Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team returns to the Cross Insurance Center for the first-time since Nov. 17 when it hosts Husson University on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. The Black Bears host the Eagles in regular season competition for the first time since 1986 in the 20th overall meeting between the two teams.
Tickets for Wednesday's contest are still available and may be purchased at
TicketMaster.com or in-person by visiting the Cross Insurance Center box office during regular operating hours.
For those unable to make it to Wednesday's contest, the game will be streamed at
ESPN+ and also broadcast via radio locally via 96.1 WFUY-FM and worldwide at
GoBlackBears.com.
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OVERVIEW:
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
Maine returns home after completing a three-game run in the highly competitive Gulf Coast Showcase. Despite dropping its three games at the Showcase, the Black Bears were led by
Maeve Carroll who averaged 11.0 points and 4.3 rebounds with a 58.3-percent mark from the floor at the Showcase.
Dor Saar turned in 8.7 points and 2.3 assists while averaging an impressive 38.0 minutes in the three-game span.
In the first half of Maine's contest against Arizona State,
Blanca Millan suffered a torn ACL, ending her 2019-20 season. At the time of injury, Millan was leading the Black Bears in scoring (18.2) and rebounding (6.3).
Dor Saar is Maine's active scoring leader as she enters averaging 9.3 points per game and a team-high 3.1 assists, eight best among America East leaders. Saar has posted four or more assists in four of Maine's first eight games, including a season-high six in a win over Navy. Saar checks in fifth-best in the conference in 3-point field goals per game (2.0).
Maeve Carroll, was has turned in double-digit scoring efforts in three of her last four outings, is averaging 8.0 points and 6.0 rebounds. Carroll, who ranks 12th in the America East in rebounds per game, has a pair of double-digit rebounding efforts on the season. Her 52.8-percent showing from the floor ranks tops among Black Bears and second-best among America East leaders. Freshman
Anne Simon, who has started seven of the first eight games, is adding 5.5 points and 2.1 rebounds.
The Black Bears have been impressive at the free throw line through their first eight games. Maine ranks second in the conference and 54th nationally with a 74.7-percent mark from the charity stripe. Defensively, Maine has racked up 58 steals, averaging 8.3 per game which is second-best in the conference.
A LOOK AT HUSSON:
The Eagles are off to a 1-3 start with their lone win coming over St. Joseph's (Brooklyn), an 88-70 victory back on Nov. 17. Husson has dropped its last two contests, most recently falling 76-64 at Saint Joseph's (Maine) on Saturday, Nov. 23. The Eagles, who have won each of the last four North Atlantic Conference (NAC) championships, were selected as the league's preseason favorite again in this year's preseason coaches poll. With the loss of 2019 NAC Player of the Year, Kenzie Worcester, Husson looks towards 2019 All-NAC second team selection Joan Overman to lead the way. Overman enters action averaging 7.0 points per game, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals through the first four. Freshman Bailey Donovan has burst onto the scene, entering averaging a double-double with team-highs in both scoring (17.5) and rebounding (12.0) to go along with a 70.7-percent mark from the floor. Sami Ireland is adding 9.8 points while Megan Peach is chipping in 7.8 points and a team-best 4.3 assists and ranks second on the team at 7.3 rebounds per game.
The Eagles are averaging 65.5 points per game through their first four while giving up 68.5. Husson, averaging 16.8 assists per game, are adding 41.0 rebounds while holding a +5.5 rebounding margin over its competition.
SERIES WITH HUSSON:
Maine and Husson meet for the 20th time in history. Maine holds an 18-1 advantage over the Eagles. The two teams neighboring squads are meeting in the regular season for the first-time since 1986 where Maine captured a 79-26 victory. Maine has won 16 consecutive meetings with Husson with its last, and lone, loss coming in 1976. Maine and Husson first met in 1975, a 70-43 victory by the Black Bears.
DOR'S DIMES
Despite only being a junior,
Dor Saar is currently the America East active leader in assists (279). Saar, who has amassed five or more assists 27 times and double-figure assist totals once in her career, currently stands 30 assists behind Carrie Goodhue (309) for 10th on Maine's all-time list. For her career, Saar is averaging 3.8 assists per game.
CARROLL DOUBLE-FIGURES
With starting forward
Fanny Wadling missing the first eight games due to injury,
Maeve Carroll has stepped in to a large role in the paint. Carroll has registered double-digit scoring performances in three of her last four outings, including matching a career-high with 14 points in her last contest against Dayton. In Maine's win over Navy, Carroll notched her first career double-double with 10 points and a career-best 14 rebounds. Over her last four games, Carroll is averaging 10.8 points and 6.8 rebounds.
ENERGIZER BLACK BEAR
Dor Saar has ranked among the nation's leaders in minutes played over the past two seasons. Currently, Saar ranks second in America East and 11th in the nation at 38.06 minutes per game. In her career, Saar has produced 40 or more minutes in a single game 15 times.
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