Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team returns to the site of its NCAA First Round contest a year ago when it takes on No. 14 NC State in a rare, morning showdown with a 10:30 a.m. tip-off scheduled. The Black Bears are looking for their first-ever win over NC State and their second win over an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) program in as many year's after defeating North Carolina, 85-73, in December of 2018.
Tuesday's contest can be seen on
ACCNX 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:
Bangor, Maine --
Dor Saar registered a game-high, and career-high, 21 point scoring effort but UMaine was unable to conquer Boston University, falling to the Terriers 62-49 in the home opener for the Black Bears on Sunday afternoon.
Saar finished the contest 7-for-14, including a career-best six 3-point field goals, to go along with four assists with just one turnover in over 37 minutes of game play.
Blanca Millan added 10 points in limited action. Millan suffered a cut over her left eye just 49-seconds into the first quarter and did not return until there was 1:09 remaining in the third.
Maine shot 17-of-49 from the field, 9-for-22 from 3-point range, and was able to knock down six of 11 free throw chances.
Much of Boston University's offense came from inside as it outscored Maine 28-16 in the paint and turned in a 35-20 advantage on the boards. The Terriers were also successful from the charity stripe, going 17-for-21 day from the free throw line. Maine native Nia Irving led the Terriers with 20 points and nine rebounds.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears are looking to snap a two-game losing skid after falling on the road at Brown before dropping their home opener to Boston University on Sunday, 62-49. Through three games, Maine ranks fifth in the America East in scoring (62.7) and fourth in scoring defense (64.7). The Black Bears have been extremely efficient from the free throw line, ranking at the top of the America East, and second in the nation, with an 81.1% mark from the stripe (43-53). Maine has also continued its success from a year ago in terms of taking care of the ball, ranking second in the America East with a +5.00 turnover margin and second with just 13.3 turnovers per game through its first three.
Despite suffering a cut above her eye, thus limiting her minutes against Boston University,
Blanca Millan was still able to finish in double-digits (10) for the third time this season and enters ranked second in the America East and seventh nationally at 24.7 points per game. Millan is sixth in the league from the floor (46.8) and fourth from the free throw line (87.1). Her 27 made free throws rank fourth best among the nation's leaders. Defensively, the reigning America East Defensive Player of the Year ranks second at 3.0 steals per game and 11th in blocks (0.7).
Dor Saar, who tallied a career-best 21 points against Boston University, ranks 18th in the league at 10.0 points per game. Saar knocked down a career-best six triples against BU and ranks seventh in the league from 3-point range (28.6) and seventh in 3-point field goals made per game (2.0). With starting post
Fanny Wadling missing the first three games due to injury,
Maeve Carroll has done a nice job filling in the paint. Carroll has led Maine in rebounding in each of the first three games and ranks 11th in the America East with 6.0 rebounds per game.
A LOOK AT NC STATE:
The Wolfpack, selected second in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) preseason coaches poll, are led by Preseason All-ACC selections Ace Konig and Elissa Cunane and newcomer watch list member Jakia Brown-Turner. NC State, playing its fourth-straight game at home, are 3-0 on the young season and have opened with a +39.0 scoring margin in its three wins. The Wolfpack have been fantastic defensively, ranking fourth in the country allowing just 41.3 points per game through their first three, limiting opposing teams to just 24.6% from the floor and 18.9 from beyond the arc. NC State has been equally as impressive on the offensive side of the ball, ranking 39th nationally at 80.3 points per game. Individually, Elissa Cunane guides the Wolfpack, averaging team-highs in points (13.7) and rebounds (8.3). Cunane leads four NC State players who are averaging double-digit scoring efforts as she is joined by Kayla Jones (13.3), Jakia Brown-Turner (10.7) and Jada Boyd (10.7). Boyd is tied for the team-lead with 8.3 rebounds. Kai Crutchfield runs the point for the Wolfpack and leads the team at 3.7 assists per game.
SERIES WITH NC STATE:
Maine and NC State will meet for the sixth time. NC State has won all five previous meetings, including a pair of decisions last season including a 63-51 victory in a NCAA Tournament First Round meeting.
Dor Saar registered 16 points in the last meeting between the two teams while current assistant coach,
Parise Rossignol tallied 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. Three of the five previous games between the two teams took place on neutral sites, including a 1998 meeting in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, won by NC State 89-64. Current Black Bear coach
Amy Vachon played in the 1998 NCAA Tournament meeting. The first-ever meeting in 1989 took place in the Lady Friars Classic (Providence) while the 1994 contest was held as part of the Florida Classic. Maine went 1-3 a year ago against the ACC. The Black Bears are 10-31 all-time against the ACC.
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. The Black Bears opened this year's home slate in front of 1,652 fans.
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 1,512 points, Millan is the America East's active scoring leader. Historically, Millan checks in 40th on the all-time America East scoring list.
33. Katasha Artis (Northeastern) - 1,551
34. Sheila Danker (New Hampshire) - 1,539
35. Carlie Pogue (New Hampshire) - 1,525
36. Jen MacNeill (Drexel) - 1,519
37.
Blanca Millan (Maine) - 1,512
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 1,512 points. She currently stands 160 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 261 career steals. She now stands 18 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 60 of her last 69 games. In all, Millan has finished in double-digits in 76 of her 102 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. This season, Maine ranks 53rd nationally and second in the America East at 13.3 turnovers per game.
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.
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).
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