Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (1-1) returns to the Cross Insurance Center on Tuesday at 7 p.m. for a meeting with Bryant (0-2). Tickets are available by visiting the Cross Insurance Center box office, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at
TicketMaster.com.
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A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears opened the first weekend of action by going 1-1 at Memorial Gym in the Tip-Off Tournament. Maine opened the season with a 42-34 loss to Tulane before bouncing back to defeat Harvard, 76-51, on Saturday afternoon. The games marked the first time Maine had played in 'The Pit' since 2013 (vs. New Hampshire). After a cold shooting performance on Friday evening (26.4%), the Black Bears went 28-for-63 (44.4%) against Harvard. The 28 field goals, and 63 attempts, were Maine's highest output since it went 29-for-65 on Feb. 9 last season against UMass Lowell. The Black Bears also hit 13 3-pointers in the win, their highest 3-point showing since also knocking down 13 back on Feb. 14, 2016 against UAlbany. Blanca Millan led the way with 28 points against the Crimson, earning her an All-Tournament Team selection. Maine has opened the season holding its opponents to a slim 25.9% mark from the floor. 2-14-16
Individually, Millan had an impressive start to the season. In Saturday's victory over Harvard, Millan poured in a career-high 28 points. The sophomore guard went 12-for-13 (92.3%) from the floor against the Crimson, breaking Katie Whittier's record for highest single game field goal percentage, previously set in 2005. Included in the percentage was a perfect 4-for-4 day from 3-point range. Millan has now posted double-digit scoring efforts in four of Maine's last five, dating back to last season. Julie Brosseau (13 pts) and Dor Saar (11 pts) each added double-figure efforts against Harvard. For Saar, it was her first time reaching double-figures in just her second career game.
Tanesha Sutton led the effort on Friday, posting her second career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Maine's defense, which ranked third in the America East a year ago allowing 58.0 points per game, picked up defensively where it left off. The Black Bears limited Tulane to just 42 points and are allowing 46.5 points to start the year.
SCOUTING BRYANT:
The Bulldogs, playing their third-straight road game to start the season, enter action searching for their first win of the season. Bryant opened the year with a 65-42 loss at Boston College before falling at Brown, 85-62, on Sunday.
Bryant, selected third in the Northeast Conference Preseason Poll, finished the 2016-17 season at 18-14, 11-7 in league play. The Bulldogs reeled off eight-straight wins prior to falling in the NEC title game. Bryant returns NEC All-Rookie selection Sydney Holloway, NEC All-Tournament selection Naomi Ashley and last season's NEC assists leader, Kierra Palmer. Holloway is averaging 12.0 points through two games to lead the Bulldogs while Ashley is adding 10.0 points and a team-leading 7.5 boards.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE SERIES:
Maine and Bryant are meeting for the eighth time, and the eighth-straight season. The series has been tightly contested, with Maine holding a slim 4-3 advantage all-time. The series began in 2010 when Maine picked up a 75-66 road victory. The Black Bears are 2-1 against Bryant at home and have won each of the last two home meetings, both played at the Cross Center. Maine's only home loss in the series came in 2011 at Memorial Gym. The Black Bears have won two-straight in the series, including a 77-52 victory a year ago at Bryant.
Tanesha Sutton (12) and Blanca Millan (11) each posted double-digits in the win as Maine shot 50.8% from the floor as a team. The Black Bears have posted 75+ points in three of the last four meetings, including each of the last two meetings at the Cross Center.
-UMaine-
