Orono, Maine -- Following a 64-56 victory in its America East opener on Wednesday, the University of Maine women's basketball team (8-6, 1-0 AE) looks to start conference play at 2-0 for just the second time in the past 10 years (2015-16). The Black Bears will look for their third-straight victory over Binghamton (9-4, 1-0) when the two meet for the 35th time in history on Saturday at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at the Cross Insurance Center box office or online at
TicketMaster.com.
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Maine's strength of schedule currently ranks as the 20th toughest schedule in the nation whereas Binghamton checks in with the 339th toughest, out of 349 teams.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears opener its America East slate with a eight point victory over visiting Stony Brook to improve to 23-2 at the Cross Insurance Center in league play over their last 25 outings.
Blanca Millan tallied a game-high 20 points, her fifth time besting 20+ this season, while
Julie Brosseau poured in four 3-pointers before ending with 19 points.
Fanny Wadling added seven points and seven rebounds while
Maeve Carroll added six points and a career-high nine boards. Maine won the rebound battle, 40-29, including a 21-13 edge in the second half.
Millan continues to lead Maine's scoring efforts. The sophomore guard, who has recorded double-digit scoring performance in each of Maine's last 13 games, ranks fourth in the league at 17.1 points per game. Millan, who ranks sixth in the league at 48.2% from the floor, has tallied three or more steals in nine games this season. Millan has also dialed it up from long distance, ranking second in the league at 36.6% from 3-point range. Defensively, Millan ranks 21st in the nation with 41 steals and 29th at 2.93 steals per game - tops in the America East in both categories.
Julie Brosseau has been Maine's top 3-point threat. Brosseau, who has hit four or more triples in eight games, ranks third in the league in three-point field goal percentage (34.4) and fourth in the league in 3-point makes per game (2.4).
Tanesha Sutton, averaging 10.1 points per game, is Maine's leader in rebounding (7.1) and assists (3.3). Sutton has recorded six or more rebounds in 11 games, including four double-digit rebounding showing. Sutton ranks fourth in the league in rebounding, seventh in steals (2.4) and seventh in assists.
Fanny Wadling has elevated her play, averaging 9.0 points and 7.4 rebounds in her last four outings.
The Black Bears have held five opponents to 50 or fewer points this season and enter play with the 56th ranked defense, allowing 58.3 points per game. Maine is third in the league with 136 steals and rank third in the league with 18.1 turnovers forced. Offensively, Maine is averaging 65.6 points per game. The Black Bears rank 22nd in the country in 3-point attempts (365), 41st with 114 three-point makes and 51st in three-point field goals per game (8.1). Maine's 114 makes lead the league while its 8.1 per game rank second. The Black Bears, who have racked up 215 assists, lead the league at 15.4 assists per game.
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON:
The Bearcats, playing in their America East opener, enter action riding a five-game win streak after wrapping up non-conference play with an 80-64 victory over Dartmouth. Binghamton features the league's leading scorer in Imani Watkins, who averages 20.9 points per game. Inside the paint, Alyssa James is averaging 10.2 points and ranks third in the league at 8.6 rebounds per game. James is second in the nation in total blocks (60) and blocks per game (4.6); leading the league in each. Sophomore Kai Moon is averaging 11.6 points and is Binghamton's leader in assists (3.1).
Binghamton ranks second in the league in scoring (68.8) and is third in defense (58.0). The Bearcats are the NCAA leaders in blocks, averaging an impressive 7.8 per game. Binghamton leads the league in rebounding (41.9), 3-point makes per game (8.3) and have limited opponents to a slim 34.6% mark from the floor; 22nd best in the nation.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE BINGHAMTON SERIES:
Maine and Binghamton will meet for the 35th time with the Black Bears holding a 21-13 advantage. Maine has won each of the last two meetings, defeating Binghamton 62-49 in last season's regular season finale before knocking the Bearcats out of the America East tournament by a 57-40 final. Maine, which has won 10 of the last 11 meetings, has won four-straight at home against Binghamton and enter play with a 12-4 record all-time at home against the Bearcats.
Blanca Millan, who has tallied double-digits in scoring in two of her three meetings with Binghamton, enters averaging 10.7 points against the Bearcats.
-UMaine-
