UMAINE vs. HARTFORD
Women’s Basketball
America East Championship
Time, site: Friday, 5 p.m., Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: UMaine 24-7, Hartford 23-9
Series, last meeting: UMaine leads 48-29, UMaine 78-58 on 2/13/19
Key players, Maine: 6-1 G Blanca Millan (17.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 2 assists, 1.4 blocked shots per game), 5-10 F Tanesha Sutton (14.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.7 spg), 5-8 G Parise Rossignol (11 ppg), 5-6 G Dor Saar (9.2 ppg, 5 apg), 6-2 F Fanny Wadling (6.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2,9 apg); Hartford: 5-8 G Lindsey Abed (14.9 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.7 spg, 2.3 apg), 5-9 G Sierra DaCosta (12 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.6 spg), 6-1 F Ella Awobajo (10.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 5-11 G Jade Young (8.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.2 spg), 5-7 G Alexia Douglas (6.5 ppg, 2 spg)
Game notes: This is a rematch of last year’s title game won by UMaine 74-65. UMaine is AE’s highest-scoring team (67.2 ppg), while Hartford’s 56.2 ppg allowed leads the league. Hartford is 19th in the country in scoring defense. The teams split regular-season games with each winning at home. This is UMaine’s fourth consecutive appearance in the AE title game. UMaine has won 13 in a row, and Hartford has a seven-game winning streak. The pressing Hawks’ 13.2 steals per game and 423 total steals rank second in the country. The Hawks forced 53 turnovers in playoff wins over UMBC and Stony Brook leading to 52 points off turnovers. Its 24.9 turnovers forced per game ranks second in the nation. UMaine’s 345 turnovers are the fifth fewest in the country. UMaine shot just 32.8 percent in its two playoff victories and hopes to end its slump against the Hawks. UMaine is 38-3 in its last 41 home games against America East opponents. UMaine is averaging 76.1 ppg at home this season.