Women’s Basketball
MAINE vs. CLEMSON
Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Maine 8-4, Clemson 3-7
Series, last meeting: tied 1-1, Clemson 72-59 on 11/9/07
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); Clemson — 5-10 F Nelly Perry (13.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.1 spg), 5-7 G Danielle Edwards (11.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.0 spg), 5-5 G Victoria Cardaci (7.5 ppg, 1.4 spg), 5-7 G Alexis Carter (6.0 ppg), 6-4 C Justice Wright (5.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Game notes: The Black Bears hope to celebrate the end of the first semester by earning their third straight victory, and their 11th in a row at home. UMaine has been idle since a 76-38 drubbing of Bryant on Dec. 12. Clemson of the Atlantic Coast Conference has won two of its last three, including a 71-53 victory at Tennessee Tech on Dec. 13. The Black Bears continue to build around strong defense, having allowed only 52.8 ppg, and a well-rounded offense spearheaded by the heady Koizar. The Tigers also have been solid defensively, giving up 58.5 ppg, but they have managed only 51.2 ppg while shooting 35 percent overall and only 23 percent from 3-point range. UMaine likely will be challenged by Clemson’s quickness and must keep the Tigers from getting too many offensive rebounds. The Bears likely will try to implement a deliberate tempo that focuses on methodical offensive execution to help limit Clemson’s ability to run.