Women’s Basketball
MAINE vs. VERMONT
Time, site: Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Maine 12-6 (4-1 America East), Vermont 3-14 (0-5)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 51-33, Maine 69-52 on 2/5/14
Key players: Maine — 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (15.3 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, 2.4 assists per game, 1.8 steals per game), 5-10 F Liz Wood (13.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 3.0 spg), 6-4 F Anna Heise (6.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (7.4 ppg), 6-2 F Mikaela Gustafsson (4.4 ppg), 5-10 G/F Chantel Charles (2.4 ppg, 1.9 apg, 1.5 spg); Vermont — 5-11 G Sydney Smith (13.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 5-8 G Kylie Butler (10.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg), 6-0 F Niki Taylor (9.5 pgg, 8.7 rpg), 6-2 F Emilie Cloutier (7.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg), 5-7 G Jordan Eisler (4.8 ppg, 3.4 apg)
Game notes: The Black Bears hope to continue their climb in the league standings by securing their fifth straight win. UMaine, coming off Monday’s 70-48 victory over Binghamton, is 8-2 at home this season. The Catamounts have lost seven in a row, including Saturday’s 68-61 defeat against UMBC. Vermont is 1-7 on the road. The Black Bears will have to focus on rebounding against the Cats, who have good overall height, including former York High School star Taylor. UMaine continues to win behind a defense that has allowed only 52.6 ppg in AE play. UVM has struggled on offense, posting only 52.6 ppg on 29 percent shooting in five conference contests.
Men’s Basketball
MAINE vs. MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY
Time, site: Thursday, 8 p.m., Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Maine 1-17 (0-6 America East), UMBC 2-15 (0-4)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 13-11, UMBC 83-80 on 2/1/14
Key players: Maine — 6-8 F Till Gloger (11.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, .523 FG pct.), 6-5 G Zarko Valjarevic (10.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg), 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (9.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.9 spg), 5-10 G Kevin Little (8.0 ppg, 2.5 apg), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (6.9 ppg, 3.4 apg), 6-5 F Garet Beal (6.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg); UMBC — 6-3 G Wayne Sparrow (13.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.5 spg), 6-8 F Cody Joyce (11.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 6-2 G Jourdan Grant (7.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.4 apg, 1.9 spg), 6-7 F Devarick Houston (6.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg), 6-5 G Malcolm Brent (5.6 ppg)
Game notes: This game, which ends a four-game homestand, may present the Black Bears with their best chance to snap a 12-game losing streak that is the longest in program history. UMaine is coming off Monday’s 65-55 setback against New Jersey Tech during which it struggled down the stretch. The Retrievers have dropped six in a row, most recently Saturday’s 71-54 loss to Vermont. UMaine and UMBC rank at the bottom of the league statistics in scoring, scoring defense and turnover margin. The Bears need to box out on the boards to keep UMBC from getting into transition.