Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team returns to the Cross Insurance Center for its home opener as it plays host to former conference foe Boston University on Sunday, Nov 17 at 1 p.m. Dating back to 1985, Maine is 26-8 all-time in its home opener including a 73-59 victory a year ago against Toledo. This contest also marks the 73rd all-time meeting between Maine and Boston University.
Tickets are still available for Sunday's home opener! Fans may reserve their seats by visiting
TicketMaster.com or in-person at the Cross Insurance Center box office.
The first 300 fans through the gates on Sunday will receive a commemorative back-to-back champions pennant!
Sunday's contest can be seen on
ESPN3 and heard on the Black Bear Sports Network locally via 96.1 WGUY-FM and worldwide at
GoBlackBears.com.
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OVERVIEW:
LAST TIME OUT:
Providence, R.I. --
Blanca Millan paced all scorers with 27 points but Brown would outscore Maine 15-9 in the extra frame as the Black Bears dropped a 76-70 overtime decision in Providence on Monday evening.
It was back and forth all evening in a game which featured 15 ties and 14 lead changes. The Black Bears led after the first, second and third quarters but a layup from Dominique Leonidas with four seconds remaining in the fourth quarter sent the game to overtime. Brown opened the overtime period with an 11-6 run before hitting 4-of-4 free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
For the second game in a row, Millan was efficient in getting to the free throw line and cashing in from the charity stripe after hitting 12-of-13 while adding seven rebounds and six steals to her 27 point effort. For Millan, it marks the 29th time in her career in which shes registered 20 or more points. Millan was joined in double-digits by
Anne Simon who recorded all 11 of her points in the first half. Simon now has tallied double-figures in each of her first two career games.
Maddy McVicar matched a career-high with 10 points while
Kelly Fogarty added nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc.
As a team, the Black Bears finished 24-of-66 including a 5-of-24 night from 3-point range. Maine hit 17-of-19 free throw attempts and forced 18 turnovers with 10 steals.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears open play at home after going 1-1 on their first road trip, with a season opening 69-56 win at Delaware before falling in overtime at Brown, 76-70.
Blanca Millan led Maine in scoring in each contest, tallying a career-high 37 points on opening night before dropping 27 in the overtime loss. Through two games, Millan ranks second in the nation in scoring, averaging 32.0 points per game and checks in first overall in the NCAA with 25 free throws made. Freshman
Anne Simon has registered double-digit scoring efforts in each of her first two career games and checks in second on the team at 11.5 points per game. With starting forward
Fanny Wadling out,
Maeve Carroll has helped fill the rebounding gap as she leads the Black Bears at 8.5 rebounds per game, coming off a 10 rebound performance at Brown. Carroll is adding 7.5 points per game.
Kelly Fogarty has been a threat from outside in the early going, hitting four of seven (57.1) from beyond the arc.
Maddy McVicar has also provided solid minutes, averaging 5.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in two starts.
Maine has been able to get to the free throw line frequently through its first two games. Helped in part by Millan's 39 free throw attempts, the Black Bears check in seventh in the nation at 88.1-percent (37-42) from the charity stripe. In total, Maine is shooting 40.4-percent from the floor and 25.0-percent from 3-point range.
A LOOK AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY:
The Terriers, selected fourth in the Patriot League Preseason Coaches Poll, is coming off its first winning season in five years (15-14), while matching its best Patriot League mark (11-7) since joining the league. Reigning Patriot League Coach of the Year, Marisa Moseley, in her second year at the helm, leads Boston University which is made up of nine returning letterwinners and six rookies. Maine native Nia Irving returns as the Terriers' leading scorer after averaging 11.8 points and a team-leading 8.5 rebounds a year ago.
In the early going, Boston University is 1-1 on the year after picking up its first win of the year on Tuesday evening with a 78-64 decision at New Hampshire. Riley Childs led the Terriers with a career-high 21 points in Durham while Irving added 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Sydney Johnson (12) and Katie Nelson (11) rounded out four double-figure scorers for the Terriers. Johnson (16.5), Childs (15.5), Irving (13.5) and Nelson (12.5) are all averaging double-digit scoring through the first two games. Boston University is averaging 76.5 points per game and giving up 76.5 per game with 36.0 rebounds while shooting 41.5-percent from the floor and 41.7-percent from 3-point range.
