Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team will host its first America East title game since 1998 when it goes for its conference record eighth title on Friday, March 9 against No. 6 Hartford at the Cross Insurance Center at 4 p.m. Maine is 7-10 all-time in conference title games and will be looking for its first championship since 2004. The Black Bears, who are No. 22 in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll, will be appearing in their third consecutive title game and their first championship contest against Hartford.
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A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears, winners of 14 of their last 15 and five straight entering tournament play, cruised through the America East quarter and semifinals with wins over UMBC (65-43) and New Hampshire (64-48).
Blanca Millan averaged 18.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in the first two rounds after efforts of 21 points and 16 points, respectively.
Parise Rossignol chipped in a pair of double-figure efforts off the bench while
Tanesha Sutton enters the title game averaging 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in the postseason. In the opening two rounds, Maine was able to get off to hot starts, holding its opponent to just 10 total first quarter points.
First team all-conference and all-defensive team selection Millan ranks second in the conference at 17.7 points per game. Millan, who ranks fourth in the league from the floor (44.8), has tallied double-figures in each of Maine's last 30 games, finishing with 20 or more on 12 occasions. Her 2.2 three-point field goals per game check in fourth best in the conference. Defensively, Millan has swiped a steal in 36 straight games and ranks 12th in the nation with 95 totals steals and 15th at 3.1 per game. Her 219 field goals are 35th most in the country. Sutton, a second team all-conference selection, has notched double-digits in each of her last seven outings and 14 of her last 15 while averaging 12.0 points per game. Sutton leads the Black Bears in rebounding (7.2), fourth best in the league, with seven or more rebounds in 16 contests. Her six double-doubles leads the team this season while she also ranks in the top-10 in the conference in assists (2.9) and steals (1.9).
Dor Saar, the America East Rookie of the Year, has turned in seven double-digit performances in league play and leads the Black Bears at 3.0 assists per game.
Julie Brosseau is adding 11.2 points and ranks fifth in the league at 2.1 three-point field goals per game.
Maine's defensive effort continues to shine as the Black Bears enter play ranked tied for 16th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 55.5 points per game. Maine has limited 14 opponents to 50 points or less and are currently allowing just 45.5 points per game in postseason play. Offensively, Maine ranks second in the league at 65.6 points per game. The Black Bears lead the league in all three-point categories including percentage (33.1), makes per game (7.9), total makes (244) and attempts (737) - ranking in the top 50 nationally in all of the above. Maine's overall 42.0 percent showing from the floor leads the America East.
MAINE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT HISTORY:
- Maine is 42-24 all-time in conference postseason action and enter at 24-17 in America East tournament action. (4-5 Seaboard Conference, 14-2 North Atlantic Conference).
- This is Maine's 11th appearance as the No. 1 seed and first since 2014-15.
- Maine is 23-6 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 14-7 all-time in quarterfinal action, 18-3 in the semis and 7-10 in title games.
- The Black Bears have never faced the No. 6 seed in the tournament.
- Maine is 3-5 all-time in the postseason against Hartford. The two teams have never met in the title game.
- Maine and Hartford last met in the America East tournament in 20015 when No. 5 Hartford defeated No. 1 Maine, 65-54.
- Maine's last win over Hartford in postseason play came in 2003, a 71-51 quarterfinal decision.
- 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.
- Maine will be hosting the championship game for the first time since the 1997-98 season, when Coach Vachon was the point guard. The No. 2 Black Bears defeated No. 1 Vermont that season, 81-80, to advantage to the NCAA Tournament.
A LOOK AT HARTFORD:
The Hawks advanced to the title game after battling back from down 15 to upset No. 3 Binghamton, 72,-68, in overtime before knocking off the six-time defending champions UAlbany, 58-56. Hartford, which has won five in a row, is led by All-Conference Second Team selection Lindsey Abed. Abed is averaging 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Janelle Harrison, who was named to the league's All-Defensive team, is adding 11.9 points, a team-high 6.2 rebounds and ranks second in the league with 72 steals. Third team all-conference pick Darby Lee is chipping in 11.4 points.
The Hawks check in third among America East leaders in scoring (64.6) and sixth in defense, allowing 59.8 points per game. Hartford has been extremely impressive with its ball security. The Hawks rank seventh in the country with a +7.42 turnover margin and eighth in the NCAA with 22.4 turnovers forced. Hartford is currently second in the nation in total steals (391) and sixth at 12.6 steals per game. Rebounding has been a weak point for Hartford where they check in last in the America East at 32.9 per game. Hartford's three-point defense, which ranks 36th nationally (28.5) will be tested against Maine's high-powered three-point threats.
HISTORY VS. HARTFORD:
Maine and Hartford will meet for the 75th time in history. The Black Bears enter play holding a 46-28 advantage in the all-time series. Maine has won each of the last six meetings, eight of the last nine, and four straight home games in the series. Earlier this season, Maine held Hartford to its season-low of 44 points in a 59-44 road victory for the Black Bears. Maine, which forced 19 turnovers and held a 37-24 advantage on the boards, was led in scoring by
Blanca Millan (15) and
Tanesha Sutton (14) in game one. Game two was much closer, with Maine escaping with a 59-56 victory in Bangor. Maine overcame 28 turnovers and a 28-25 halftime deficit to go to capture the victory thanks to
Tanesha Sutton's go ahead bucket with 22-seconds remaining. Millan's clutch block on Hartford's' final attempt sealed the victory. Millan finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and six steals in the win while
Julie Brosseau added 19 with five treys.
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 25-11 all-time at home against the Hawks.
Blanca Millan has been impressive in her first four outings against the Hawks, tallying double-digits in all four meetings. Millan enters play averaging 17.8 points against Hartford.
POSTSEASON HISTORY VS. HARTFORD:
The Black Bears a 3-5 all-time in postseason play against Hartford. This will be the first time the two meet in the championship game. Hartford has won each of the last three postseason meetings between the two teams. Maine's last postseason win against Hartford came in 2003, a 71-51 quarterfinal victory. The Black Bears are 3-1 against Hartford as the No. 1 seed. The teams first met in the postseason in 1991 where Maine captured a 79-59 victory in the North Atlantic Conference semifinals.
MAINE IN THE TITLE GAME:
Maine is hosting the championship game for the first time since 1998, a game in which they defeated No. 1 Vermont, 81-80. Maine is 7-10 all-time in the conference title game. The Black Bears last tournament championship came in 2004, a 68-43 victory over Boston University. Maine has won a record seven conference championships (1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004).
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