COMPLETE GAME NOTES

ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (11-12, 4-4 America East) welcome Vermont (6-14, 3-5 AE) to the Cross Insurance Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. for a rematch of their meeting earlier in the season. Maine is 6-1 at home this season and have won seven of the last eight meetings with Vermont.

A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
After erasing an eleven-point halftime deficit to defeat UAlbany, Maine dropped their 12th game of the season and fourth in conference play to Binghamton, 58-52. Sigi Koizar led the Black Bears with 14 points, while Blanca Millan was close behind with 12 of her own in the loss.

For her career, Koizar is just four points away from becoming just the sixth in Maine history to record 1,500 for her career. While overall Koizar is leading Maine in scoring (13.1), at home this season the Black Bears are 6-1 and are led by Milan, who is averaging an astounding 15.3 points per game at the Cross Center, up 6.3 from her total average (9.0). Millan's shooting percentages have also skyrocketed at home, shooting an astounding 62.9% from the field at home, up from 45.4 overall, and 51.3 from three, up from 33.0% overall. Milan leads the team in scoring in conference play (12.9), as well, and is eighth in conference play with 1.8 steals a game. Julie Brosseau ranks seventh in 3-point percentage (35.8%) and sixth in 3-point makes per game with 1.9 per game. Tanesha Sutton, who leads Maine in rebounding (5.0), assists (2.9) and field goal percentage (47.5) is adding 7.3 points per game.

After allowing 71 points to UAlbany and then 58 to Binghamton, Maine's points per game has risen to 58.6, but still ranks third in America East. Maine has held eight teams to 50 points or fewer. At home this season, Maine's scoring margin is +8.0 and its points per game jumps to 66.7, more than an eight point climb from its overall scoring output. Maine's assist numbers also rise at home, up to 18.1 a game.

SCOUTING VERMONT:
The seventh-place Vermont Catamounts enter action coming off of a 53-43 win over Stony Brook at home. While losing five of its last seven matches, all America East conference matchups, UVM was able to hold off Stony Brook behind fifteen points and three blocks from Candice Wright. UVM is 5-5 at home but have managed just one road win in ten tries. The Catamounts are led by their junior guard Sydney Smith, who is averaging 13.0 points per game in America East play. Right behind Smith is freshman forward Hanna Crymble, who is averaging 11.0 points per game in conference action. Crymble ranks fifth in America East with 6.3 rebounds per game.

Vermont ranks last in points per game with 55.8, but are fifth in defensive scoring, giving up 61.7 points per game. While the Catamounts struggle to score, their defensive field goal percentage is tops in America East at just 35.8%. Another strong point for UVM is their rebounding - its 27.5 defensive rebounds are tops in the conference, while its 10.7 offensive rebounds rank them fourth. Defensively, the Catamounts rank third in blocks with 4.5 a game, while ranking eighth in steals (5.8). UVM is sixth in assists (12.3) but seventh in field goal percentage (37.5).

A GLIMPSE INTO THE SERIES:
Maine has battled Vermont more than any other team in its history. This will be the 90th meeting in the series. The Black Bears enter action with a 55-34 advantage in the all-time series. Dating back to 1985, Maine is 22-12 at home against Vermont. The Black Bears have won six-straight home meetings in the series with its last home loss to Vermont coming back in 2010. Maine has won by 10+ in each of the five meetings, including a 92-62 rout in 2014. Back on Jan. 4, Maine had its seven-game win streak against the Catamounts snapped as Vermont escaped with a 55-52 win. In the game, Laia Sole matched a career-high with 21 points while fellow freshman Julie Brosseau knocked down five 3-pointers for 15 points. The Black Bears were without scoring leader Sigi Koizar in the loss. Koizar is averaging 11.5 points in six career games against the Catamounts. Maine is averaging 77.3 points in its last four home games against the Catamounts.

-UMaine-