Women’s Basketball
MAINE vs. BRYANT
Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m., Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Maine 7-4, Bryant 2-6
Series, last meeting: Bryant leads 3-2; Bryant 65-52 on 11/14/14
Key players: Maine — 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (16.9 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, 4.1 assists per game, 1.8 steals per game), 5-10 G/F Liz Wood (9.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.8 spg), 6-2 F Mikaela Gustafsson (8.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, .514 FG pct.), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (6.8 ppg, 2.2 apg), 5-10 G Chantel Charles (6.3 ppg), 5-11 F Bella Swan (5.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg); Bryant — 5-8 G Tiersa Winder (15.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.1 apg), 5-7 G Ivory Bailey (15.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.5 apg), 5-11 F Breanna Rucker (13.7 ppg, 12.3 rpg), 6-1 F Alex Klein (7.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 6-2 C Morgan Olander (6.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
Game notes: The Black Bears return to Bangor for only their third home game of the campaign to face the Bulldogs. UMaine is coming off Sunday’s 59-41 win at Dartmouth. Bryant of the Northeast Conference has dropped four straight games, including Wednesday’s 88-78 setback at Providence. The Bears must be able to handle the quickness and scoring punch of Winder and Bailey, but have to respect the inside game. The Bulldogs have played lackluster defense, surrendering 75.3 ppg on 59 percent shooting. Bryant owns victories over America East members Vermont and UMass Lowell.
Men’s Basketball
MAINE vs. BOSTON COLLEGE
Time, site: Sunday, 5 p.m., Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Records: Maine 2-6, Boston College 3-6
Series, last meeting: Boston College leads 16-4, BC 85-74 on 12/11/14
Key players: Maine — 6-7 F Devine Eke (12.6 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game), 5-10 G Kevin Little (12.6 ppg, 3.0 assists per game), 6-8 F Till Gloger (7.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg), 6-3 G Lavar Harewood (7.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 6-4 G Shaun Lawton (7.0 ppg), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (6.9 ppg, 2.4 apg); Boston College — 6-2 G Eli Carter (16.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.5 apg), 6-5 G Jerome Robinson (11.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.2 spg), 7-0 C Dennis Clifford (9.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg), 6-7 F A.J. Turner (6.7 ppg), 6-7 F Ervins Meznieks (5.4 ppg, .462 3-pt. FG pct.)
Game notes: Coach Bob Walsh’s Black Bears will try to snap a three-game skid when they take on the Eagles of the Atlantic Coast Conference. UMaine is coming off Wednesday’s 79-69 home loss to Dartmouth that again exposed the Bears’ defensive deficiencies. UMaine has afforded opponents 86.8 ppg on 47 percent shooting. Boston College is mired in a six-game losing streak, one that includes Wednesday’s 66-51 setback against 15th-ranked Providence. The Eagles, who have put up only 64.6 ppg, also lost to America East’s UMass Lowell after missing eight players because of food poisoning. UMaine will be challenged to defend BC’s bigger guards and to find a way to neutralize Clifford in the middle.