ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team takes its four-game win streak on the road when it travels to meet UAlbany on Saturday evening at 5 p.m live on ESPN3. The Black Bears have won five in a row against the Great Danes and scored a 67-61 victory over UAlbany a year ago in their last trip to SEFCU Arena. The contest pits Maine's 3-point offense, averaging a league-best 7.8 triples per game, against UAlbany's league-leading 3-point defense, holding opponents to just 26.2-percent from downtown
Â
TALE OF THE TAPE:
| Maine |
Category |
UAlbany |
| 12-14, 8-4 |
Record |
9-15, 5-6 |
| 60.9 |
Points Per Game |
55.4 |
| 62.5 |
Opponent Points Per Game |
57.2 |
| -1.6 |
Scoring Margin |
-1.8 |
| 40.2 |
Field Goal Percentage |
38.3 |
| 32.6 |
3-Point Field Goal Percentage |
30.9 |
| 74.3 |
Free Throw Percentage |
66.1 |
| 30.6 |
Rebound Per Game |
34.0 |
| -7.0 |
Rebound Margin |
-0.3 |
| 13.6 |
Assists Per Game |
13.8 |
| 13.4 |
Turnover Per Game |
17.0 |
| 7.0 |
Steals Per Game |
5.7 |
| 1.2 |
Blocks Per Game |
3.0 |
OVERVIEW:
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
After defeating Hartford on the road, Maine swept its three game homestand to extend its season-long win streak to four games. During its win streak, Maine is averaging 72.8 points with 9.0 triples per game while limiting its opposition 57.3 points. Over the four game stretch,
Anne Simon is averaging 18.3 points while
Maeve Carroll is adding 17.5. The Black Bears' balanced scoring attack featured a trio ranked inside the top-13 among America East leaders in scoring.
Anne Simon leads all America East freshman in scoring at 12.0 points per game. Simon, with double-digit scoring efforts in each of her last four outings and 12 of her last 14, has picked up her efforts in league play where she's averaging 15.5 points per game. Defensively, Simon leads the Black Bears, ranking sixth among league leaders at 1.7 steals per game.
Dor Saar, who recently moved into sixth on Maine's all-time assists list at 378, is adding 12.0 points per game while ranking second in the league with 4.8 assists. Saar, who has bested five assists in a game 10 times including in each of her last four outings, leads the nation in minutes played (1,006.10), ranking third in the nation at 38.7 minutes per game with 40 or more minutes logged in each of her last 11 outings. Saar, who ranks fifth on Maine's all-time 3-point field goals made list (175), ranks second in America East at 2.7 triples made per game.
Maeve Carroll has recorded seven double-doubles this season, six in league play, and enters action ranking 13th overall in scoring at 11.6 points per game and third in rebounding at 7.8 boards per game. In conference only action, Carroll is nearly averaging a double-double at 15.8 points and 9.1 boards.
Maddy McVicar, coming off a career-high 25 points effort, is adding 9.1 points per game while
Kelly Fogarty is chipping in 7.5. Fogarty checks in fifth among league leaders from 3-point range (35.2) while also ranking fifth-best in 3-point field goals made per game (2.2).
Overall through 12 conference games, Maine leagues the America East in conference only scoring, averaging 67.8 points per game against league competition. The Black Bears are tops in the league in conference play in field goal percentage (43.1) and free throw percentage (76.4) while checking in second best from beyond the arc at 36.1-percent. Overall, Maine's 3-point offense ranks ninth in the nation in attempts (620), 14th in made 3-point field goals (202) and 47th in 3-point field goals made per game (7.8). Maine has also been impressive with its ball control, ranking 32nd in the nation and second in the league with just 13.4 turnovers per game.
A LOOK AT UALBANY:
The Great Danes, 2-2 in their last four after defeating Hartford 63-40 on Wednesday night, feature the league's second-best scoring defense as they're allowing just 57.2 points per game. UAlbany leads the America East in opposing 3-point percentage (26.2), the 12th lowest opposing mark in the nation, and is tops in America East at 13.8 assists per game. The Great Danes check in eighth in the league in scoring (55.4) while ranking sixth from the floor at 38.3-percent. Individually, Alexi Schecter leads UAlbany in scoring, ranking 10th in the league at 12.3 points per game. Kyara Frames is adding 9.0 points while ranking fourth among league leaders at 3.6 assists. Amanda Kantzy is averaging 8.4 points and a team-best 6.8 rebounds per game.
SERIES WITH UALBANY:
Maine and UAlbany, who have captured each of the last eight America East Tournament titles, will square off for the 44th time in history. Maine holds a slim, 24-19, edge in the all-time series and has won five-straight against the Great Danes. Earlier this season, Maine defeated UAlbany, 60-49, in Bangor. In that win,
Dor Saar tallied 21 points while
Maeve Carroll added a double-double with 21 points and 10 boards. Since the series began in 2001, Maine is 9-11 all-time on the road in the series, snapping a five-game losing streak at UAlbany a year ago when it defeated the Great Danes, 67-61, at SEFCU Arena.
Saar has tallied double-digit scoring totals in five of her six outings against the Great Danes and enters play averaging 12.3 points and 5.5 assists in her series against UAlbany.
FOUR GAME WIN STREAK:
Maine is currently rolling on its longest win streak of the season at four games. During its win streak, Maine is averaging 72.8 points with 9.0 triples per game while limiting its opposition 57.3 points. Over the four game stretch,
Anne Simon is averaging 18.3 points while
Maeve Carroll is adding 17.5 and
Dor Saar is chipping in 13.8 points and 7.8 assists.
NATIONAL GIRLS & WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY CELEBRATION - FEB. 23:
Save The Date! You're invited to join the University of Maine athletic department on Sunday, February 23 as the Black Bears proudly host their third annual National Girls & Women in Sports celebration at the Cross Insurance Center, presented by Bangor Savings Bank. To RSVP for this event - please click HERE.
All youth 12 and under will receive a free ticket to the UMaine women's basketball game and pregame interactive sports fair by registering for the event at the following LINK. Parents and guardians of those attending the interactive fair may also purchase a special, discounted ticket for just $7 by contacting the UMaine Athletics ticket office at 207.581.BEAR.
During the month of February, the University of Maine community comes together with the support of the Maine Sports Commission to celebrate the achievements of girls and women in sports. We believe that participation in sports at all ages builds courage, strength, and character and provides women with the confidence and tools to become the leaders of tomorrow.
The month will culminate with a "Lead Her Forward" celebration at the Women's Basketball game vs. Stony Brook on Sunday, February 23 at the Cross Insurance Center. The event will celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day, which builds awareness of Title IX and equal opportunity in sports. The schedule for the day will be:
11:00 a.m. Doors open
11:30 a.m. Interactive Youth Sports Fair
1:00 p.m. Game time - UMaine women's basketball vs. Stony Brook
3:30 p.m. Happy Hour/Networking Event
4:00 p.m. Panel discussion with moderator
4:30 p.m. Keynote Address: Edniesha Curry, UMaine men's basketball assistant coach
-UMaine-
