Women’s Basketball
America East Championship
No. 2 MAINE vs. No. 1 ALBANY
Time, site: 4:30 p.m. Friday, SEFCU Arena, Albany, New York
Records: Maine 26-7, Albany 26-4
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 18-15, Maine 65-53 on 2/14/16
Key players: Maine — 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (17.6 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 3.9 assists per game, 1.6 steals per game, .433 3-pt. FG pct.), 5-10 G/F Liz Wood (9.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.5 spg), 6-2 F Mikaela Gustafsson (8.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 apg), 5-11 F Bella Swan (8.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (5.9 ppg, 2.2 apg), 5-10 G Chantel Charles (3.6 ppg); Albany — 6-1 F Shereesha Richards (23.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.8 spg, .561 FG pct.), 5-8 G Imani Tate (18.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.1 apg, 3.1 spg), 5-9 G Zakiya Saunders (11.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 7.2 apg, 2.1 spg), 6-2 F Tiana-Jo Carter (8.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.4 blocked shots per game), 5-6 G Erin Coughlin (5.2 ppg, 2.3 apg)
Game notes: The Black Bears hope to rely on their defensive prowess as they play the program’s most significant game since 2004 — the last time UMaine won a league title. The challenge is significant, facing the four-time defending AE champions on their home court, where they have a 16-game win streak (UM won 55-42 on 2/1/15). Albany’s seniors have a 48-6 (.888) career home record. The Great Danes won 64-59 there on Jan. 16, but UMaine showed the blueprint for success by holding 3-time AE Player of the Year Richards to eight points and Albany to a season-low 53 in the Bangor win. Albany has averaged only 58.5 ppg against the Black Bears, compared to 72.4 against other opponents. Keys for UMaine include: Transition defense, not giving up open shots and drives to the basket; keeping Richards bottled up in the without incurring foul trouble, especially to Wood; and taking advantage of transition chances with Koizar’s ability to attack the rim while also refusing to settle for 3-pointers by working for midrange shots from the high post and the baseline in its half-court sets.