Women's Hoops Hosts LIU-Brooklyn in Home Opener on Sunday
11/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
GAME NOTES | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS | TWITTER | TICKETS
ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team returns home to Cross Insurance Center looking for its first win on the 2014-15 season in Sunday's home opener against LIU-Brooklyn. Since 1985-86, Maine enters the matchup with a 22-7 record in home openers. The Black Bears finished 9-6 in their inaugural season at the Cross Insurnace Center.
TICKETS:
Come out and get the first regular season look at your 2014-15 Black Bears! Tickets are just $11 for adults and $6 for youth & seniors. To get your tickets, please call 1-800-745-3000. To purchase your tickets online please click here or simply visit the Cross Insurance Center box office on game day!
FOLLOW YOUR BLACK BEARS:
If you cannot make it to the Cross Center on Sunday there are plenty of ways to keep track of your Black Bears:
Live Video - HERE
Live Audio - HERE or locally on 94.1 WGUY-FM/1340 WNZS-AM
Live Stats - HERE
In-game Twitter updates - HERE
Click HERE for a full break down and complete game notes, previewing the contest.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS
Maine was selected to finish fifth in this year's America East preseason coaches poll. The Black Bears return three of their top five scorers from a year ago in Liz Wood (12.6), Lauren Bodine (7.4) and Sophie Weckstrom (5.5). Wood finished last season ranked eighth in the league in scoring (12.6), seventh in rebounding (6.7) fourth in steals (2.1) and second on the team in assists (2.8). Bodine is Maine's long-range threat as she led the league in 3-point FG percentage a year ago (40.5) and ranked second in 3-point makes (66). Sigi Koizar, Sophie Weckstrom and Courtney Anderson will all see time at the point. Koizar and Weckstrom averaged 2.5 and 1.5 assists per game, respectively, a year ago while Anderson chipped in 1.1 assists and will provide leadership as Maine's lone senior.
Mikaela Gustafsson and Anna Heise will be Maine's go-to threats underneath. Gustafsson looks to build on a year in which she averaged 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds while Heise posted a 77.4-percent mark from the free throw line.
Guard/foward combo Chantel Charles (4.5 ppg/2.7 rpg), forward Sheraton Jones (1.8 rpg) and Milica Mitrovic (18 GP) will provide significant depth to an already deep Maine roster.
SCOUTING LIU-BROOKLYN
The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team was selected to finish eighth in the Northeast Conference in the leagues preseason poll. The Blackbirds return just one starter and eight letterwinners from a 2013-14 squad which finished 9-21 overall and 7-11 in the NEC a year ago. Long Island features a young roster with just two seniors and seven newcomers. Despite losing their top scorer from a season ago, LIU returns two of its top scoring threats in junior guard Sophie Bhasin (10.6 ppg.) and senior Letava Whippy (8.0 ppg.). The Blackbirds struggled to find the net in 2013-14, ranking last in the NEC in scoring (59.6 ppg) but were strong on defense, giving up a second-lowest 64.0 points. LIU also failed to take care of the ball in its previous season, turning the ball over 558 total times, second worst in its league.
MAINE & LIU-BROOKLYN ALL-TIME SERIES
Maine and Long Island have met just twice in history. The Black Bears own the all-time series 2-0, including a 66-50 decision in last season's meeting. Maine took the first meeting by a score of 55-33 in the opening round of the Dead River Company Classic on Dec. 3, 1993. The Black Bears have outscored LIU 121-83 with both games being decided by 16+ points. Maine is 20-8 all-time against members of the Northeast Conference (not counting Maine's season opener on Friday, Nov. 14 at Bryant). The Black Bears went 2-1 last season against the NEC, defeating Bryant and LIU before dropping a one-point decision at Sacred Heart. Lauren Bodine comes in averaging 15.0 points in the series after going 4-for-7 from 3-point range in last season's meeting. With Bodine hitting from outside, Maine was also succesful inside as it outscored the Blackbirds 22-12 in the paint.
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