Women’s Basketball
MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN
Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m., Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Maine 6-3, Northeastern 2-3
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 32-21, NU 81-55 on 12/15/13
Key players: Maine — 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (15.9 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, 2.7 assists per game, 2.1 steals per game), 5-10 F Liz Wood (15.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.8 spg), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (7.0 ppg), 6-3 F Anna Heise (6.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 6-2 F Mikaela Gustafsson (3.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg), 5-11 F Bella Swan (2.3 ppg 3.2 rpg); Northeastern — 5-7 G A’lece Mark (19.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg), 6-0 F Samantha DeFreese (14.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg), 5-9 G Tiffany Montagne (13.4 ppg), 6-2 C Francesca Sally (11.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg), 5-7 G Amencie Mercier (8.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.2 apg)
Game notes: The Black Bears go after their sixth consecutive victory in their final nonconference home game of 2014. UMaine locked down defensively in Wednesday night’s 53-38 win over Dartmouth and continues to gain confidence playing its 2-3 matchup zone. The Huskies of the Colonial Athletic Association have lost two in a row, most recently an 81-74 setback to Florida Atlantic back on Nov. 29. Northeastern lost three starters from last season. The Bears must focus on boxing out and limiting the Huskies’ second shots but also need to make sure they contest shooters outside the 3-point arc. UMaine will again be without senior reserve guard Courtney Anderson of Greene because of a knee injury. Keeping turnovers in check is another key dynamic for UMaine, which has held its opponent to points or fewer (in regulation) in each of the last eight contests. Koizar continues to serve as the offensive catalysts for UMaine, which has improved its post defense behind Wood, Heise and Gustafsson.