Women's Basketball Hosts Central Conn. St. in Home Opener
11/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team opens its home slate against Central Connecticut State on Wednesday at noon. Maine, which finished last season 13-2 overall at the Cross Insurance Center, is 21-7 in home openers since 1985.
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A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
Maine looks for its second-straight win after an impressive 82-51 victory at North Dakota State which saw four Black Bears tally double-figures. Sophie Weckstrom led all scorers with 17 points while Sigi Koizar turned in a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists. Bella Swan (14) and Liz Wood (11) each finished in double-digits. Maine assisted on 29 of its 34 baskets and finished the game at 66.7% from the floor. It was Maine's highest assist total since tallying 29 against Yale in 2003.
Koizar, who has tallied double-figures in eight-straight games, leads the Black Bears, averaging 15.8 points, 6.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds, ranking 27th in the nation in assists. Sophie Weckstrom is chipping in 10.3 points and a 40.9% mark from 3-point range while Liz Wood is adding 9.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.3 steals. Mikaela Gustafsson is averaging 9.5 points and 5.0 rebounds inside and Bella Swan is adding 6.3 points and 3.0 rebounds.
Maine is averaging 64.5 points per game while shooting 44.3%, 34.1% from 3-point range and 73.5% from the free throw line. Maine is tops in the league in 3-point percentage and are averaging a league-leading 19.3 assists per game. Maine is seventh in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.6), and are averaging 7.8 three-point buckets per game.
SCOUTING CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE:
CCSU is 1-3 on the year and have lost two-straight, falling to Penn State (73-47) and Army (81-52). The Blue Devils opened their season with two America East opponents, falling to Vermont (79-63) before picking up its first win of the year at home against UMass Lowell (64-53). Junior guard Aleah Epps leads the Blue Devils, averaging 10.5 points with 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Senior Kayla Miller is chipping in 8.0 points and 6.5 rebounds while senior forward Tejahne Malone is adding 7.0 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds. CCSU is averaging 56.5 points per game but are surrendering 71.5 points.
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE:
This will be the 19th all-time meeting between Maine and Central Connecticut State. Maine owns a 13-5 advantage in the series following a 72-58 victory in last season's road meeting. Maine, which fought back from down 17 a year ago, featured two-scorers in double-figures in the win in Liz Wood (23) and Sigi Koizar (21). Sophie Weckstrom chipped in 15 in the win. Maine and CCSU first met in 1977; a 91-78 win by the Black Bears. Coach Barron's first ever game coached at Maine was at Central Connecticut State.
-UMaine-
