Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team puts its three-game win streak on the line when it begins the second half of the America East schedule at New Hampshire on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Black Bears, now tied for first place atop the America East standings with Hartford, have won each of their last five meetings with New Hampshire.
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Tale of the Tape
| Maine |
Category |
UNH |
| 14-7/7-1 |
Record/Conference |
4-17/1-7 |
| 67.2 |
Points Per Game |
54.6 |
| 61.1 |
Opponent Points Per Game |
66.7 |
| +6.1 |
Scoring Margin |
-12.1 |
| 42.8 |
Field Goal Percentage |
35.4 |
| 33.3 |
3-Point Field Goal Percentage |
26.8 |
| 69.7 |
Free Throw Percentage |
71.2 |
| 33.3 |
Rebounds Per Game |
31.9 |
| -1.0 |
Rebound Margin |
-7.3 |
| 16.5 |
Assists Per Game |
10.8 |
| 11.4 |
Turnovers Per Game |
15.3 |
| 2.4 |
Blocks Per Game |
2.7 |
| 8.0 |
Steals Per Game |
7.6 |
LAST TIME OUT:
Parise Rossignol set a new UMaine school-record with eight made three-point field goals as the Black Bears cruised to a 79-45 victory over visiting UMass Lowell (6-15, 2-6) on Wednesday evening. The Black Bears are now 11-0 all-time against the River Hawks.
With Hartford's loss to Binghamton, the Black Bears now move into a tie atop the America East standings with the Hawks at 7-1 in league play.
Rossignol, who finished with a career-high 32 points, went 8-of-11 from three point range and finished 12-for-19 overall from the field on her record breaking evening. Rossignol's eight three-point field goals are tied for 13th most in a single game in the NCAA this season and tied for third in the America East all-time record books. The senior guard recorded 21 of her game-high 32 in the first half alone.
Tanesha Sutton added 11 points as 10 Black Bears found the scoring column.
The offense was on fire all night for Maine, which went 31-of-67 overall from the floor while hitting an impressive 14-of-32 (43.8) from beyond the three point arch. Maine's three point total marked the eighth time this season in which it has finished with double-digit makes from long range.
Maine, which scored its third consecutive victory, dominated in all aspects of the contest, winning the rebounding battle 45-28, including a 26-12 first half margin, while assisting on 26 of its 31 field goals.
As much as the focus was on the offense, the Black Bears were also impressive on the defensive end where they forced 17 turnovers and limited the River Hawks to just 17 total field goals and just five first quarter points.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears, who have strung together three consecutive victories, recently climbed atop the America East standings thanks for Binghamton's victory over Hartford. Maine, coming off a 79-45 win over UMass Lowell, is averaging 80.7 points over its current three-game win streak. Over the span, Maine is holding a +25.7 scoring margin over its last three opponents. In its win over UMass Lowell,
Parise Rossignol dropped a career-high 32 points while setting the school-record with eight makes from three-point range.
Maine, which leads the league in scoring at 67.2 points per game overall, enters play averaging 72.3 points per game against league foes. In conference only play, Maine boasts the leagues top two scorers with
Parise Rossignol (16.4 ppg) and
Blanca Millan (16.3) leading the way in league contests. Rossignol is shooting an impressive 56.3-percent from the floor in conference play, including a 50.0-percent mark from three-point range. Overall, Millan leads the league in scoring at 17.6 points per game. The junor, who stands just eight points behind Ashleigh Roberts for 12th on Maine's all-time scoring list, has dropped double-digit scoring efforts 17 of Maine's 21 games this season, including each of her last three, and has bested 20 points on nine occasions. Defensively, Millan leads the league with 2.7 steals per game and currently stands just eight steals outside of sixth all-time in Maine history.
Tanesha Sutton checks in fifth among league leaders in scoring at 13.4 points per game and ranks third-best at 6.9 rebounds. Rossignol, after tallying double-figures in six of Maine's first eight conference games, ranks seventh overall among America East leaders in scoring at 12.2 points per game. Rossignol leads the league at 42.7-percent from 3-point range, averaging 2.2 triples per game.
The ball control displayed by the Black Bears this season has been impressive. Maine ranks sixth in the nation in turnovers per game, giving it away just 11.4 times per game. Maine's 1.44 assist to turnover ratio also checks in sixth best in the nation. The Black Bears lead the conference in field goal percentage (42.8), three-point field goals per game (8.3) and check in second-best among league leaders in three-point percentage (32.7).
A LOOK AT NEW HAMPSHIRE:
The Wildcats, riding a five-game losing skid, return home after a short two-game road trip which concluded on Wednesday with a 59-41 loss at Albany. New Hampshire has struggled to score this season as it ranks 331st in the nation out of 349 teams at 54.6 points per game. The Wildcats are last in the league in field goal percentage (35.4) and eighth out of nine teams in three-point percentage (26.8). New Hampshire has also had trouble on the boards this season, ranking 340th nationally and last in the conference at 31.9 rebounds per game.
