Women’s Basketball
MAINE vs. ALBANY
Time, site: Saturday, noon; Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Maine 8-4 (0-0 America East), Albany 7-6 (0-0)
Series, last meeting: UMaine leads 16-13, Albany 58-56 on 2/16/14
Key players: Maine — 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (15.2 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game, 2.9 assists per game, 2.0 steals per game), 5-10 F Liz Wood (13.8 ppg ,7.0 rpg), 2.9 apg, 2.5 spg), 6-4 F Anna Heise (6.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (6.6 ppg), 6-2 F Mikaela Gustafsson (3.5 ppg, 5-11 F Bella Swan (2.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg); Albany — 6-1 F Shereesha Richards (18.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.6 spg), 5-8 G Imani Tate (13.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.2 apg), 6-2 F/C Tiana-Jo Carter (8.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg), 5-9 G/F Sarah Royals (7.2 ppg, 3.6 apg), 5-6 G Margarita Rosario (4.5 ppg, 2.8 apg)
Game notes: The Black Bears open league play against the three-time defending AE champs. UMaine hasn’t played since Christiana Gerostergiou’s 3-pointer beat William & Mary 54-51 on Dec. 21. The Great Danes have lost two straight to Northeastern, which UMaine beat, and No. 7 North Carolina, a 71-56 decision on Tuesday. The Bears are without senior guard Courtney Anderson (knee) and junior guard Lauren Bodine (leg) because of injuries. UAlbany features Richards, the reigning AE Player of the Year, who is a tough matchup around the basket. Carter, a freshman from Naples who starred at Lake Region High in Bridgton who was a BDN All-Maine first-team pick, has been a key contributor for the Great Danes.
Men’s Basketball
MAINE vs. ALBANY
Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m.; SEFCU Arena, Albany, New York
Records: Maine 1-11 (0-0 America East), Albany 5-7 (0-0)
Series, last meeting: Albany leads 15-12, Albany 74-63 on 2/15/14
Key players: Maine — 6-8 F Till Gloger (11.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg), 6-5 G Zarko Valjarevic (11.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (11.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.1 spg), 5-10 G Kevin Little (8.0 ppg, 2.0 apg), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (7.8 ppg, 3.5 apg); Albany — 6-4 G Peter Hooley (14.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.8 apg), 6-6 F Sam Rowley (13.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg), 6-1 G Evan Singletary (12.8 ppg, 2.1 apg), 6-4 G/F Ray Sanders (7.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 6-2 G Wheeler Baker (7.6 ppg)
Game notes: The Black Bears move into the new year hoping to start getting things turned around, but the conference opener comes against the two-time defending AE champion Great Danes. UMaine has dropped six in a row, most recently Monday’s 81-64 loss at Quinnipiac. The Bears expect to be back closer to full strength with the return of Marko Pirovic (ankle/foot) and Valjarevic, who missed that game with an illness. The Great Danes had a three-game winning streak broken Tuesday at Niagara (65-47). UMaine continues to work on defense, having allowed 80.6 ppg on 52 percent shooting. Albany features veterans Hooley and Rowley, but are receiving key contributions from transfers Singletary, Sanders and Baker. The Great Danes are shooting 75 percent from the foul line.