ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team returns to the Cross Insurance Center for the first time since Nov. 12 as it takes on Northeastern (2-6) on Wednesday in game two of a Black Bear men's and women's doubleheader. Tickets are still available by visiting TicketMaster.com or at the Cross Insurance Center box office!

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A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The University of Maine women's basketball team returns home for the first time since Nov. 12. The Black Bears, who are 20-1 in their last 21 home games, look to return to the win column after dropping a 69-61 decision at Clemson.

Sigi Koizar, who has posted double-digit scoring efforts in each of her last three outings, leads Maine at 14.5 points per game. Koizar, who ranks fifth in America East scoring, has hit 21-of-23 free throws and ranks 24th in the nation at 91.3% from the line.  Koizar ranks 17th nationally in total minutes played (289) and is adding 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists. With a young roster, Maine has to rely heavily on its underclassmen. Freshman Laia Sole, a two-time America East Rookie of the Week, is averaging 9.6 points with a 40.7% mark from the floor. Fellow freshman Blanca Millan is adding 7.0 points and ranks fifth in the league at 2.0 steals per game.

As a unit, Maine is averaging 54.0 points per game while giving up 61.4. Maine is third in the league from the free throw line (70.8%) and fourth from the floor (37.9%).

SCOUTING NORTHEASTERN:
After beginning the year 2-0, the Huskies enter action against Maine riding a six-game losing streak. Back on Nov. 25, Northeastern dropped a 79-54 decision to Purdue; a team which Maine defeated, 67-47. Most recently, Northeastern fell in overtime to New Hampshire by a score of 66-63.

Senior post player Francesca Sally leads the Huskies at 13.6 points per game with 7.8 rebounds. Sophomore Jess Genco joins Sally in double-digit scoring at 12.4. Genco paces the Huskies in assists at 4.4 per game. Northeastern is averaging 63.5 points per game while giving up 72.1. The Huskies average 37.0 rebounds per game and are shooting 39.4% from the floor.

ALL-TIME SERIES WITH NORTHEASTERN:
Maine and Northeastern will be meeting for the 57th time in history, with the Black Bears holding a 34-22 advantage in the all-time series. Maine's last win against Northeastern came on Dec. 13, 2014, a 60-51 decision. The Huskies took the most recent meeting, 56-44, on Dec. 4, 2015. The teams first met in 1983, a game won by Northeastern, 73-56. Since 1985, Maine is 15-5 at home against Northeastern. Maine and Northeastern were both members of the Seaboard Conference, the NAC and the America East up until the Huskies left the league following the 2004-05 season. Sigi Koizar has posted back-to-back double-figure scoring performances (15,16) in her last two outings against Northeastern and enters averaging 11.0 points per game against Northeastern in three contests. In last season's meeting, Maine carried a 23-20 lead into halftime but was outscored 33-21 in the second half.

ENERGIZER SIGI:
To keep par with last season, Sigi Koizar again ranks among the nation's leaders in minutes player. Koizar is 34th in the country in minutes played per game (36.13) and ranks 70th in the NCAA with 289:00 total minutes.

FREE THROW SUCCESS:
In the early going, Maine has been impressive from the free throw line. The Black Bears rank third in the America East at 70.8 percent. Individually, Sigi Koizar is 20th nationally at 91.3 percent from the stripe.

DEFENSIVE WINS:
A year ago, Maine limited its opponents to just 51.1 points per game. This season, when Maine's great defense has presented itself, it has ended in wins for the Black Bears. In its three wins this season, Maine is holding opponents to 43.0 points per game while forcing 19.7 turnovers (a +8.3 margin).

NEWCOMER SCORING:
Over its first eight games, Maine has received 70.3% of its scoring from newcomers (7 freshman, 1 transfer) - with 58.1% of all scoring coming strictly from the freshman class. Seven of its eight top scorers are either freshmen or first-year players (Transfer-Sutton). Maine has received 304 of its total 432 points from newcomers.

ALL-TIME 3-POINTERS:
Sigi continues to climb Maine's list of all-time 3-point shooters. Entering play, Koizar ranks seventh in 3-point makes in school history. Her two makes at Harvard lifted her over Tanna Ross and into 7th place all-time.

1. Cindy Blodgett (217)
2. Ashley Underwood (210)
3. Missy Traversi (174)
4. Lauren Bodine (167)
5. Sophie Weckstrom (150)
6. Liz Wood (145)
7. Sigi Koizar (144)
8. Tanna Ross (134)
9. Melissa Heon (119)

KOIZAR GOOD WORKS NOMINEE:
On Dec. 1, it was announced that Sigi Koizar was one of 97 nominees nation-wide for the 2017 WBCA/Allstate Good Works Team. Koizar, the only nominee to represent the America East conference, is recognized as a nominee to the award which honors an outstanding group of student-athletes who represent the sport's finest in the areas of community service and leadership among their peers.

-UMaine-