Women’s Basketball
MAINE vs. MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY
Time, site: Saturday, noon, Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Maine 10-6 (1-0 America East), UMBC 10-5 (1-1)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 13-11, Maine 61-41 on 2/26/15
Key players: Maine — 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (17.4 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, 4.0 assists per game, .440 3-pt. FG pct.), 5-10 G/F Liz Wood (9.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.6 steals per game), 6-2 F Mikaela Gustafsson (8.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 5-11 F Bella Swan (6.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, .516 FG pct.), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (7.6 ppg), 5-10 G Chantel Charles (5.2 ppg); UMBC — 5-10 G Taylor McCarley (12.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 5.0 apg), 6-1 F Pandora Wilson (11.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg), 5-7 G Capree Garner (9.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 5-8 G Laura Castaldo (8.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 6-2 F Amanda Hagaman (3.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Game notes: The Black Bears play only their fifth regular-season home game coming off Wednesday’s 62-41 win at Vermont. Home court has been huge for UMaine, which has won 11 straight in Bangor and is 17-2 there since the start of the 2014-2015 season. The improved Retrievers dropped a 77-42 decision to Albany on Wednesday, but are benefitting from their experience. Both teams have been stingy on defense, with the Bears giving up a league-best 51.9 ppg and UMBC 58.9 ppg. UMaine must take care of the ball as the Retrievers force an AE-best 20.6 turnovers per contest. Koizar has been UMaine’s catalyst, coming off a 20-point, 13-rebound effort at Vermont.
Men’s Basketball
MAINE vs. MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY
Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m., Retriever Activities Center, Catonsville, Maryland
Records: Maine 4-10 (0-1 America East), UMBC 4-12 (0-1)
Series, last meeting: tied 13-13, UMBC 73-66 on 2/21/15
Key players: Maine — 5-10 G Kevin Little (14.1 points per game, 2.7 assists per game, 1.4 steals per game), 6-7 F Devine Eke (10.5 ppg, 7.4 rebounds per game, .640 FG pct.), 6-8 F Till Gloger (9.0 ppg), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (8.1 ppg, 2.4 apg), 6-2 G Lavar Harewood (6.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, .469 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (6.3 ppg, 1.4 spg); UMBC — 6-2 G Jairus Lyles (24.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.4 apg), 6-0 G Rodney Elliott (13.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.4 apg), 6-6 F Joe Sherburne (13.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg), 6-8 F Will Darley (12.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 6-9 C Sam Schwietz (2.4 ppg)
Game notes: UMaine seeks its first conference win against UMBC. The Black Bears unraveled late in a 90-72 loss to Vermont on Wednesday. The Retrievers opened AE play with a 73-59 loss at Albany. This game has the potential to feature a wild pace as UMaine loves to press and run while UMBC also can get up and down the floor. The Bears’ biggest challenge may be slowing down Lyles, a transfer who previously played at VCU and Robert Morris, who has led UMBC in all five games since becoming eligible on Dec. 19. UMaine must be able to get more stops, limit its turnovers and rebound well to get a road victory.