Orono, Maine -- For the first time since March 8, 2020, the Black Bears return home as they host the America East's newest member, the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), for a two-game series on Saturday, Jan. 9 and Sunday, Jan. 10. Both games are set to tip-off at 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on
ESPN+ and broadcast across the radio airwaves on 96.1 WGUY-FM and worldwide at
GoBlackBears.com. The contest will mark Maine and NJIT's first meeting since 2009 and NJIT's first trip to Orono since 2008. Maine has won six in a row on its home court.
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OVERVIEW:
After opening the season 6-1 on the road, Maine finally returns home to host NJIT in the first home contest for the Black Bears since last season's America East semifinal win over UMass Lowell. The Black Bears, who will play all of their home games at 'The Pit' inside Memorial Gymnasium this season, bring the top scoring offense in the America East (65.1) into the weekend series.
Blanca Millan, who was recently selected to the 20201 Midseason Watchlist for the Mid-Major Player of the Year Award, ranks in the top three among America East leaders in seven statistical categories. Millan, the league's leader in scoring and 16th in the nation at 23.1 points per game, recently surpassed Emily Ellis to move into sixth on Maine's all-time scoring list. Millan checks in second among America East leaders in rebounding (8.6) and tops in steals per game (2.3). The fifth-year senior has bested 30 points in three games this season while ranking third among league leaders in 3-point field goals made per game (2.1) and 3-point field goal percentage (35.7).
Dor Saar enters the weekend just 45 points shy of 1,000 for her career and ranks third on Maine's all-time assists list. The America East leader in assists per game (5.4) and active career assists leader ranks among the top-40 in the nation in both total assist (38) and assists per game in 2020-21. Saar has also been a threat from downtown where she ranks tops in the America East in 3-point field goals made (19) and 3-point field goals made per game (2.7) with the second best 3-point field goal percentage (41.3) among qualifying America East players.
Anne Simon, who has tallied double-figures in three of her last four games, checks in 11th in the league in scoring (11.1), ninth in rebounding (6.6), and 2.4 assists. After breaking Maine's 3-point field goal record, and tying the America East all-time record, with 10 makes against UNH,
Kelly Fogarty enters the weekend fourth in the league at 31.1 percent from beyond the arc and fourth at 2.0 three-point field goals made per game.
The Black Bears bring the nation's 16th ranked defense into the series as they're allowing just 53.9 points per game on the season, limiting three opponents to 50 points or fewer through seven games. Maine has made its offensive noise from outside, leading the America East in 3-point field goals per game (8.7) and 3-point field goal percentage (32.6). The Black Bears check in first among league leaders, and 39th nationally, at 13.1 turnovers per game.
A LOOK AT NJIT:
The Highlanders have begun their first season in the America East at 2-4 in league play and 2-8 overall. NJIT enters the weekend series riding a three-game losing skid after being swept by UMass Lowell a week ago. NJIT's two wins in the league have come over New Hampshire (78-57) and Vermont (70-60). Kenna Squier enters the series as NJIT's lone player averaging double-figures at 11.0 points per game. Ellyn Stoll is adding 9.0 points while Lyzi Litwinko is averaging 8.3 points and team-highs in rebounding (5.1), assists (2.9), and total steals (10).
As a unit, NJIT has been impressive on the boards as it checks in second in the America East at 40.2 rebounds per game and 20th in the nation with 402 total rebounds. Defensively, NJIT leads the America East in field goal percentage defense (32.9) and blocks (41), ranking 20th and 28th nationally in each category, respectively. NJIT's offense checks in fifth in the league at 56.5 points per game. The Highlanders have struggled to both turnover the opposition and limit its own turnovers. NJIT ranks last in the America East in turnover margin (-5.7) and last in turnovers forced (13.0) while checking in eighth in turnovers per game (18.7).
SERIES WITH NJIT:
Maine and NJIT meet for just the third time in history and the first as co-members of the America East. The two teams last met in 2009, a content won by NJIT in Newark by a score of 63-50. The first-ever meeting came in 2008 where the Black Bears were defeated on their home court, 68-60.
This contest could be decided at the free throw line as NJIT enters as the top fouling team in the league, averaging 18.7 fouls per game, while Maine enters as the league leader in free throw percentage (72.6).
