ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (10-11, 3-3 America East) welcome UAlbany (9-9, 3-2 AE) to the Cross Insurance Center for a rematch of last year's America East Championship game. Maine is 25-1 in its last 26 game at the Cross Insurance Center.

A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
After handing Hartford its first conference loss of the season, Maine continued its tough stretch as it looked to also hand New Hampshire its first America East loss of the season. However, the Black Bears were unable to complete their comeback, falling 50-44 to the Wildcats on Thursday night. Blanca Millan led the way with 10 points, her second-straight double-digit performance. Sigi Koizar moved into seventh on Maine's all-time scoring list with nine points in the loss.

Koizar continues to lead the scoring for Maine, averaging 12.9 points per game. For her career, Koizar stands just 32 points away from becoming just the sixth in Maine history to record 1,500 for her career. Freshman Laia Sole is adding 9.3 points overall and is leading Maine in conference action at 11.5 points and 48.3% from the floor. Fellow freshman Blanca Millan, who has notched double-digits in eight games this season, checks in at 8.0 points overall and 10.8 in league play. Millan leads the Black Bears with an impressive 51.8% mark during league play and leads the team with 34 steals (1.7 per game). Julie Brosseau ranks in the top-10 of the league in 3-point percentage (36.6%) and 3-point makes per game (1.9). Brosseau's 41 makes from downtown is a team-high. Tanesha Sutton, who leads Maine in rebounding (5.1), assists (2.7) and field goal percentage (48.0) is adding 7.2 points per game.

After holding New Hampshire to 50 points, the Black Bears have lowered their points per game allowed to 58.0, top three among league leaders and 49th in the nation. Maine has now held eight teams to 50 points or fewer. On the offensive end, Maine ranks at the top of the league at 40.1% from the field. The Black Bears featured an impressive four shooters (Wadling, Millan, Sole and Sutton) who are shooting above 42.0% on the season. Maine has improved its rebounding efforts in league play, outrebounding opponents by a +5.7 margin (39.0-33.3).

SCOUTING UALBANY:
The Great Danes, the five-time defending America East champions, enter action coming off a 67-61 comeback win on the road at Binghamton. UAlbany, which trailed by as many as 11, outscored the Bearcats 36-21 in the second half to score the win. Imani Tate, UAlbany's leading scorer, led the way at Binghamton with her seventh 20+ point performance of the year, ending with 20 against the Bearcats. UAlbany, which is just 2-8 on the road this season, is led by Tate who ranks second in the league at 18.9 points per game and leads the Great Danes with 54 assists. Jessica Fequiere is checking in at 13.2 points and leads UAlbany in rebounding at 7.9 per game. Fequiere is one of the best free throw shooters in the nation at 89.3%.

Albany ranks second in the America East at 64.9 points per game but rank seventh in defense at 64.7. A strong suit for the Great Danes is rebounding where they rank second at 39.1. Specifically, Albany takes advantage of second chance opportunities, checking in as the league leaders with 15.3 offensive rebounds per game. The Great Danes rank third in the league from the free throw line (71.4), third from the floor (40.1) but struggle from downtown, last in the America East at 28.6%. Defensively, Albany is second in the league in blocks (4.8) and second in steals (10.2). The Great Danes have had trouble taking care of the ball and check in at 20.0 turnovers per game but also take it away with 20.4 turnovers forced.

A GLIMPSE INTO THE SERIES:
Maine and Albany, who have shared the America East regular season title each of the past two season's, are meeting for the 35th time. The Black Bears own a slight 18-16 advantage in the series. The teams have alternated wins over the last five meetings. Most recently, Albany escaped with a 59-58 victory on its home court in the 2016 America East Championship. Maine is 8-7 all-time in home games at Albany, winning the first six meetings at home in the series. Albany has won eight of the last 10 meetings. The two teams first met in 2001, an 88-58 win for the Black Bears. Sigi Koizar has tallied double-digits in each of her last four meetings with Albany and enters play averaging 15.1 points per game in the series.

-UMaine-