Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (9-7, 2-1 America East) wraps up its two-game road swing when it travels to UAlbany (13-3, 2-1 AE) for a rematch of the 2016 and 2017 America East title games live on ESPN3 and broadcast across the Black Bears Sports Network. The Black Bears, who split their regular season meetings with UAlbany last season, look for their first win in Albany since Feb. 1, 2015.
 

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A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears bounced back nicely from an overtime loss to Binghamton with a convincing 64-50 road victory at UMBC on Wednesday. Maine dominated the glass, outrebounding the Retrievers 45-26, with 20 of its 45 boards coming on the offensive end. Maine outscored UMBC 44-21 in the second and third quarters combined. For the sixth-straight game, Blanca Millan led the UMaine scoring attack, finishing with her second career double-double after tallying 19 points and 11 rebounds. Julie Brosseau recorded her fourth consecutive double-figure performance, and 10th of the season, with 18 points on a 7-for-13 shooting night while Tanesha Sutton added 11 points and seven boards.

Millan, who has recorded double-digit scoring efforts in each of Maine's last 15  games, enters play ranked fourth in the league at 17.5 points per game. The sophomore has been on fire in conference play as she is averaging 20.0 points per game and 6.3 rebounds while shooting an impressive 48.1-percent from the floor while leading the conference in 3-point shooting (37.0). Defensively, Millan has kept opponents in check as she is the league's leader in steals (2.9) - ranking 21st in the nation with 46 total steals. Julie Brosseau has also had a strong start to America East play as she is averaging 19.0 points with a 47.8-percent mark from three point range against league foes. Overall, Brosseau checks in at 13.1 points per game while ranking second in the league from three-point range (35.7) and third in three-point makes per game (2.5). In her last four outings, Brosseau is averaging 3.8 three-point field goals with a 44.4 percent mark from beyond the arc. Tanesha Sutton, who checks in at 9.8 points per game, has been the biggest key to Maine's rebounding success. Sutton, who leads Maine in rebounding (7.2) and assists (3.2), ranks fourth in the league in rebounding. Sutton has grabbed six or more rebounds in 13 games this season, including four double-digit rebounding performances.

Maine, which ranks fourth in the league in scoring (65.3) and third in scoring defense (58.3), has had great offensive success from beyond the arc. The Black Bears lead the America East in three-point makes per game (8.1), led by the top two 3-point threats in the league in terms of percentage (Millan/Brosseau). Maine's 130 three-point field goals are a league best while the Black Bears check in third among league leaders in 3-point percentage (31.5). Maine has been heavy to the glass over its last four outings, averaging 42.0 rebounds in the span including a season-best 20 offensive rebound performance at UMBC. Maine also checks in with the league's highest assist mark at 15.4 per game.

SCOUTING UALBANY:
UAlbany, 5-1 at home this season, enters action at 2-1 in the league after coming from behind to defeat Stony Brook on the road in overtime, 72-68. Tiana-Jo Carter led the way in the victory with a career-best 22 points. The Great Danes are led by the league's third-highest scorer in Jessica Fequiere who enters play averaging 18.3 points while also leading the Danes in rebounding (6.0) and steals (2.2). Tiana-Jo Carter is adding double-figures at 10.5 points per game while the offense runs through Mackenzie Trpcic, the league's leader in assists (5.8).

UAlbany enters with the league's highest scoring offense, averaging 70.0 points per game and check in sixth in scoring defense, allowing 61.8 points. Maine must take care of the ball against UAlbany who leads the league in turnovers forced at 22.7 (12th best nationally). Maine, which ranks highly in the league throughout all 3-point categories, will face a UAlbany defense which ranks eighth out of nine in the league in 3-point defense (32.8). The Great Danes are the leagues highest rated offensive rebounding team, averaging 16.1 offensive boards, and check in with an America East leading +4.6 rebounding margin.

A GLIMPSE INTO THE UALBANY SERIES:
Maine and UAlbany will square off for the 37th time in history with the Black Bears holding a slim 19-18 advantage in the all-time series. The two teams, which have met in each of the last two America East Championship games, will be facing off for the first time since UAlbany's 66-50 America East title victory on March 10, 2017.  UAlbany has won two-straight in the series, taking both meeting on its home court a year ago. Maine's last victory in the series came at home a year ago when it defeated the Danes 84-71 in Bangor. Maine's last win at UAlbany came on Jan. 25, 2015, a 56-42 victory. Maine is 8-10 all-time in Albany. Blanca Millan enters play averaging 13.0 points against the Great Danes, totaling double-digits in two of her three contests including a 26 point effort in Maine's 2017 win.

LEADING THE WAY
Blanca Millan has led the Black Bears in scoring in each of the last six games. Over that span, Millan is averaging 17.8 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 44.2% to go along with 15 steals. Millan began conference play with back-to-back 20+ scoring efforts in is averaging 20.0 points per game and 6.3 rebounds in league play.

REBOUNDING RESURGENCE
The Black Bears have been impressive on the glass over their last four outings. In the last four games, Maine is averaging 42.0 rebounds while holding a +9.0 rebounding margin over its opponents. In three of the last four, Maine has pulled down double-digit offensive boards, including a season-best 20 at UMBC. Maine is 7-1 this season, including a 2-0 mark, when outrebounding its opponent.

ALLOW 60 OR LESS
The Black Bears are 8-1 this season when allowing 60 or fewer points. The Black Bears have won eight straight contests in which they've allowed 60 or less.

DEFENSE TO 50 OR LESS
Maine has prided itself on defense over the past four seasons. The Black Bears are 49-3 over the past five seasons when holding a team to 50 or fewer points. What's even more impressive is that the Black Bears have held 52 opponents to 50 or fewer points over the last five years.

BETTER WITH 23 ON THE COURT
Tanesha Sutton, a proven leader for the Black Bears, has played a large part in Maine's success this season. The Black Bears are +126 with Sutton on the court. Sutton, who leads Maine in rebounding and assists, is averaging a team-high +7.88 per game.

SUTTON ON THE BOARDS
Tanesha Sutton, who ranks fourth in the America East in rebounding (7.2), has been a force on the boards for the Black Bears. Sutton has recorded six or more rebounds in 13 of Maine's first 16 games. Four-times Sutton has pulled down double-digit rebounds, recording double-doubles in three of those performances. Offensively, Sutton ranks third in the league with 53 of her 115 total rebounds (3.3) coming on the offensive boards.

TAKE IT AWAY
Maine has forced 15 or more turnovers in each of its last 14 outings. Over that streak, Maine has forced 20 or more turnovers five times, including a season-high 29 takeaways on Dec. 5 against Maine Maritime Academy. The Black Bears are taking advantage of the mishaps, averaging 17.8 points off turnovers.

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