MILLAN NAMED TO MIDSEASON WATCHLIST FOR MID-MAJOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD:
University of Maine guard
Blanca Millan has been named to the midseason watch list for the 2021 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award, presented by Her Hoop Stats, as announced on Jan. 6, 2021. To be eligible for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award, players must compete in one of the 26 conferences deemed to be "mid-major". The following conferences are considered high-major for the purposes of this award, and thus ineligible: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC. The 10 semifinalists will be announced in February, with five finalists being announced in early March. The winner will be announced in late March. The list is fluid and players may play their way on or off the list over the course of the season.
COLLEGE INSIDER MID-MAJOR TOP 25:
The Black Bears check in at No. 12 in the latest poll released on Jan. 5. Maine is the lone America East team represented in the top-25. In the previous week's poll, Maine was ranked No. 9, its highest mark since it was ranked No. 12 on Dec. 5, 2018.
MILLAN CLIMBING THE ALL-TIME CHARTS
Blanca Millan, who in 2018-19 became just the fourth player in history to earn both the America East Player and Defensive Player of the Year honors, continues to climb the all-time charts both at Maine and in the America East record books.
Millan currently ranks 6th on Maine's all-time scoring list with 1,709 points. She stands 95 points behind Heather Ernest (1,804) for 5th all-time.
Millan currently ranks 23rd on the America East all-time scoring list. Millan enters play against NJIT one point behind Jessica Smith (1,710 - Stony Brook - 2003-07) for 22nd; 5 points behind Kate Gordon (1,714 - Hofstra, 1994-98) for 21st; 43 points behind Hanna Crymble (1,752 - Vermont, 2016-20) for 20th; and 53 points behind Imani Tate (1,762 - UAlbany 2015-17) for 19th.
Defensively, Millan ranks tied for third on Maine's all-time steals list (282) with
Liz Wood (282) 18 behind Liz Coffin (300) for second.
Millan currently ranks fourth on Maine's career 3-point list (195), 14 behind
Dor Saar for third all-time and 15 behind Ashley Underwood for second all-time.
On Dec. 4, 2018, Millan became the 7th fastest in Black Bear history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark, and just the third-ever to do it in her third season.
Millan's 15.1 points per game average currently ranks 7th all-time at Maine.
MILLAN EARNS 10th AMERICA EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR:
Twice this season, and 10 times in her career,
Blanca Millan has been named the America East Player of the Week. Millan trails only Cindy Blodgett (17) and Jamie Cassidy (11) for most player of the week awards won during a career at Maine.
FOGARTY SETS 3-POINT MARK:
On Jan. 3, 2021 at New Hampshire,
Kelly Fogarty set a new Maine women's basketball school-record, while matching the all-time America East mark, after she knocked down 10 three-point field goals in a single game. The 10 triples broke her own school-record (9), a mark she set during the 2019-20 season.
SAAR CLOSING IN ON 1,000 POINTS
Dor Saar currently stands just 45 points away from 1,000 in her career. Should Dor reach the mark, she'd become just the 22nd in Maine women's basketball history to reach the plateau.
SAAR - LEGENDARY FROM DOWNTOWN
Dor Saar currently ranks third on Maine's all-time 3-point field goals made list (209). Saar is just one triple away from tying Ashley Underwood (210) for second all-time in Maine history. In a contest at Hartford, Saar became just the third Black Bear in the history of the program to eclipse the 200 three point field goals made plateau.
600 BOARDS
Fanny Wadling, who missed the entire 2019-20 season due to injury, returned to action on Dec. 20 at Northeastern for the first time since March, 23, 2019. Wadling is looking to become just the 17th Black Bear in history to record 600 career rebounds. Wadling is 70 career rebounds away from 600.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE DEFENSE
As impressive as Maine's offense has been through seven games in 2020-21 (65.1 ppg), the defense has been equally, if not more, impressive. Maine enters the weekend with the 16th ranked defense in the nation, allowing just 53.9 points per game. Maine has held three of its first five opponents under 50 points.
DOR DISTRIBUTING
Dor Saar is currently the America East active leader in assists (449). Saar has amassed five or more assists 43 times and double-figure assist totals four times in her career. With three assists at Hartford (12/23/20), Saar surpassed Kim Corbitt to move into third on Maine's all-time assists list. Saar now stands just 38 assists behind Cindy Blodgett (487) for second all-time. Saar matched Maine's single-game assists record (14) in her outing with Husson. Saar is Maine's all-time leader with a 1.87 assist to turnover ratio over her time with the Black Bears. Saar stands 109 assists shy of moving into the top-5 on the America East career assists list.
