Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (18-7, 11-1) takes its seven game win streak on the road to face UAlbany (11-13, 8-3), who enters with a four-game win streak of its own, on Saturday afternoon at SEFCU Arena. Over its current seven game win streak, the Black Bears are averaging 73.3 points per game and holding opponents to 51.1 for a scoring margin differential of +22.1.
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Tale of the Tape
| Maine |
Category |
UAlbany |
| 18-7/11-1 |
Record/Conference |
11-13/8-3 |
| 67.3 |
Points Per Game |
54.0 |
| 59.1 |
Opponent Points Per Game |
58.0 |
| +8.2 |
Scoring Margin |
-4.0 |
| 43.1 |
Field Goal Percentage |
38.5 |
| 34.1 |
3-Point Field Goal Percentage |
28.5 |
| 70.4 |
Free Throw Percentage |
59.9 |
| 33.1 |
Rebounds Per Game |
36.6 |
| -1.1 |
Rebound Margin |
+1.9 |
| 16.8 |
Assists Per Game |
12.5 |
| 11.7 |
Turnovers Per Game |
17.6 |
| 2.7 |
Blocks Per Game |
3.3 |
| 8.8 |
Steals Per Game |
7.1 |
LAST TIME OUT:
Four Black Bears finished in double-digits as the University of Maine women's basketball team (18-7, 11-1) avenged its loss to Hartford (16-9, 9-2) by handing the Hawks a 78-58 victory on Senior Night at the Cross Insurance Center. The win, Maine's seventh in a row, moved the Black Bears into sole possession of first place atop the America East standings while also clinching an America East quarterfinal home game.
The final point spread marked the seventh time this season in which the Black Bears have defeated a conference foe by 20 or more points this season.
Tanesha Sutton and
Parise Rossignol each recorded memorable senior nights, both finishing in double-figures. Sutton, who stands just six points from 1,000 in her collegiate career, led all scorers with 24 points, on 9-of-14 shooting, to go along with nine rebounds while Rossignol went 6-of-9 from 3-point range to finish with 18 points, six boards and four assists. Rossignol has now posted double-digit scoring efforts in each of her last six outings.
The duo was joined in double-figures by
Blanca Millan and
Dor Saar. Saar posted a career-high 19 points with six assists while Millan filled the stat sheet with 15 points, three assists, four steals and career-high five blocks. Millan's point total moved her into 10th on Maine's all-time scoring list with 1,300 career points while her steal total advanced her to fourth on the Black Bears' career steals list with 233.
Fanny Wadling tallied 10 rebounds and five assists on the evening, her fifth double-digit rebounding effort of the season.
Maine finished 28-of-55 from the floor, good for its second-best shooting performance of the year (50.9) while it knocked down 11 triples while going 11-of-13 from the free throw line. The Black Bears, who shot 53-percent or better in three of the four quarters, sealed the game by going 9-of-13 (69.2) in the final stanza.
For the fifth time in its last six games, Maine was able to tally 20 or more assists as it notched 20 helpers on 28 field goals. Defensively, the Black Bears forced 18 Hartford turnovers and outscored the Hawks 25-13 in points off those mishaps.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears, coming off their seventh-straight win, moved to 8-1 at home after handing the league's second place team, Hartford, a 78-58 defeat.
Tanesha Sutton, on her senior night, tallied 24 points and enters action at UAlbany just six points away from 1,000 points in her collegiate career, factoring in the 28 she scored her freshman season at Duquesne.
Four players are averaging double-digit scoring efforts over the seven game win streak including Millan (17.1), Rossignol (16.0), Sutton (12.2) and Saar (11.0). Saar continues to control the point as she has produced an impressive 41 assists to just eight turnovers in the seven game stretch. Â
Millan picked up a pair of career milestones in the win over Hartford, tallying her 1,300 career point to move her into 10th place on Maine's all-time list while her five steals moved her into sixth on Maine's all-time register.
