ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team looks for its ninth consecutive victory when it hosts Stony Brook at the Augusta Civic Center on Sunday at 1 p.m. The match-up marks the first time the Black Bears have competed in Augusta since Nov. 23, 2008 when it defeated UMass. A win for Maine will give the Black Bears their fourth 20 win season in the last five years. Prior to the game, beginning at 11:30 a.m., UMaine Athletics will host its Youth Sports Fair in recognition of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The celebration and interactive sports fair will offer fans to try their hand at several different athletic activities, hosted by UMaine student-athletes, club teams and area organizations. Your ticket to the game grants you access to the Sports Fair.
Your donation will help us enhance and grow the success of our women's athletic programs that are already doing great things in competition and in the community. In honor of the women who paved the way for future Black Bear student-athletes, please consider a gift to the women's sport of your choice. You can make your gift in honor of an athlete you admire, a favorite coach, or simply to enhance opportunities for today's student-athletes.
To give and support UMaine Women's Athletics, please visit:
our.umaine.edu/fillthesteins. For more information, please contact Senior Associate Athletic Director
Seth Woodcock by email at
seth.woodcock@maine.edu or by phone at 207.318.5910.
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Tale of the Tape
| Maine |
Category |
Stony Brook |
| 19-7/12-1 |
Record/Conference |
20-6/9-4 |
| 67.3 |
Points Per Game |
65.5 |
| 59.2 |
Opponent Points Per Game |
56.2 |
| +8.1 |
Scoring Margin |
+9.3 |
| 43.0 |
Field Goal Percentage |
42.6 |
| 34.2 |
3-Point Field Goal Percentage |
33.5 |
| 70.6 |
Free Throw Percentage |
67.6 |
| 33.2 |
Rebounds Per Game |
38.1 |
| -1.2 |
Rebound Margin |
+6.2 |
| 16.7 |
Assists Per Game |
17.3 |
| 11.5 |
Turnovers Per Game |
15.1 |
| 2.8 |
Blocks Per Game |
4.0 |
| 8.9 |
Steals Per Game |
8.5 |
LAST TIME OUT:
Blanca Millan tallied 31 points to lead the University of Maine women's basketball team to its eighth-straight win, defeating UAlbany 67-61 on Saturday afternoon at SEFCU Arena.
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Maine (19-7, 12-1), which entered the contest ranked ninth in the nation in turnovers per game, limited itself to just six giveaways. The total marked the eighth time this season in which the Black Bears have finished with single-digit turnover totals. Defensively, Millan and Sutton each tallied four steals as Maine forced 15 UAlbany turnovers with 12 total steals.
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Millan was joined in double-digits by
Tanesha Sutton who finished with 12 points, including her 1,000th collegiate point.
Dor Saar posted 11 points, her second-straight game in double-figures. For Millan, her 31-point effort marked the second time this season in which she's eclipsed the 30-point plateau and her 11th time besting 20 in a game.
Fanny Wadling added 10 rebounds and three blocks in the victory.
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The Black Bears started hot from beyond the arc, shooting 5-of-9 from downtown in the first quarter to help distance themselves from UAlbany. Maine, which committed just three turnovers in the first half, tallied seven steals over the first 20-minutes.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears recently picked up their fifth-straight road victory when they defeated UAlbany, 67-61, on Saturday.
Blanca Millan poured in a game-high 31 steals to help her earn her fifth America East Player of the Week accolade of the season. The victory marked Maine's first win in Albany since 2015.
Millan continued to guide the way for the Black Bears as she leads the America East in scoring at 17.7 points per game. The junior guard, who has tallied 30 or more points twice this season, has recorded 21 double-digit scoring performances this year including surpassing 20 points on 11 different occasions. Millan, who has posted double-digit scoring efforts in each of her last four outings, also leads the league in conference only scoring at 17.0 points per game. Defensively, Millan has posted four or more steals in four of her last five outings and enters as the league leader at 2.9 steals per game.
Tanesha Sutton is one of only two America East players to rank in the top-10 among league leaders in scoring (13.5), rebounding (6.8), assists (2.7) and steals (1.8) while her 48.3-percent showing from the floor is second-best in the America East.
Parise Rossignol, who tallied her 500th career point in Maine's win over Hartford, has reached double-digit scoring efforts in six of her last seven. Rossignol ranks fifth in conference only scoring at 14.8 points per game and leads the league with a overall 3-point mark of 45.1-percent. A total of 16 times this season
Dor Saar has tallied five or more assists in a single game. Saar ranks second in the league at 5.2 assists per game and is atop the league standings with a 2.6 assist to turnover ratio, averaging just 1.6 turnovers per game in league play in 31.0 minutes on average.
Maine rolls into Augusta with the league's top scoring offense as it averaged 67.3 points per game. The Black Bears lead the league in most shooting categories including field goal percentage (43.0), 3-point percentage (34.2) and 3-point field goals made per game (8.3). Maine is 29th nationally out of 349 teams in 3-point field goals made per game. Ten times this season Maine has reached double-digits in 3-point field goals made in a game. The Black Bears pride themselves on taking care of the ball, averaging just 11.5 turnovers per game. Maine's turnover average ranks sixth-best in the nation. Eight times the Black Bears have limited their mishaps to single digits, including an impressive three turnovers in their win at Vermont.
A LOOK AT STONY BROOK:
The Seawolves have won four in a row entering Sunday's meeting after picking up a 68-52 road victory at UAlbany on Wednesday evening. In the win, Shania Johnson led all scorers with 26 points, including six 3-point field goals, to go along with five assists and four steals. In all, Stony Brook finished 11-of-17 from downtown.
