Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (10-8, 2-2 America East) returns to the road on Thursday, Jan. 18 when it continues its conference slate at Hartford (12-6, 4-1 AE) at 7 p.m. The Black Bears will be looking for their fifth consecutive win against Hartford and seventh-straight on the road in the series.
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A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears were victorious in their return home on Monday when they defeated Vermont, 64-55.
Blanca Millan tallied her third double-double of the season as she led the way with a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Tanesha Sutton added 15 points and five boards while
Dor Saar, who has tallied double-digits in back-to-back games, notched 11 points. Maine was very impressive will ball security, turning it over just four times which was its lowest total dating back to the 1999-2000 season. The rebounding effort remained strong for the Black Bears as they pulled down 35 total boards, 15 of which coming on the offensive end to lead to a 19-9 advantage in second chance points.
Millan, who has now recorded double-digit scoring efforts in 17 consecutive games while surpassing 20 points on seven occasions, ranks fourth in the America East at 17.9 points per game. Millan has been especially impressive in league play where she's averaging 20.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 steals. The sophomore has posted impressive shooting percentages, ranking fourth in the league from the floor (48.3) and fifth from three-point range (35.7). Defensively, Millan leads the America East in total steals (51) and steals per game (2.8) - ranking 18th nationally in total steals.
Julie Brosseau, who missed the Vermont game and all but three minutes of the UAlbany game due to an injury, is 11th in the league in scoring (12.3). Brosseau, also a sophomore, has been steady from the 3-point line where she ranks third in the league (35.7) and fourth at 2.4 three-point makes per game.
Tanesha Sutton, who ranks 20th in the league at 10.2 points per game, is Maine's leader in rebounding (6.9) and assists (3.1); ranking fourth and seventh in the league, respectively, while checking in seventh in steals (2.0). Sutton, who has tallied seven or more rebounds in nine games, is averaging 3.2 offensive boards (4th - AE).
Dor Saar looks to stay on her strong pace after tallying 11 points in each of Maine's last two outings.
SCOUTING HARTFORD:
The Hawks currently stand tied at the top of the America East standings at 4-1. Hartford began league play with wins over UAlbany, Stony Brook and UMass Lowell before suffering a setback at Binghamton. Most recently, Hartford defeated UMBC, 65-54, behind season-high scoring outputs from Janelle Harrison (23) and Lindsey Abed (22). The victory was Hartford's sixth-straight at home.
The Hawks feature a balanced scoring attack with four players averaging double-figures, led by Abed (13.3). The guard also leads the team, and ranks fifth in the league, at 3.9 assists, and checks in as the league leader from the free throw line (89.2). Janelle Harrison is chipping in 11.9 points and leads the rebounding front for the Hawks at 6.2 per game while ranking fourth in the league from the floor (48.8) and second in steals (2.6).
Hartford, averaging 65.5 points per game this season, is the tops in league-play at 70.0 points per outing. Maine will look to take advantage of Hartford's rebounding struggles which place them eighth in the league at 32.5 boards per game as they've been outrebounded by a -6.7 margin. Defensively, the Hawks lead the league with 13.2 steals per game and a +7.28 turnover margin; sixth best in the nation. Hartford also possesses the league's leading 3-point defense, holding its opponents to a slim 27.3%.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE HARTFORD SERIES:
Maine and Hartford will meet for the 73rd time in history. The Black Bears enter play holding a 44-28 advantage in the all-time series. Maine has won each of the last four meetings, six of the last seven, and six-straight road games in the series. Hartford's last win in the series came on March 8, 2015 when it defeated the Black Bears, 65-54 in the semifinals of the America East championship. Dating back to 1985, Maine is 20-13 all-time at Hartford.
Blanca Millan has been impressive in her first two outings against the Hawks, tallying double-digits in both meetings, including 23 in the matchup in Bangor a year ago. Millan (18.5) and Brosseau (11.5) each enter averaging double-figures against the Hawks.
-UMaine-
