Orono, Maine -- The No. 1 seeded University of Maine women's basketball team will open its 2018 America East Championship action against No. 8 UMBC on Saturday, March 3 at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine at 12 p.m.
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MAINE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT HISTORY:
- Maine is 40-24 all-time in conference postseason action and enter at 22-17 in America East tournament action. (4-5 Seaboard Conference, 14-2 North Atlantic Conference).
- This will be Maine's 11th appearance as the No. 1 seed and first since 2014-15.
- Maine is 21-6 as the No. 1 seed in conference tournament action.
- Maine has won the conference title six times when ranked No. 1, its last coming in 2003-04 (also its last overall conference tournament title).
- Maine is 13-7 all-time in quarterfinal action, 17-3 in the semis and 7-10 in title games.
- The Black Bears are 7-3 against the No. 8 seed, 6-1 against the No. 4 seed and 4-4 against the No. 5 seed.
- Maine is 0-0 in postseason play against UMBC, 2-2 against Stony Brook and 9-1 against New Hampshire.
- Maine has captured seven conference titles, three as a member of the America East dating back to 2004.
- A year ago, Maine entered as the No. 4 seed, defeating No. 5 Binghamton in the quarters (57-40) and No. 1 New Hampshire in the semis (61-52) before falling to No. 2 UAlbany, in Albany, 66-50 in the title game.
- As the No. 1 seed, Maine has earned the right to host the title game if it is lucky enough to make it that far. If so, it would be Maine's first time hosting the championship game since the 1997-98 season, when Coach Vachon was the point guard.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS: The University of Maine women's basketball team captured its 15th America East regular season title, and its first outright title since 2004-05, after defeating UAlbany in the season finale on Sunday, February 25. The Black Bears, who have won at least a share of three of the last four regular season titles, will now vie for their America East record eighth conference tournament title. A conference championship for Maine would be its first since 2003-04. This season, Maine has accumulated 20 wins for the 20th time in its history.
The Black Bears, winners of 12 of their last 13 and three straight entering tournament play, are coming off an epic 16-point comeback victory over UAlbany. Maine, which forced 20 turnovers and held the Great Danes without a field goal over the final 11:19 of action, was led by
Tanesha Sutton's career-high 27 point outing. Sutton, who was one game removed from a double-double at Vermont, earned the final America East Player of the Week for her performance.
Dor Saar, who was awarded the America East Rookie of the Week, added 11 points and a career-best nine assists while
Blanca Millan stretched her double-figure scoring streak to 28 with 11 points and six boards.
Millan's consistent scoring output, which includes 11 or more points in each of Maine's conference games, has her ranked third in the league at 17.7 points per game. The sophomore guard has produced 20+ points in 11 games this season and is averaging 18.3 points per game against league foes. Millan ranked in the top-10 in six America East categories, checking in eighth in field goal percentage (44.8) and third from beyond the arc (35.8). Defensively, Millan has swiped a steal in 35 straight games and enters play ranked 11th in the country in total steals (90) and 13th in steals per game (3.10); tops in the America East in each category.
Tanesha Sutton, who has recorded double-digits in her last five outings and 12 of her last 13, enters averaging 12.0 points. Sutton leads the Black Bears in rebounding (7.2) and assists (3.0); checking in fourth and eighth among league leaders, respectively. Her 49.8 percent mark from the floor is fourth in the America East while she checks in sixth best at 2.0 steals per game.
Julie Brosseau is averaging 11.5 points per game and has hit three or more treys in 12 games this season. Brosseau is third in the league in three-point field goals per game (2.3) and fifth in outside percentage (35.2). Freshman point guard
Dor Saar is adding 6.0 points 2.7 assists. Saar has posted double-figures in seven of Maine's conference contests and has four or more assists in four of Maine's last five, including a career-best nine against UAlbany.
The Black Bears continue to set the tone defensively in the America East, leading the league and ranking 27th nationally after allowing just 56.2 points per game. In league only action, Maine is allowing just 54.3 points and have held seven opponents to 50 points or less. Offensively, Maine is second in the league, averaging 65.7 points and leads the league in all three-point categories including percentage (33.1), makes per game (8.0), total makes (231) and attempts (698). The Black Bears are also number one in the league in overall field goal percentage (42.0). Maine is just 14 three-point makes away from matching its school-record high of 245 set in 2013-14 and only 15 attempts away from its record of 713. Â
SCOUTING UMBC:
The Retrievers advanced to the America East quarterfinals thanks to a 73-65 victory over UMass Lowell in the league's play-in game on Wednesday evening. Allison McGrath led the charge for UMBC, tallying a career-high 21 points to lead four Retrievers in double-figures. Laura Castaldo leads the way for the Retrievers, ranking 11th in the league at 12.3 points per game. Brittani Burgess is adding 6.8 points and lead the Retrievers in assists (2.8) while adding 5.2 rebounds. Janee'a Summers leads UMBC in rebounding (5.4) and is chipping in 6.5 points.
UMBC has struggled this season on offense, ranking 343 out of 349 teams nationally at 52.5 points per game. UMBC ranks last in America East in field goal percentage (36.2), eighth in free throw percentage (68.2) and seventh in three-point shooting (28.2). Defensively, UMBC is allowing 64.3 points per game, second-highest among America East teams.
HISTORY/POSTSEASON VS. UMBC:
Maine and UMBC, who have never met in America East postseason action, will meeting for the 31st time. The Black Bears, who won two previous meetings this season, are 18-12 all-time against the Retrievers. Maine, which is outscoring UMBC by a +23.5 margin this season, defeating the Retrievers 64-50 on Jan. 10 and again on Jan. 28, 69-36. The Black Bears have won five straight meetings in the state of Maine against UMBC with all nine of its latest victories coming by 10 or more point, including three 30+ margins in three of its last four victories. Millan (13.5) and Brosseau (12.3) are each averaging double-figures against UMBC in four meetings. UMBC is averaging 21.0 turnovers against Maine this season. In its latest victory in the series, Maine featured balanced scoring led by Brosseau, Millan and Sutton who each tallied 14 points.
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