Ashley Storey, who has missed the last six games, was averaging 17.6 points per game before her setback. Kari Brekke checks in at 9.6 points per game while Caroline Soucy is adding 8.5 points and 5.1 rebounds.
SERIES WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE:
Maine and New Hampshire will meet for the 92nd time in their storied history. The Black Bears enter play with a 56-35 advantage in the series and have matched up against UNH the second most times of any of its opponents (Vermont-93). Dating back to 1985, Maine is 19-15 at home against the Wildcats. Maine has won five-straight in the series, including a 67-46 decision earlier this season in Maine. In that win,
Parise Rossignol went 8-of-9 from the floor, tallying a team-high 18 points, while
Tanesha Sutton added a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards. Maine dominated the boards, 37-18, and held a 20-3 advantage in second chance points thanks to 13 offensive rebounds.
The two teams first met in 1920, a 15-13 victory by the Wildcats. Millan, who has tallied double-figures in each of her seven outings with UNH is averaging 13.7 points per game in the series.
Tanesha Sutton is averaging 10.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in her seven previous meetings with New Hampshire.
SEASON NOTES:
COLLEGE INSIDER MID-MAJOR TOP 25 POLL - No. 23 (1/30/19)
The Black Bears have been ranked in every edition of the College Insider Mid-Major Poll this season. Following a five-game win streak, Maine peaked in the poll at No. 12 on Dec. 5, hanging strong at the position for two-straight weeks. The Black Bears have been the highest ranking America East school in the poll this season and are currently the only America East school ranked in the latest edition of the poll, released on Jan. 30. Maine currently sits at No. 23 in the most up to date poll.
TO BE THE BEST, YOU'VE GOT TO BEAT THE BEST:
The Black Bears challenged themselves with one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country. Through its first 13 games, Maine had gone up against the 56th toughest schedule in the nation, out of 351 total Division I squads. Maine's rating percentage index (RPI) currently sits at 71 nationally, 39 spots above the next highest America East team, Hartford. RPI is used to rank teams based upon a team's wins and losses and its strength of schedule. Maine's 13 non-conference games included contests against 10 teams who appeared in the 2017-18 postseason in one form or another.
RECORD BREAKING NIGHT FOR ROSSIGNOL:
On Jan. 30 against UMass Lowell,
Parise Rossignol set a new UMaine school-record with eight three-point field goal makes. Rossignol finished the game with a career-high 32 points. Hereight three-point field goals are tied for 13th most in a single game in the NCAA this season and tied for third in the America East all-time record books. The senior guard recorded 21 of her game-high 32 in the first half alone.
SUTTON CLOSING ON 1,000 POINTS:
With six points against UMass Lowell,
Tanesha Sutton now stands just 84 points away from becoming the 21st Black Bear in the history of the program to tally 1,000 points. Included in the total is her 28 points which she tallied during her freshman season at Duquesne. If she reaches the mark, Sutton and Millan would become the first Maine duo to reach the 1,000 point plateau in the same season since Ashley Underwood and Bracey Barker achieved the feat in 2006-07.
FEATURED SCORERS - TOP 10
The Black Bears currently have two scorers ranked in the top-5 among America East overall leaders in leading scorer
Blanca Millan (1st-17.6) and
Tanesha Sutton (5th-13.4). Taking a look at conference only stats, Maine is the only school with three players ranked in the top-10 of the league's leaders in scoring, including both of the top two (Rossignol - 1st 16.4), (Millan - 2nd 16.3), and
Tanesha Sutton (9th - 12.4).
TURNOVER EFFICIENCY:
Maine has been extremely impressive with its ball control this season. The Black Bears currently rank sixth in the nation, averaging just 11.4 turnovers per game as a team. Maine's 1.44 assist-turnover ratio is also sixth best among the nation's leaders. In 11 of its 21 games, Maine has turned the ball over just 11 times or fewer, with six of those performances ending with single-digit turnover totals. Maine had a season-low three turnovers in its win at Vermont. Against Binghamton, Maine tallied 23 assists to just four turnovers.
MILLAN QUICK TO 1,000 AND CLIMBING THE CHARTS:
On a three-point field goal in the first quarter at Harvard (12/4),
Blanca Millan became the 20th Black Bear in history to reach 1,000 career points. Millan did so in her 75th career game, making her the seventh fastest in UMaine history to eclipse the mark. With 20 points at Stony Brook, Millan moved into 12th on Maine's all-time scoring list. She currently stands just nine points away from passing Ashleigh Roberts for 11th all-time (1,248).
MILLAN TALLIES 30, ASSISTED BY SAAR:
Blanca Millan poured in a career-best 36 points in Maine's win over Brown. The total marked the first-time a Maine player had bested 30 points in a game since
Sigi Koizar tallied 30 on Feb. 20, 2016. In that same game,
Dor Saar notched a career-high 11 assists - the first time a Black Bear had bested 10 assist sin a game since Koizar's 10 against North Dakota State on Nov. 22, 2015.