Johnson leads the way for Stony Brook as one of the most premier players in the America East. The senior guard ranks second in the league in scoring (16.5), first in 3-point field goals per game (3.3), first in assists (7.7) and third in steals (2.5). Johnson's assist per game average ranks fourth in the nation. Jerell Matthews is adding 16.3 points while India Pagan is chipping in 11.5 points, a team-best 6.0 rebounds and an impressive 51.7-percent showing from the field.
Stony Brook leads the America East in rebounding (38.6) and scoring defense, allowing just 56.3 points per game. Like Maine, the Seawolves take care of the ball, giving it away just 15.0 times per game. Stony Brook ranks second in the league in 3-point percentage (32.6) and 3-point field goals made per game (7.3).
SERIES WITH STONY BROOK:
Maine and Stony Brook have been evenly matched over their 18 year history. Dating back to the first meeting between the two teams in 2001, Maine holds a slim 21-19 advantage in the all-time series. The two teams split each of the last four meetings, with Maine scoring the most recent victory, 68-54 back on Jan. 19. The Black Bears have been impressive on their home court in the series, holding a 12-4 advantage at home over the Seawolves. Maine has won four straight home meetings with Stony Brook. Overall, Maine has won seven of the last nine contests with the Seawolves.
In the first meeting this season, Maine held Stony Brook to just six points in the fourth quarter to help it score a 68-54 victory. Millan led all scorers with 20 points, 13 of which coming in the second quarter, while
Fanny Wadling tallied a double-double with 14 points and 15 boards. Maine assisted on 23 of its 29 field goals in the win.
Tanesha Sutton missed the contest due to an injury.
Millan has tallied 20 or more points in four of her five meetings with Stony Brook. Millan is averaging 12.6 points in the series with the Seawolves.
SEASON NOTES:
THE BLACK BEARS IN LEAGUE PLAY...
Maine is 12-1 in league action, currently riding an eight-game league winning streak, and a perfect 8-0 at home against league opponents. Against league foes, the Black Bears rank at the top in scoring offense (70.5), while ranking second-best in scoring defense, allowing just 51.8 points per game for a scoring margin of +18.6. Maine has defeated seven conference opponents by 20 points or more, with 11 of its 12 league wins coming by double-digits. Maine is shooting 45.5-percent from the floor in America East action and averaging 18.3 assists. Individually,
Blanca Millan (17.0) and
Parise Rossignol (14.8) rank first and fifth among league leaders in America East scoring average.
COLLEGE INSIDER MID-MAJOR TOP 25 POLL - No. 19 (2/30/19)
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 Feb. 30. Maine currently sits at No. 19 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 70 nationally, 40 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.
DURING THE STREAK
The Black Bears are currently riding an eight game win streak where they've gone 4-0 at home and 4-0 in the road. Five of the eight wins have come by 20 or more points. Over the stretch, Maine is averaging 72.5 points per game while holding its opponent to a 52.4 point showing. Maine's scoring margin differential during the win streak currently sits at 20.1. Maine has been impressive from 3-point range over the eight games, shooting 40.1-percent from downtown while averaging 9.4 treys per game. Maine is holding a +7.0 turnover margin as it has averaged just 10.6 turnovers per game during the streak.
TOSSIN DIMES:
The Black Bears have tallied 20 or more assists in six of their last eight outings. Over the eight-game win streak, Maine has racked up 159 assists to just 85 turnovers. Nine times this season Maine has surpassed the 20 assist mark in a single game.
Dor Saar ranks 39th in the nation at 5.2 assists per game and 20th with a 2.58 assist to turnover ratio. Over Maine's current eight-game win streak, Saar has recorded 43 assist to just 10 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 REACHES 1,000 POINTS:
With a free throw in the second half at UAlbany,
Tanesha Sutton became the 21st player in UMaine women's basketball history to eclipse the 1,000 point plateau. The point total included her 28 points tallied as a freshman at Duquesne. In all, it took Sutton 116 games to reach the mark. If you look at only her time at UMaine, Sutton has tallied 978 points in a Black Bear uniform. Currently, Sutton stands just 44 points behind Lisa Cormier for 20th on Maine's all-time scoring list (1,052).
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-17.7),
Tanesha Sutton (5th-13.5) and
Parise Rossignol (8th-12.2). 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 17.0), (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 sixth in the nation, averaging just 11.5 turnovers per game as a team. Maine's 1.45 assist-turnover ratio is sixth best among the nation's leaders. In 13 of its 26 games, Maine has turned the ball over just 11 times or fewer, with eight 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 57 points away from passing Lauree Gott for 10th all-time (1,387).
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 21 of Maine's first 26, 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 and added her second 30 point effort with 31 points at UAlbany. Dating back to last season, Millan has posted double-digit scoring totals in 52 of her last 59. In all, Millan has finished in double-digits in 68 of her 93 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.
CLOSING IN ON ANOTHER 3-POINT RECORD:
The Black Bears enter play just 39 three-point field goals away from tying the all-time mark of 256 triples made in a season, a mark set last season. Maine has tallied 200 or more 3-point field goals in seven-straight seasons.
MILLAN CLIMBING THE ALL-TIME STEALS CHART:
Millan's four steals against UAlbany moved her into fifth on Maine's all-time steals list (236). She now stands 43 steals behind
Amy Vachon for fourth all-time (279).
SUTTON ON THE BOARDS:
Tanesha Sutton currently ranks third in the conference, at 6.8 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 22 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.
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