Women's Basketball Returns to the Road Wednesday Evening at UMass
11/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team looks to pick up its first road victory when it takes on UMass (0-2) at the Mullins Center on Wednesday evening. Maine defeated UMass 86-56 a year ago; the Black Bears first of three 30+ point wins in the 2013-14
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS
Maine will be searching for its second-straight victory coming off a thrilling 65-59 overtime victory against LIU-Brooklyn on Sunday. The Black Bears enter averaged 58.5 points per game and shooting 38.5-percent from the floor, 66.0-percent from the free throw line. After leading the league in 3-pointers last season, Maine is off to a slow start from beyond the arc, shooting just 13.3-percent from 3-point range. The Black Bears are averaging 34.0 rebounds per game while dishing out 9.5 assists and rank second in their league in steals (11.5). Maine's defense ranks third in the America East in field goal percentage, holding opponents to a 35.3-percent figure.
Sophomore point guard Sigi Koizar, coming off a career-high 22 point showing against LIU-Brooklyn, moves the offense as she ranks second in the league in scoring at 19.0 points per game. Koizar is averaging 2.0 steals and has played 80 total minutes in two games, including a 44-minute showing in Maine's overtime win. Preseason All-Conference selection Liz Wood is averaging 12.5 points and 4.5 rebounds and has forced seven turnovers on steals. Sophie Weckstrom has packed a punch off the bench for Maine, averaging 7.5 points while sophomore Sheraton Jones leads the team with a 50.0-percent mark from the floor while averaging 5.5 points and tied for team lead with 5.5 rebounds.
SCOUTING UMASS
The Minutewomen return three starters and eight total letterwinners from their 2013-14 squad which finished 4-27, 1-15 in the Atlantic-10. UMass is searching for its first win of the season after dropping contests at Western Michigan (63-41) and at Central Michigan (72-70) to open the year. The Minutewomen are averaging 55.5 points while giving up 67.5 on the year while shooting 39.2-percent from the floor, 23.8-percent from 3-point range and 61.9-percent from the free throw line. UMass features a pair of double-figure scorers in senior Kim Pierre-Louis (13.5) and freshman Cierra Dillard (11.5). Pierre-Louis is also adding 6.0 rebounds with a 59.1-percent mark from the floor. Dillard is averaging 3.0 rebounds while shooting 38.1-percent. Rashida Timbilla is adding 8.5 points and leads the team in rebounding (9.5), assists (3.0) and steals (3.5). Former Black Bear Amber Dillon is chipping in 3.0 points while averaging 11.5 minutes for UMass.
MAINE & UMASS ALL-TIME SERIES
This will be the 22nd meeting between Maine and UMass. The Black Bears hold the all-time series against UMass at 14-8 including an 86-55 in last season's meeting. The victory last year as Maine's largest of victory since defeating Kennesaw State 86-55 in 2005. Maine's last win at UMass came in 2009, a 65-49 victory. The Black Bears enter the match-up at 4-1 in their last five against UMass and 8-2 in the last 10 meetings. A season ago, Maine shot 55.4% from the floor and knocked down 12 shots from beyond the arc en route to an 86-56 victory. The Black Bears tallied 56 total points in the second half alone. Liz Wood had a career day, going 9-for-14 from the floor and tallying her current career-high of 24 points.
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