Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (5-4) will look to pick up its second victory over an Ivy League opponent when it meets Dartmouth (6-1) at Leede Arena on Saturday afternoon at noon live on the Ivy League Network. The Black Bears, who have won five in a row against Dartmouth, will face the Big Green for the fourth-straight season.
 

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Game Notes

A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears head back to the road for their fifth road game in their last six outings. Most recently, the Black Bears scored a convincing, 89-49 victory over Maine Maritime Academy. In the win, Maine broke the school-record for team three-point field goals made with 16, just one game after matching the record with 14 makes at Ohio State. Blanca Millan finished with a career-best six 3-pointers (6-of-7) on her way to a game-high 24 points. The 24 points marked the fourth time this season in which she has surpassed the 20-point plateau. Millan has now tallied double-digits in eight-straight games. Tanesha Sutton (13) and Kelly Fogarty (13) each chipped in double-digits while Julie Brosseau hit four 3-pointers on her way to 12 points. Brosseau has noe recorded 11 three-point field goals in her last two games. The Black Bears forced a season-high 29 turnovers in the win, finishing with a 36-13 advantage in points off turnovers. Brosseau has hit four or more 3-pointers in each of her last three games, including 15 in her last three. Brosseau leads the league in 3-point shooting (35.8), ranking 38th nationally with 24 total three-point field goal makes. Sutton, who is Maine's third scorer averaging double-digits (11.2 ppg), is Maine's leader in rebounding (7.8) and assists (3.4). Sutton ranks fourth in the league in rebounding, second in offensive rebounding, with 34 of her 70 rebounds coming on the offensive end.

As a unit, the Black Bears' offense has tallied 70+ in six games this season and check in second in the league averaging 72.0 points per game. Much of the offensive production can be credited to Maine's 3-pointer shooting. The Black Bears rank seventh in the nation in total 3-point makes (84) and 17th with 9.3 per game - both tops in the America East. The Black Bears have hit 11 or more 3-pointers in four of their first nine games. Maine's 43.6 percent from the floor is also tops in the America East. The Black Bears are 27th nationally and tops in the league with 17.9 assists per game. Defensively, Maine has forced 20+ turnovers in four games, including a season-high 29 in its last outing.

SCOUTING DARTMOUTH:
Dartmouth is off to its best start since also starting the 2014-15 season at 6-1. The Big Green began the season with four consecutive wins before suffering the first loss at Army. Dartmoth bounced back with two wins, including snapping a seven-game losing streak against New Hampshire with a 57-49 victory on Tuesday afternoon. Dartmouth is 28th nationally in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 55.4 points per game. Dartmouth has also been impressive from the free throw line where it ranks 16th in the NCAA at 77.5-percent. Cy Lippold ranks eighth in the Ivy League at 15.0 points per game. Kate Letkewicz is fifth in the Ivy with 8.0 rebounds and leads the league from 3-point range at 43.9 percent.

A GLIMPSE INTO THE DARTMOUTH SERIES:
UMaine and Dartmouth will meet for the 17th time with the Black Bears holding a 12-4 advantage in the all-time series. Maine, which has won each of the last five meetings, defeated Dartmouth 60-55 in last year's meeting held in Bangor. In that win, Millan tallied 14 points while Sutton added 10 rebounds. The Black Bears were victorious in their last trip to Darmouth, winning 59-41 in 2015. In the last three meetings, Maine has limited Dartmouth to just 43.0 point per game. Maine is 3-2 in its five visits to Hanover.

A key to the game will be Dartmouth's 3-point defense, which ranks 12th in the nation (22.6), facing Maine's red-hot 3-point offense (9.3 per game).

The Black Bears are 34-18 all-time against Ivy League opponents.

BROSSEAU HEATING UP
Julie Brosseau has recorded 20 or more points three of her last five outings while recording double-figures in five-straight games. Over her last five games, Brosseau is averaging 20.6 points and 4.2 three-point field goals.

BETTER WITH 23 ON THE COURT
Tanesha Sutton is a proven leader on the court for the Black Bears. The Black Bears are +110 with Sutton on the court. Sutton, Maine's leader in rebounding (7.8) and assists (3.4) is a posting a team-high +12.22; the highest +/- total on the team.

SETTING THE TEAM THREE-POINT MARK
One game after matching the UMaine all-time record for three-point field goal makes in a game with 14 at Ohio State, the Black Bears knocked down a school-record 16 three-point field goals at home against Maine Maritime Academy (12/5). Blanca Millan led the way, going 6-of-7 from 3-point range.

SECOND OPPORTUNITY
Maine has won the second chance points battle in seven of its first nine games. The Black Bears are outscoring their opponents 108-80 in second chance points. Tanesha Sutton leads Maine and ranks second in the league with 4.0 offensive boards per game (32 total).

HOT START TO THE HALF
The Black Bear offense has been impressive both in the first and third quarters this season. Maine is outscoring its competition 337-252 in the first and third quarters combined.

BROSSEAU FOR THREE
In a game at Ohio State, Julie Brosseau tied the UMaine all-time record for three-point field goals made in a single game when she knocked down seven. Brosseau joined Lauren Bodine and Tanna Ross as the only three in UMaine history to accomplish the feat. Brosseau has hit three or more 3-pointers in each of her last five games and currently leads the America East from 3-point range (35.8) and ranks second in the league with 2.7 three-point field goals per game.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE SUTTON
Tanesha Sutton has recorded three double-doubles in Maine's first nine games. In those games, Sutton is averaging 14.3 points and 11.0 rebounds.

TAKE IT AWAY
Maine has forced 15 or more turnovers in each of its last seven outings. Over that streak, Maine has forced 20 or more turnovers four times, including a season-high 29 takeaways on Dec. 5 against Maine Maritime Academy. The Black Bears are taking advantage of the mishaps, averaging 19.7 points off turnovers.

STREAK OF 70
With a 75 point scoring effort on Nov. 26 against Kennesaw St., the Black Bears recorded their fifth-straight 70+ scoring performance. Maine last scored 70+ in consecutive games on Jan. 2-Jan. 15 of 2000. The point guard on that year's team? Current head coach, Amy Vachon.

SUTTON ON THE BOARDS
Tanesha Sutton, who ranks fourth in the America East in rebounding (7.8), has been a force on the boards for the Black Bears. Sutton has recorded six or more rebounds in eight of Maine's first nine games. Three-times Sutton has pulled down double-digit rebounds and has recorded double-doubles in each of those performances. Offensively, Sutton ranks second in the league with 34 of her 70 total rebounds (3.8) coming on the offensive boards.

OPPOSING FIELD GOAL WOES
The Black Bears have held opponents to a slim 26.0% from 3-point range. Three times this season, Maine has held the opponent to under 30% in overall field goal percentage (28.6 - Tulane; 23.7 - Harvard; 28.8 - Kennesaw St.).

DEFENSE UNDER 50
Maine has prided itself on defense over the past three seasons. The Black Bears are 41-2 over the past five seasons when holding a team under 50 points. What's even more impressive is that the Black Bears have held 43 opponents under 50 points in four seasons.

-UMaine-