Women’s Basketball
America East Quarterfinals
No. 1 MAINE vs. No. 8 BINGHAMTON
Time, site: Saturday, noon, Events Center, Vestal, New York
Records: Maine 22-7, Binghamton 4-25
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 16-12, Maine 70-56 on 2/21/15
Key players: Maine — 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (14.2 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, 2.7 assists per game, 1.7 steals per game), 5-10 F Liz Wood (14.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.8 spg, .508 FG pct.), 6-4 F Anna Heise (6.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, .522 FG pct.), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (7.6 ppg, 1.7 apg), 6-2 F Mikaela Gustafsson (4.8 ppg), 5-10 G/F Chantel Charles (3.7 ppg, 1.8 apg); Binghamton — 5-5 G Jasmine Sina (14.7 ppg, 3.2 apg), 5-8 G Imani Watkins (13.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.7 spg), 6-0 F Sherae Swinson (11.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg), 5-7 G Kim Albrecht (10.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 6-0 F Kristin Ross (3.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Game notes: The Black Bears look to rediscover the winning formula with their season hanging in the balance. UMaine has beaten Binghamton four straight times, including by an average of 18 points this season. The Bears have been able to score almost at will in the paint against the Bearcats, who have dropped 18 straight contests but hope to counter by generating some confidence in front of their home crowd. Binghamton ranked last in AE scoring (55.8 ppg) and scoring defense (68.7 ppg) but is shooting but does get to the foul line often and connects on 73 percent. UMaine must limit turnovers and keep Binghamton’s transition game in check while concentrating on contesting Sina’s open looks from the 3-point arc. The Bears also would be well advised to avoid early foul trouble so as not to disrupt their regular rotations. Wood had a double-double in both regular-season meetings. UMaine also has a significant advantage in depth.