryant (which beat UMaine 65-52) 67-60 on Tuesday. UMaine is shooting only 26 percent on 3-pointers, has been outrebounded by 8.2 per game and has averaged 21.8 turnovers. Brown has three returning starters including Bikofsky, the NCAA’s top 3-point shooter last season at .486. First-year coach Sarah Benn faced UMaine last season while directing UMass Lowell.
MAINE vs. BOSTON COLLEGE
Time, site: Sunday, 1 p.m., Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Boston College 4-1
Series, last meeting: Boston College leads 5-1, BC 68-56 on 12/22/07
Key players: BC — Kelly Hughes (14.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.0 apg), Nicole Boudreau (11.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Kat Cooper (10.0 ppg, 3.0 apg, 1.4 spg), Emilee Daley (9.3 ppg, .444 3-pt. FG pct.), Karima Gabriel (8.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg)
Game notes: The Eagles have won three straight, including a 90-80 overtime victory over Brown in the Classic opener. BC, which was 12-19 last season, returns three starters and several veterans, including former Catherine McAuley High star Alexa Coulombe. The Eagles have jacked up 29 3-pointers per game, making 36 percent of those.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
MAINE vs. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Time, site: Sunday, 1 p.m., The Convocation Center, DeKalb, Illinois
Records: Maine 0-4, Northern Illinois 2-1
Series, last meeting: NIU leads 4-1, Maine 77-64 on 11/14/2008
Key players: Maine — 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (12.2 ppg, 2.2 apg, 2.2 spg), 6-7 F Till Gloger (9.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg), 6-0 G Kevin Little (8.2 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.2 spg), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (7.8 ppg, 2.8 apg), 6-7 F Ethan Mackey (7.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 6-4 G Zarko Valjarevic (7.2 ppg, 2.o apg); Northern Illinois — 6-5 G Aaric Armstead (15.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.0 spg, .400 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-9 C Jordan Threloff (12.3 ppg, 12.0 rpg), 6-7 G/F Darrell Bowie (10.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 6-4 G Aaron Armstead (8.0 ppg), 5-11 G Travon Baker (7.7 ppg)
Game notes: The Black Bears head back on the road in search of their first win. UMaine lost 93-70 to Valparaiso on Nov. 23. The Bears’ biggest concern has been defense as opponents are averaging 89.5 ppg while shooting a sizzling 61 percent from the field. UMaine has shot almost 43 percent overall, but is under 30 percent from the 3-point arc and has turned the ball over 18 times per contest. Little may miss the game with an injury, while sophomore Garet Beal of Beals Island, who has not played this season, appears ready to make his debut after recovering from concussion symptoms. The Huskies dropped a 70-49 decision at Iowa on Wednesday but have won seven straight home games. NIU posted 15 wins last season, 10 more than the previous year. The Bears will be challenged again on the boards against a big NIU frontcourt. UMaine plays its home opener against Wagner on Tuesday at 7 p.m.