SERIES WITH BOSTON UNIVERSITY:
Maine and Boston University meet for the 73rd time in the long history between the two teams. Boston University is Maine's fourth longest tenured opponent, trailing only Vermont, New Hampshire and Hartford. The Black Bears control the all-time series 40-32. Maine has an impressive 20-8 record at home against the Terriers but the Black Bears have dropped five in a row on their home court in the series. Maine's last home win over Boston University came on Jan. 23, 2008, an 82-77 victory in America East action. The two teams will meet for the first time since a Jan. 16, 2013 meeting which saw the Terriers defeat Maine, 85-54, in Maine. The Black Bears and Boston University have met 10 times in America East postseason play, splitting those games 5-5. Maine defeated Boston University, 68-43, in the 2004 America East title game.
BEAR TRACKS:
CHALLENGING SCHEDULE, ONCE AGAIN:
Last season, the Black Bears challenged themselves with what ended up being the 56th toughest schedule in the country. This year is no different. To start the season, Maine has one ranked team on its schedule (No. 14 NC State) and another (No. 20 Arizona) in which it possibly will meet as part of the Gulf Coast Showcase. Maine's schedule features six teams who participated in postseason tournaments (NCAA/WNIT) a year ago with the potential of two others who were members of the 2019 NCAA Tournament in Drake and Arizona State, who Maine may meet in the Gulf Coast Showcase.
COLLEGE INSIDER MID-MAJOR TOP 25 POLL - No. 15 (11/12/19)
The Black Bears, who were ranked in every edition of the College Insider Mid-Major Poll during the 2018-19 season, check in No. 15 in week two's edition of the 2019-20 poll among top mid-major programs. The Black Bears peaked at No. 12 in the poll last season on Dec. 5. Maine is currently the only America East school represented in the mid-major top-25.
SEVEN TIME AE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Following her historic scoring outing at Delaware (37),
Blanca Millan was awarded with her seventh America East Player of the Week honor, earning a Co-Player of the Week accolade.
MILLAN WITH HISTORIC SCORING EFFORT
Millan's 2019-20 season could not have started better. The senior guard poured in a career-high 37 points in Maine's season opening win over Delaware. The point total was the most by a Black Bear since Jamie Cassidy's 41 point night against Middle Tennessee State on Dec. 28, 1998.
BLACK BEAR FAITHFUL
Maine has led the America East in attendance for three-straight seasons, last year averaging 1,662 fans at home. Maine's average attendance number in 2018-19 ranked second in New England, only trailing UConn.
DECIDED AT THE HALF
Maine was a perfect 21-0 in 2018-19 when leading at the half, including a 14-0 mark in league play. Maine is now 22-1 when leading at halftime over the past two seasons and 49-6 when taking a lead into the half under Vachon.
RARE OPPORTUNITY
The Black Bears have the opportunity to become just the fifth team in America East history to complete a three-peat of the league championship after earning America East Tournament titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Maine earned four-straight titles during the 1994-98 seasons.
MILLAN AMERICA EAST'S ACTIVE SCORING LEADER
At 1,502 points, Millan is the America East's active scoring leader. Historically, Millan checks in 40th on the all-time America East scoring list.
35. Carlie Pogue (New Hampshire) - 1,525
36. Jen MacNeill (Drexel) - 1,519
37. Debbie Lynn (Drexel) - 1,511
38. Kirsten Jeter (Stony Brook) - 1,510
39. Maren Matthias (New Hampshire) - 1,503
40.
Blanca Millan (Maine) - 1,502
MILLAN CLIMBING MAINE'S ALL-TIME SCORING CHART
Millan, who reached the 1,000 point plateau seventh fastest in school history (75) games, enters play eighth on Maine's all-time scoring list with 1,502 points. She currently stands 170 points away from moving ahead of
Sigi Koizar for seventh all-time (1,671).
MILLAN CLIMBING THE ALL-TIME STEALS CHART
Millan checks in with 260 career steals. She now stands 19 steals behind head coach
Amy Vachon for fourth all-time (279) in Maine history. Millan has led the America East in total steals for two-straight seasons.
