Orono, Maine -- The Black Bears welcome former conference rival Delaware to the Cross Insurance Center for Monday evening's non-conference showdown at 7 p.m.. Maine will return to the Cross Insurance Center for the first time in 620 days (March 4, 2020) after playing its season opener and all games during the 2020-21 season on campus at The Pit inside Memorial Gymnasium. This match-up marks the 25th all-time meeting between the two programs. Tickets can be purchased in advance at TicketMaster.com or in-person at the Cross Insurance Center box office.
Monday's game will be broadcast live on
ESPN+ and streamed to the international viewing audience at
AmericaEast.tv. The game can also be heard worldwide on the
Black Bear Sports Network and locally in Maine on
92.9 The Ticket.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears, who sit just outside the College Insider Mid-Major Top-25 poll after receiving 54 votes in the first poll of the season (Nov. 2), were selected No. 2 in the America East Preseason Coaches poll a year after reaching the America East title game for the sixth-straight season. Maine returns two starters and nine letterwinners and will be led by America East Preseason All-Conference selection
Anne Simon and 2021 America East All-Conference Second Team honoree
Maeve Carroll. Maine will look to fill the void left by the departure of two-time America East Player and Defensive Player of the Year
Blanca Millan (21.4 ppg) and All-Conference point guard,
Dor Saar (9.5 ppg/4.8 apg). Simon returns as Maine's top scoring threat a year after ranking fifth among America East scoring leaders at 12.5 points per game to go along with 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Carroll, who ended the 2020-21 season on a five-game double-figure scoring streak, ranked 13th in the conference in scoring (10.7) and eighth in rebounding 6.1). Carroll enters play as Maine's active leader with 12 double-doubles in her career. Maine will look for key minutes from sophomore point guard
Alba Orois who averaged 3.6 ppg and 0.8 apg in limited minutes (16.0/game) a year ago.
Maine will look to carry its offensive success into the 2021-22 season after leading the America East in scoring at 66.2 points per game. The Black Bears offense featured a dangerous 3-point threat as the Black Bears completed the 2020-21 season tops among America East leaders in 3-point percentage (32.5), 3-point field goals made (149), and 3-point field goals made per game (7.5). Maine also limited its turnovers, ranking 19th in the nation and tops in the America East with just 12.3 giveaways per game. On the defensive end, Maine ranked second in the league in turnovers forced (18.0) while checking in second in the conference, and seventh nationally, in scoring defense after limiting the opponent to 52.7 points per game.
Through two games, Simon currently leads the America East in scoring at 19.0 points per game and checks in third in rebounding (7.3) coming off her fifth career double-double.
Maeve Carroll leads the America East in assists (6.0) and checks in eighth in rebounding (6.5).
Alba Orois, coming off a career-high 13 point outing, ranks 16th in the league in scoring (10.5) and fifth in assists (4.5).
A LOOK AT DELAWARE:
The Blue Hens, selected first in the CAA Preseason Coaches Poll, return 10 letterwinners from last year's CAA regular season championship team. In 2020-21, the Blue Hens finished the season 24-5, 16-2 in CAA play, and went on to capture the WNIT Charlotte Region Championships before advancing to the semifinal round of the WNIT. Jasmine Dickey, the reigning CAA Player of the Year and 2021-22 CAA Preseason Player of the Year selection, leads the Blue Hens after averaging 22.6 points and 9.1 rebounds a year ago. Dickey was joined by Ty Battle on the 2020-21 All-CAA First Team after posting 12.0 points and 11.1 rebounds last year. The Blue Hens are 1-1 on the year after earning an 87-48 victory in their season opener over Chestnut Hill College before most recently falling to Princeton, 76-56. Dickey is averaging 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds through the first two games while Tyi Skinner is adding 16.0 points, 5.0 boards, and 4.5 assists. Battle rounds out the double-figure scorers at 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds.
SERIES WITH DELAWARE:
Maine and Delaware are meeting for the 25th time in history. The Black Bears currently maintain an 18-6 edge in the all-time series. The teams are meeting for the first time since Nov. 8, 2019 when Maine traveled to Delaware to capture a 69-56 win behind 37 points from
Blanca Millan. Maine is hosting Delaware for the first time since 2009. The Black Bears are 8-4 rall-time at home against the Blue Hens. Maine has not beaten Delaware at home since Jan. 22, 1999 (81-51).
Tale of the Tape
| Maine (0-2) |
Category |
Delaware (1-1) |
| 55.5 |
Points Per Game |
71.5 |
| 87.0 |
Opponent Points Per Game |
62.0 |
| -31.5 |
Scoring Margin |
+9.5 |
| 36.1 |
Field Goal Percentage |
38.1 |
| 24.1 |
3-Point Field Goal Percentage |
27.0 |
| 58.8 |
Free Throw Percentage |
75.0 |
| 30.5 |
Rebounds Per Game |
46.5 |
| -14.5 |
Rebound Margin |
+13.5 |
| 14.5 |
Assists Per Game |
10.5 |
| 16.0 |
Turnovers Per Game |
17.5 |
| 14.0 |
Turnovers Forced Per Game |
19.5 |
| 5.0 |
Steals Per Game |
7.0 |
| 5.0 |
Blocks Per Game |
4.0 |
**Per University of Maine system guidance, UMaine Athletics will require all guests attending home hockey and basketball events to provide full proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test, which must be administered within the previous 72 hours. Patrons must have a mask in place covering their nose and mouth prior to entry to the venues.
Face coverings remain required indoors for all persons - students, staff, faculty, and visitors, on campus at all UMaine Athletics sporting events, regardless of vaccination status. All guests over the age of two will be required to wear a face covering, except while eating or drinking.
The University of Maine reserves the right to request additional screening of patrons prior to entering the building. The additional screening would consist of a symptom check and temperature scan.
If guests are unable to provide valid proof of vaccination, a valid negative test, or fail the enhanced screening, guests will be turned away from the event.
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets to UMaine Athletics events prior to arriving at the venue and also are encouraged to arrive early to the venue on gameday.
Please click here for a synopsis of the UMaine Athletics COVID-19 vaccination policy.**
-UMaine-
Â
