Women’s Basketball
MAINE vs. HARTFORD
Time, site: Saturday, 2 p.m., Chase Family Pavilion, West Hartford, Connecticut
Records: Maine 8-6 (0-1 America East), Hartford 8-8 (2-0)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 38-27, Hartford 63-62 (OT) on 3/7/14
Key players: Maine — 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (14.6 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, 2.7 assists per game, 1.9 steals per game), 5-10 F Liz Wood (13.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.8 spg), 6-4 F Anna Heise (7.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (6.5 ppg), 6-2 F Mikaela Gustafsson (3.4 ppg), 5-11 F Bella Swan (2.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg); Hartford — 6-0 F Cherelle Moore (13.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg), 5-9 G Amber Bepko (12.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.9 spg), 5-8 G Morgan Lumb (6.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 5-7 G Deanna Mayza (10.7 ppg, 5.1 apg, 1.4 spg), 6-0 F Janelle Harrison (4.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
Game notes: The Black Bears hope to get back on track after back-to-back losses, including Wednesday’s 57-55 setback at Yale during which they lost a 12-point, second-half lead. The game is a rematch of last season’s AE quarterfinal. The Hawks have won three straight, including Tuesday’s 59-44 win over Binghamton. UMaine leads the league in scoring defense (55.9 ppg) but is last in scoring (57.1 ppg). Hartford also has lacked offensive punch (58.4 ppg). The Bears seek to re-discover their offensive chemistry and flow after failing to eclipse 55 points in its last four outings. UMaine will be well served to attack the Hartford defense as the Hawks usually pressure the ball well on the perimeter and limit 3-point looks and success (26 percent). Hartford likely will try to cash in on transition chances and attack off the dribble in the hope of getting to the foul line.
Men’s Basketball
MAINE vs. BINGHAMTON
Time, site: Saturday, 2 p.m., The Events Center, Vestal, New York
Records: Maine 1-13 (0-1 America East), Binghamton 1-16 (0-1)
Series, last meeting: tied 14-14, Binghamton 73-58 on 2/8/14
Key players: Maine — 6-8 F Till Gloger (11.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg), 6-5 G Zarko Valjarevic (10.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg), 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (10.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.9 spg), 5-10 G Kevin Little (8.6 ppg, 2.2 apg), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (7.4 ppg, 3.3 apg); Binghamton — 6-9 F/C Dusan Perovic (11.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 6-6 F Willie Rodriguez (9.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg), 6-7 G Romello Walker (7.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg), 6-5 G/F Justin McFadden (6.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.7 apg), 5-11 G Marlon Beck II (5.2 ppg, 2.5 apg)
Game notes: The Black Bears are intent on halting an eight-game losing streak as they battle to pull themselves out of the cellar in the league. UMaine lost 68-54 in Wednesday’s AE opener in Portland. The Bearcats have been mired in an even worse funk, having dropped 14 consecutive games dating back to Nov. 19. Binghamton is coming off Wednesday’s 69-59 loss at Hartford. UMaine (79.6 ppg) and Binghamton (69.1 ppg) are the most porous defensive teams in the conference. The Bearcats also average only 56.1 ppg. UMaine must keep tabs on Perovic, who is shooting 45 percent from the 3-point arc. Binghamton has 12 underclassmen and only one senior on its roster. Inexplicably, the Bearcats rank second in home attendance, averaging 2,649 fans per game.