Overall, Maine boasts three scorers ranking in the top 10 among the league's scoring leaders. Millan checks in as the league's overall leader at 17.2 points per game, tallying 20 double-digit performances this season and besting 20 points on 10 occasions. Sutton is one of three players in the league who ranks in the top 10 in scoring (5th-13.5), rebounding (3rd-7.0) and assists (8th-2.7).
Parise Rossignol, the league's leader from beyond the arc (45.4%), ranks eighth among America East leaders at 12.5 points per game. Rossignol's 3-point percentage ranks ninth in the nation. Rossignol, who hit six triples against Hartford, has recorded two or more three-point field goals in each of her last seven outings. In league only scoring, Millan and Rossignol rank one and two at 15.8 points and 15.7 points, respectively. On the defensive side, Millan leads the America East at 2.8 steals per game, good for 23rd nationally. Saar ranks second in the America East at 5.3 assists per game, 32nd in the nation, and leads the league with an impressive 2.68 assist/turnover ratio; a mark which ranks 19th best in all of the NCAA.
As a unit, the Black Bears lead the America East in scoring offense at 67.3 points per game. The offense has been especially impressive from beyond the arc where Maine leads the league in three-point percentage (33.1), three-point field goals per game (8.3) and ranks 18th in the nation with 210 total 3-point makes on the year. Ten times this season Maine has knocked down double-digit 3-point field goal totals in a single game. Focusing on league play alone, Maine leads the America East at 70.8 points per game in league action to go along with a 51.1 scoring defense, good for a +19.7 scoring margin in league contests. On a national level, Maine checks in seventh-best in the nation with just 11.7 turnovers per game while its 16.8 assists per game are 23rd nationally to go along with a 1.43 assist/turnover ratio which checks in seventh in all of NCAA.
A LOOK AT UALBANY:
The Great Danes rank third in the America East standings and can credit much of their four-game win streak to their defense. UAlbany has held three of its last four opponents to 53 points or fewer, including limiting two under 41 points. In all, UAlbany ranks third among league leaders in scoring defense (58.0) while limiting conference only opponents to just 55.5 points. The Great Danes' offense checks in seventh best in the nine team league, averaging 54.0 points per game. Kyara Frames leads the scoring attack for UAlbany, ranking 11th in the league at 11.6 points per game and fifth with 3.0 assists with a 30.5-percent showing from 3-point range. Heather Forster has ranked near the top of the league in rebounding all season, currently checking in second at 7.1 boards per game to go along with 8.5 points. Alexi Schecter has elevated her game in conference play, averaging 11.4 points per game against league foes.
SERIES WITH UALBANY:
Maine and UAlbany, who have met in two of the last three America East Championship contests, will square off for the 40th time in history. Maine holds a slim, 21-19, edge in the all-time series after defeating the Great Danes, 76-65, earlier this season. In that victory, Millan posted a game-high 27 points, starting the day 8-of-9 from the field before finishing 10-of-14. Rossignol added 20 points in the win while Sutton chipped in 15 points, six boards and five assists. The Black Bears led by as many as 24 in the contest. Maine has won two in a row in the series.
Since the series began in 2001, Maine is 8-11 all-time at home against UAlbany. The Black Bears last win at UAlbany came in 2015. The Great Danes have won five-straight at home in the series with Maine.
Millan has tallied double-digits in five of her six contests against the Great Danes and enters action averaging 16.0 points per game in the series. Sutton, who has recorded four double-digit showings in five outings with UAlbany, is averaging 13.6 points all-time against the Great Danes.
SEASON NOTES:
THE BLACK BEARS IN LEAGUE PLAY...
Maine is 11-1 in league action, currently riding a seven-game league winning streak, and a perfect 7-0 at home against league opponents. Against league foes, the Black Bears rank at the top in scoring offense (70.8), while ranking second-best in scoring defense, allowing just 51.1 points per game for a scoring margin of +19.7. Maine has defeated seven conference opponents by 20 points or more, with all league wins coming by at least 11.Maine is shooting 46-percent from the floor in America East action and averaging 18.8 assists. Individually,
Blanca Millan (15.8) and
Parise Rossignol (15.7) rank first and second among league leaders in America East scoring average.