MILLAN DOUBLE-FIGURE STREAK:
After starting the season with double-figures in each of Maine's first five games,
Blanca Millan has tallied double-digits in 17 of Maine's first 21, including back-to-back 20+ point efforts against Bryant (23) and #20 Duke (25), a 21 point showing at North Carolina, 26 points at Harvard and 27 against UAlbany. Millan's season-best effort came in a career-high 36 point showing against Brown. Dating back to last season, Millan has posted double-digit scoring totals in 48 of her last 54. In all, Millan has finished in double-digits in 64 of her 88 career contests.-
DEFENSE = VICTORY
Over the past two years, Maine is 29-2 when holding its opponent to 60 or fewer points. The Black Bears are 37-5 in the Vachon era when limiting teams to 60 or less. This season, Maine is holding league opponents to just 52.5 points per game in America East play.
A SCORING EFFORT FOR THE RECORD BOOKS:
On Dec. 8, 2018, the Black Bears defeated Brown by a 102-96 final in overtime at the Cross Insurance Center. That win marked the highest combined point total for a Black Bear women's basketball game in history (198). It also marked the second time an
Amy Vachon coached team hit the century mark, and the first 100 point effort for Maine against a Division I team since a 110 point effort in 1997 against Drexel.
CONFERENCE OFFENSE:
Maine's offense has been on fire throughout league play, averaging a league-best 72.2 points per game against conference foes. Rossignol (16.4) and Millan (16.3) rank first and second in conference only scoring. All seven of Maine's conference wins have come by double-digits, including a 40 point victory over UMBC. Maine holds a +19.8 scoring marging over league opponents.
MILLAN CLIMBING THE ALL-TIME STEALS CHART:
Millan has tallied 200 steals over her time at UMaine. Her five steals against Brown moved her ahead of Melissa Heon and into seventh all-time at Maine. Millan currently stands eight steals away from sixth all-time at Maine - a mark held by Cathy Iaconeta (224).
SUTTON ON THE BOARDS:
Tanesha Sutton currently ranks third in the conference, at 6.9 rebounds per game. On Dec. 30 against Chattanooga, Sutton tallied her eighth career double-double, also tallying her 500th career rebound along the way. Taking a look at Maine's all-time rebounding standings, Sutton is three boards behind Ashleigh Roberts for 20th all-time (552).
HOME SWEET HOME
The Black Bears have been impressive at home as of late. Maine is 54-6 on its home court in its last 60 outings, including a 35-3 mark in America East play over the past 38 league contests. Under Coach Vachon, the Black Bears are 26-3 at home. This season, Maine is 7-1, 5-0 in league play, at home with the lone loss being a three point decision to then No. 20 Duke. Maine is averaging 79.9 points per game at home. Millan is averaging 20.6 points at home while Rossignol is adding 18.5 at the Cross Insurance Center in 2018-19. The Black Bears are shooting 47.8% on their home court and averaging an impressive 20.6 assists.
RECORD NIGHT IN NORTH CAROLINA:
The Black Bears matched an all-time, single-game record for three-point field goals with 16 makes in their win at North Carolina on Dec. 2.
STORMING BACK TO WIN THE CLASSIC:
In both of its games at the Navy Classic (vs. NC A&T and vs. Penn), Maine trailed both at the half and with five-minutes to go. However, Maine was able to comeback in both games, winning each and capturing the Navy Classic title.
BLACK BEARS IN THE PROS:
Maine currently has five former players in the professional level in Europe.
Sigi Koizar ('17) - ZTE NKK (Hungary);
Milica Mitrovic ('16) - Partizan (Serbia);
Anna Heise ('16) - Jahn Muenchen (Germany);
Mikaela Gustafsson ('16) - Telge (Sweden);
Chantel Charles ('16) - Ciudad de la Adelantados (Spain).
TAPLEY COMPLETE JUNIORS PHASE OF MARINE OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL:
In the summer of 2018,
Sierra Tapley completed the Juniors phase of Marine Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Quantico Marine Base in Quantico, Va. Tapley reported to Quantico on May 26 and completed the course on July 6. Tapley plans to complete a six week course next summer known as "Seniors", often described to be more difficult than Juniors due to the advanced physical standards and increased responsibility. Upon completion, she will graduate OCS with a goal of completing a six month period of training known as "The Basic School".
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 Turkey (Alper); Israel (Saar); Spain (Millan), Germany (Barra), Slovakia (Bolozova) and Sweden (Wadling).
VACHON INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME
On Oct. 5, 2018, UMaine women's basketball head coach
Amy Vachon was inducted into the 2018 University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame class. Vachon, who graduated from UMaine in 2000, was a two-time captain for the Black Bears, helping guide Maine to four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Vachon currently still holds the UMaine record for most assists in a single-season (234) and the UMaine and America East record for career assists (759). Vachon was also inducted in the State of Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.
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