ENERGIZER SAAR
Dor Saar ranked second in the nation in 2019-20 with 1,238:53 minutes played. Saar led the America East and checked in sixth nationally at 38.72 minutes per game. In her career, Saar has produced 40 or more minutes in a single game 39 times, including 21 times last season. From Jan. 5 to March 8, 2020, Saar tallied 40+ minutes in 16-straight outings. Currently, Saar ranks 21st in the nation in 2020-21 at 37.8 minutes per game.
HOME SWEET HOME:
Over the past four seasons, Maine has built a 47-9 overall record at home and a 35-3 record in league play.
CONFERENCE TIDBITS
Over the past four seasons, Maine has gone 43-9 in America East play.
Maine, which has captured two titles in the past five seasons, has earned five consecutive appearances in the America East title game.
Maine has registered double-digit conference win totals in six of its last seven seasons.
AMERICA EAST PRESEASON POLL:
For the third consecutive season, the Black Bears were selected first in the America East Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced by the league on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Maine also received three selections to the America East Preseason All-Conference team with
Maeve Carroll,
Blanca Millan, and
Dor Saar each earning a spot on the squad. The Black Bears received six of the league's 10 first place tallies, positioning them at the top of the league with 78 total votes. Maine, which earned three of the five Preseason All-Conference slots, is the first school since Boston University in 2010-11 to earn three or more selections to the Preseason All-Conference team.
CARROLL'S SEEING DOUBLE:
Last season (2019-20),
Maeve Carroll led all America East players with 11 double-doubles, including 10 against league competition. In league play, Carroll averaged 15.3 points and league-best 9.0 rebounds against league competition. Carroll earned her first-ever all-conference honor in 2019-20 with a spot on the America East second team.
THREE-POINT OFFENSE
In 2019-20, Maine led the America East in 3-point field goals attempted (757), 3-point field goals made (250), 3-point field goals made per game (7.8), and ranked second in the league in 3-point percentage (33.0).
FACTOR OF 60
Over the past seven seasons, Maine is 125-21 when holding its opponent to 60 or fewer points. The Black Bears are 67-11 in the Vachon era when limiting teams to 60 or less. Over the past seven seasons against league competition, Maine is 72-9 when holding America East opponents to 60 points or fewer.
60 OR MORE
On the flip-side, Maine is 128-25 over the past seven seasons when it scorers 60 or more. In league play, Maine has a 76-8 record when scoring 60 or more points.
DECIDED AT THE HALF
Maine is 40-4 when leading at halftime over the past three seasons and 67-10 when taking a lead into the half under Vachon.
FROM DOWNTOWN
The Black Bears have broke the America East record for 3-point field goals made in a season in two of the past three seasons and, in 2019-20, put up the third most made triples (250) in league history. Over the last four years, Maine is 22-8 when it records double-digit 3-point makes in a single game. Maine now holds each of the top four spots for most 3-point field goals made in a season in America East history (273, 256, 250, 245).
RARE OPPORTUNITY
The Black Bears have the opportunity to become just the fifth team in America East history to complete a three-peat of the league championship after earning America East Tournament titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Maine earned four-straight titles during the 1994-98 seasons. Maine earned a return to the AE Title game in 2019-20, but was unable to compete in the game at Stony Brook when the game was canceled due to COVID-19.
BLACK BEARS IN THE PROS
Maine currently has six former players competing professionally for their respective teams overseas:
Kira Barra (Saarlouis/Dillingen - Germany);
Christiana Gerostergiou (Dafni Agioy - Greece);
Mikaela Gustafsson (Sodertalje); Isabel Hernandez (La Spezia - Italy);
Sigi Koizar (Flammes - France);
Maddy McVicar (Newcastle E. - United Kingdom); and
Milica Mitrovic (Radivoj Korac - Serbia).
CLASS OF 2021
On Nov. 12, Coach Vachon announced five newcomers to the 2021 signing class: Paula Gallego (6-1 - G - Barcelona, Spain); Sera Hodgson (5-11 - G - Rindge, N.H.); Pénélope Mathieu-Castillo (5-11 - F - Montreal, Que.); Adrianna Smith (5-10 - F - Reston, Va.); Bailey Wilborn (5-8 - G - Wichita, Ks.).
INTERNATIONAL VIBE
As has been the norm over the last few seasons for the Black Bears, Maine features numerous players from around the globe. This season, Maine features players from seven different countries including players from Luxembourg (Simon); Israel (Saar); Spain (Millan, Orois), Finland (Kahelin), Denmark (Bornemann), and Sweden (Wadling).
-UMaine-