COLLEGE INSIDER MID-MAJOR TOP 25 POLL - No. 20 (2/13/19)
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 Feb. 13. Maine currently sits at No. 20 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 72 nationally, 33 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.
TOSSIN DIMES:
The Black Bears have tallied 20 or more assists in six of their last seven outings. Over the seven-game win streak, Maine has racked up 146 assists to just 79 turnovers. Nine times this season Maine has surpassed the 20 assist mark in a single game.
Dor Saar ranks 32nd in the nation at 5.3 assists per game and 20th with a 2.64 assist to turnover ratio. Over Maine's current seven-game win streak, Saar has recorded 41 assist to just eight turnovers. On the season, Saar has tallied five or more assists on 16 occasions.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Black Bears have been impressive at home as of late. Maine is 56-6 on its home court in its last 62 outings, including a 37-3 mark in America East play over the past 40 league contests. Under Coach Vachon, the Black Bears are 28-3 at home. This season, Maine is 9-1, 7-0 in league play, at home with the lone loss being a three point decision to then No. 20 Duke. Maine is averaging 78.3 points per game at home. Millan is averaging 20.2 points at home while Rossignol is adding 18.0 at the Cross Insurance Center in 2018-19. The Black Bears are shooting 47.6% on their home court and averaging an impressive 20.6 assists.
SUTTON CLOSING ON 1,000 POINTS:
Tanesha Sutton now stands just six 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 three scorers ranked in the top-10 among America East overall leaders in leading scorer
Blanca Millan (1st-17.2),
Tanesha Sutton (5th-13.5) and
Parise Rossignol (8th-12.5). 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 (Millan - 1st 15.8), (Rossignol - 2nd 15.7), and
Tanesha Sutton (7th - 13.1). Â
TURNOVER EFFICIENCY:
Maine has been extremely impressive with its ball control this season. The Black Bears currently rank ninth in the nation, averaging just 11.7 turnovers per game as a team. Maine's 1.43 assist-turnover ratio is seventh best among the nation's leaders. In 12 of its 25 games, Maine has turned the ball over just 11 times or fewer, with seven 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 15 points against Hartford, Millan moved into 10th on Maine's all-time scoring list. She currently stands just 88 points away from passing Lauree Gott for 10th all-time (1,387).
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 in 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 20 of Maine's first 25, 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 51 of her last 58. In all, Millan has finished in double-digits in 67 of her 92 career contests.-
DEFENSE = VICTORY
Over the past two years, Maine is 33-2 when holding its opponent to 60 or fewer points. The Black Bears are 41-5 in the Vachon era when limiting teams to 60 or less. This season, Maine is holding league opponents to just 51.1 points per game in America East play and is 14-1 when holding opponents under 60 points, 7-1 when opponents are held under 50.
MILLAN CLIMBING THE ALL-TIME STEALS CHART:
Millan's five steals against Hartford moved her into a tie with Julie Bradstreet for fifth on Maine's all-time steals list (232). She now stands 47 steals behind
Amy Vachon for fourth all-time (279).
SUTTON ON THE BOARDS:
Tanesha Sutton currently ranks third in the conference, at 7.0 rebounds per game. On Dec. 30 against Chattanooga, Sutton tallied her eighth career double-double, also tallying her 500th career rebound along the way. With her 10th career double-double (10 rebs) at UNH, Sutton moved into 18th on Maine's all-time rebounding list. She now stands just 26 rebounds out of 17th all-time (598).
RECORD BREAKING NIGHT FOR ROSSIGNOL - PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
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. Rossignol bounced back with a 13 point showing at UNH, helping her earn her second America East Player of the Week honor of the season.
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.
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. Since then, UNC has gone on to defeat Notre Dame and NC State.
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.
-UMaine-
