Women's Basketball Begins America East Slate with UAlbany on ESPN3
12/31/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (8-4) looks to build upon its strong end to 2014 as it opens America East play by hosting the defending league champion Albany Great Danes (7-6). Defense will be the focus today as Maine (56.4) and UAlbany (57.3) enter as the top two defensive teams in the league. Maine, winners of seven of its last eight, will improve to 7-1 at home with a victory.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS...
Maine returns to action after a 13-day hiatus as it last played on Dec. 21 when it defeated William & Mary by a score of 54-51 on Christiana Gerostergiou's 3-pointer with just 1.7 seconds remaining. The win gave Maine eight non-conference wins, its most since the 1992-93 season. The Black Bears are led by their double-figure scoring tandem in sophomore guard Sigi Koizar and junior forward Liz Wood. Koizar ranks seventh in the America East with 15.2 points per game to go along with 2.9 assists and 3.9 rebounds. Koizar, who has tallied double-figures in 10 of Maine's first 12 contests ranks in the top 15 in the league in all shooting categories. The sophomore guard is ninth in field goal percentage (48.4), seventh in free throw percentage (77.4) and 15th in 3-point percentage (31.8). Wood, the league's Preseason Fan Choice Player of the Year selection, currently ranks 10th in the league with 13.8 points per game. Wood leads the Black Bears in rebounding, ranking sixth in the league at 7.0 rebounds per game and has recorded 10+ boards in two of her last three contests. Wood's 2.5 steals per game rank her second in the league while she is tied with Koizar for ninth best in assists (2.9). Wood's 36.6 minutes per game are second in the league while her team-high 51.6 percent mark from the floor ranks sixth best. Junior guard Sophie Weckstrom is averaging 6.6 points and ranks seventh in the league in 3-point field goal makes (1.5). Fellow junior Anna Heise is having her best season yet in the paint as she is chipping in 6.8 points and 3.1 rebounds; both career highs. Maine leads the league in scoring defense (56.4) and ranks third in steals (8.5) and second in turnover margin (+0.92).
SCOUTING UALBANY...
The Great Danes enter the contest riding a two-game losing skid after dropping a meeting with Northeastern before most recently losing to #9/7 North Carolina by a score of 71-56. UAlbany forward Shereesha Richards paced the Great Danes against North Carolina as she poured in a career-high 34 points. Richards, the reigning America East Player of the Year, ranks second in the league averaging 18.8 points per game. Richards is the league leader in rebounding (8.9), field goal percentage (56.2) and steals (2.6). Sophomore guard Imani Tate is adding 13.7 points per game and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 52.9 percent from the floor. Freshman Tiana-Jo Carter works inside for the Great Danes, adding 8.2 points and 6.8 rebounds while senior guard Sarah Royals is averaging 7.2 points and a team-high 3.6 assists.
UAlbany averages 64.3 points per game while giving up 57.3, a scoring margin of +7.0; tops in the league. The Great Danes are shooting 45.8 percent from the floor, 65.6 percent from the free throw and 26.7 percent from 3-point range. This afternoon's game will be UAlbany's 11th road game of the season out of its first 14.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE SERIES...
Maine and UAlbany will be meeting for the 30th time in history with the Black Bears holding the all-time series advantage, 16-13. UAlbany has won nine-straight meetings dating back to 2010; including a 58-56 victory in the latest meeting last year at the Cross Insurance Center. Maine's last win in the series came on Jan. 28, 2010 when it defeated the Great Danes 61-58 in Albany. The Black Bears will be looking for their first win over UAlbany at home since knocking off the Great Danes 59-51 on Feb. 18, 2009. Maine won the first ever meeting in the series by a score of 88-58 no Jan. 12, 2002 and went on to win the first 13 games against UAlbany.
DELIGHTFUL DECEMBER...
The Black Bears finished 5-1 in the month of December, with its only loss coming against #6 North Carolina. The 5-1 mark was Maine's best showing in the month since it also went 5-1 in 2001. Maine was on fire in the chilly month, averaging 56.7 points per game while limiting its opposition to just 51.5 ppg; a difference of +5.2. Koizar (15.5) and Wood (13.8) each averaged double-figures in scoring for the month.
FORCING MISTAKES...
The Black Bears pride themselves on their defensive efforts as of late. Maine is second in the league with a +0.92 turnover margin as they've forced opponents to turn the ball over 230 times in the first 12 games; a 19.2 average per game. Maine has turned those 230 turnovers into 203 points, averaging 17.5 points off turnovers per game. Maine's defense is holding opponents to 56.9 points per game which is 41st best in the country out of 338 teams and first in the America East.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS...
The Black Bears are 8-4 in their non-conference contests this season. Their eight wins are the most since they won eight non-conference games in 1993-94. A win over Yale would give the Black Bears nine non-conference wins for the first time since 1990-91.
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.