MILLAN DOUBLE-FIGURE STREAK
Dating back to last season, Millan has posted double-digit scoring totals in 59 of her last 68 games. In all, Millan has finished in double-digits in 75 of her 101 career contests, including a trio of 30+ point scoring efforts.
MILLAN AMONG THE BEST FROM DOWNTOWN SINCE 2000
Since the 2000 season, Millan ranks fourth among Black Bears in 3-point makes over the past 19 seasons. During her tenure at Maine, Millan has hit 177 triples. She stands just seven behind her former teammate,
Sigi Koizar (184), for third on that list since 2000.
DOR'S DIMES
In 2018, point guard
Dor Saar ranked second in the America East in assists (161) and assists per game (4.9) while leading the conference and checking in 25th nationally in assists to turnover ratio (+2.48). Saar currently ranks just 51 assists behind Carrie Goodhue (1988-92 - 309) for 11th on Maine's all-time assists list. Saar tallied five or more assists in 18 of Maine's 33 games in 2018-19.
60 OR LESS
Over the past seven seasons, Maine is 109-18 when holding its opponent to 60 or fewer points. The Black Bears are 47-6 in the Vachon era when limiting teams to 60 or less. Over the past six seasons in league play, Maine is 61-8 when holding America East opponents to 60 points or fewer.
60 OR MORE
On the flipside, Maine is 107-22 over the past seven seasons when it scorers 60 or more. In league play, Maine has a 62-6 record when scoring 60 or more points.
AMERICA EAST PRESEASON POLL
The Black Bears were selected as the unanimous favorite to win the America East, as noted in the America East Preseason Coaches Poll. Maine was selected to win the league for third-consecutive season.
TURNOVER EFFICIENCY
Maine was extremely impressive with its ball control last season. The Black Bears ranked second in the nation, averaging just 11.1 turnovers per game as a team. Maine's 1.45 assist-turnover ratio is seventh best among the nation's leaders. In 18 of its 33 games, Maine turned the ball over just 11 times or fewer, with 10 of those performances ending with single-digit turnover
totals.
HOME SWEET HOME
In 2018-19, the Black Bears went 13-1 in home games, including an 11-1 mark at the Cross Insurance Center. Maine was also undefeated against America East competition at home, going 12-0 against league competition on its home courts in Augusta, Orono and Bangor. Maine carries a 12-game home win streak, 10 of which coming at the Cross Insurance Center, into the 2019-20 season with its last home loss coming against No. 20 Duke back on Nov. 15, 2018.
NEW TEAM & CONFERENCE 3-POINT RECORD
The Black Bears knocked down a UMaine and America East record 273 three-point buckets in 2018-19. Along the way, Maine also set a new school mark for 3-point attempts (826) and matched a single-game high with 16, 3-point field goals made in a win at North Carolina (12/2/18).
SAAR, KAHELIN COMPETE AT FIBA U20 EUROPEAN CHAMPS.
Saar and Kahelin spent time this past summer competing for their native Israel and Finland, respectively, at the U20 FIBA European Championships. Saar led the tournament in assists per game (5.3) and ranked fourth in scoring (18.0) to go along with 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 steals and just 2.2 turnovers per game to help guide Israel to a fifth place finish. Kahelin averaged 4.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists to help Finland earn a promotion to Division A.
BLACK BEARS IN THE PROS
Maine currently has six former players competing professionally for their respective teams overseas:
Milica Mitrovic (Partizan - Serbia);
Sigi Koizar (Enisey Krasnoyarski kraj - Russia);
Mikaela Gustafsson (Telge Basket - Sweden);
Tanesha Sutton (Norrkoping Dolphins - Sweden);
Chantel Charles (Clarinos - Spain) and
Anna Heise (Jahn Muenchen - Germany).
TAPLEY COMPLETE MARINE OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL PHASE OF MARINE OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL
In the summer of 2019,
Sierra Tapley completed completed Marine Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Quantico Marine Base in Quantico, Va. This comes following her completion of the Junior phase of OCS in the summer of 2018.
INTERNATIONAL VIBE
As has been the norm over the last few seasons for the Black Bears, Maine features numerous players from around the globe on its roster including players from Luxembourg (Simon); Israel (Saar); Spain (Millan), Germany (Barra), Slovakia (Bolozova), Finland (Kahelin) and Sweden (Wadling).
-UMaine-
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