Women's Hoops Meets #6 North Carolina on Friday Evening
12/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (7-3) looks to advance its winning streak to seven games when it travels for a neutral site meeting with #6 North Carolina (9-1) in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Maine returns to the road for the first time in three games and will look to move to 5-0 in December for the first time since 1986.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS...
Maine, which currently holds the 22nd longest winning-streak in the country and the top streak in the America East, enters the contest after most recently defeating Northeastern 60-51. Maine used a 22-2 run out of the locker room in the second half to distance itself from the Huskies. Sigi Koizar tallied 15 points to lead Maine while Sophie Weckstrom added 14 points and Liz Wood chipped in 10 points and 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the season and 10th overall.
Koizar, who has tallied double-figures in five-straight games and nine of Maine's first 10, leads the Black Bears with 15.8 points per game. The sophomore guard ranks sixth in the league in scoring and is adding 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists while posting a league fifth-best field goal percentage (53.6). Liz Wood is adding 14.8 points and leads the team in rebounding (6.5), assists (3.2), steals (2.8) and field goal percentage (53.8). Wood is shooting 38.9 percent from 3-point range; fourth best in the America East. Sophie Weckstrom, who has notched double-figures in two of her last three games, is averaging 7.8 points. Weckstrom ranks fourth in the league with 1.7 3-pointers per game. Anna Heise has been consistent in the paint for the Black Bears as she is averaging 6.7 points and is third on the team in rebounding at 3.0 rpg while fellow post Mikaela Gustafsson is adding 3.5 points and 2.1 rebounds. Junior Bella Swan is chipping in 2.9 rebounds per game while 3-point threat Lauren Bodine is averaging 4.0 points per game.
As a unit, Maine is averaging 61.2 points per game while limiting opponents to 56.1 ppg. Maine, which leads the league in opponents ppg, ranks first in turnover margin (+3.20) and third in steals (9.5). The Black Bears are shooting 42.0 percent from the floor, 31.2 percent from 3-point range and 68.7 percent from the free throw line. Maine is averaging 31.6 rebounds per game and rank second in the league in assists (13.8) and first in 3-point field goals made (7.2).
SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA...
The Tar Heels began the season 9-0 before dropping their most recent outting to #16/14 Oregon State by a score of 70-55. North Carolina struggled from the field, shooting just 27.6 percent (21-for-76) from the floor in the loss. Allisha Gray paced the Tar Heels' attack with 20 points and 10 rebounds while Stephanie Mavunga added 14 points and seven boards.
The Tar Heels are led by a trio of Naismith Trophy Top-50 Watch List members in Allisha Gray, Stephanie Mavunga and Xylina McDaniel. Gray enteres the contest averaging 17.7 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting a team-leading 56.8 percent from the floor and cashing in at a 31.9 percent rate from the 3-point line. Mavunga is averaging 12.3 points and leads the team with 8.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks while McDaniel is chipping in 11.3 points and 6.2 rebounds.
North Carolina averages 78.2 points per game while holding its opponent to 63.2 points for a difference in scoring margin of +15.0. The Tar Heels are shooting 41.7 percent from the floor, 31.2 percent from beyond the arc and 61.8 percent from the free throw line and averaging 43.0 rebounds and 15.0 assists.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE SERIES...
Maine and North Carolina will be meeting for the third time in history with the Tar Heels winning both previous contests. The two teams last met in the 2000 NCAA Tournament on March 15 at the Thunderdome in Santa Barbara, Calif. The Black Bears led 24-20 at the half but fell in the end by a score of 62-57. Current Maine assistant coach Amy Vachon had four points and eight assists in the loss. North Carolina won the first meeting in the series by a score of 68-52 in 1996. Maine looks to move to 2-0 this season against the ACC with a previous win over Boston College.
OH THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL...
But on the court it is delightful in December. The Black Bears are currently 4-0 in December for the first time since the 1997 season. If Maine is able to pick up a victory today, it would move to 5-0 in the month of December for the first time since 1986. Maine has been on fire in the chilly month, averaging 62.5 points per game while limiting its opposition to just 48.2 ppg; a difference of +14.3. Koizar (17.3), Wood (16.3) and Weckstrom (12.7) are all averaging double-figures in scoring for the month.
HOME SWEET HOME...
Maine has been on a roll at the friendly confines of the Cross Insurance Center. The Black Bears are 6-1 at home this season and have won their last five contests in Bangor. Maine is averaging 61.1 points per game and outscoring opponents by a +8.3 margin at home. The Black Bears are dialed in at home as they are posting a 40.9 percent mark from the floor and have cranked up their defensive pressure, forcing 151 turnovers (21.6 per game) at home. Koizar and Wood lead the way at home, averaging 15.6 and 15.1, respectively, on the hardwood at Cross Insurance Center.
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE ACC...
The Black Bears are 8-23 all time against current ACC schools.
Here is a look at Maine's all-time meetings with school's from the ACC:
Boston College: 2-5
Clemson: 1-1
Duke: 0-2
Georgia Tech: 0-1
Louisville: 1-1
Miami: 2-1
North Carolina: 0-2
NC State: 0-3
Syracuse: 1-2
Virginia: 0-3
Virginia Tech: 0-1
Wake Forest: 1-1
A LOOK AT THE STREAK...
Over the six game win streak, Wood is averaging 17.7 points and shooting 58.8% from the floor and 46.4% from 3-point range while Koizar is adding 16.2 points and a 55.7% mark from the floor. As a team, Maine has boosted its scoring average from 58.8 ppg to 61.2 over the last six. In its last six games, the Black Bears are averaging 62.8 points per game and holding opponents to just 51.7 ppg; a +11.2 scoring differential.
FORCING MISTAKES...
The Black Bears pride themselves on their defensive efforts as of late. Maine leads the league with a +3.20 turnover margin as they've forced opponents to turn the ball over 207 times in the first 10 games; a 20.7 average per game. Maine has turned those 207 turnovers into 188 points, averaging 18.8 points off turnovers per game. Maine's defense is holding opponents to 56.1 points per game which is tied for 47th best in the country out of 338 teams nation wide.
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