Orono, Maine -- The Black Bears begin a four-game road stretch when they travel to meet Yale for the first time since 2015, and fourth time in history, on Friday evening at 6 p.m.
Friday's game will be broadcast live on
ESPN+ and streamed to the international viewing audience on
Stretch Live. 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:
Through three games,
Anne Simon currently ranks in the top 10 among America East leaders in six categories. Simon ranks third in the league in scoring (17.0) with double-figures in each of Maine's first three games. Simon is eighth in the league in rebounding (6.0), third in 3-point field goals made per game (2.0) and sixth among the steals leaders at 2.0 per game.
Maeve Carroll, who has double-figures in two of Maine's first three outings, is coming off a team-high 18 point performance against Delaware. Carroll ranks ninth in the league in scoring (12.3), third in assists (5.3), and fourth in rebounding (7.0). Second-year point guard
Alba Orois has been impressive in the early going. After tallying a career-high 13 points against Providence, Orois filled the stat sheet with nine points and career-highs in rebounds (8) and assists (9). Orois currently ranks first in the conference, and 34th nationally, at 6.0 assists per game.
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.
A LOOK AT YALE:
After not competing during the 2020-21 season due to the Ivy League canceling its season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bulldogs returned to the hardwood on Nov. 9 with a 63-57 overtime victory over Providence. Yale, which produced a school-record tying 19 wins in its last full season of competition (2019-20), returns seven players from the 2019-20 season and welcome in eight newcomers. The Bulldogs, off to a 3-0 start, are led by junior forward Camilla Emsbo who averaged 15.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game in 2019-20 while earning All-Ivy League honors in 2019-20. Through three games, Yale is featuring three players averaging double-digits led by Emsbo who is averaging a double-double with a team-highs in scoring, 16.3 points per game, and 11.7 rebounding. Jenna Clark is added 14.3 points and a team-high 5.3 assists while Alex Cade rounds out the double-figure scorers at 11.0 points with 6.7 rebounds. Yale is fresh off a 60-53 victory over Sacred Heart on Wednesday evening. Emsbo led the way in the win with 26 points and 15 boards.
SERIES WITH YALE:
Maine and Yale will be meeting for the fourth time in history and the first since 2015. Maine is 1-2 all-time against Yale and has dropped two-straight in the series. Maine won the first-ever meeting between the two, 92-62, in 2003 in a game played in Portland, Maine. The Black Bear are 0-1 all-time at Yale, falling 57-55 in New Haven. Yale defeated Maine, 86-85, in the only meeting held in Orono in 2014. The last two meetings between the two programs have been separate by just three total points. Maine is 38-21 all-time against the Ivy League and have beaten all of its member institutions at least once.
Tale of the Tape
| Maine (0-3) |
Category |
Yale (3-0) |
| 57.0 |
Points Per Game |
62.0 |
| 85.7 |
Opponent Points Per Game |
56.7 |
| -28.7 |
Scoring Margin |
+5.3 |
| 37.4 |
Field Goal Percentage |
35.8 |
| 23.5 |
3-Point Field Goal Percentage |
23.1 |
| 70.4 |
Free Throw Percentage |
71.4 |
| 31.0 |
Rebounds Per Game |
43.3 |
| -12.0 |
Rebound Margin |
+6.3 |
| 14.7 |
Assists Per Game |
10.0 |
| 15.0 |
Turnovers Per Game |
19.3 |
| 13.0 |
Turnovers Forced Per Game |
19.0 |
| 4.7 |
Steals Per Game |
9.0 |
| 2.7 |
Blocks Per Game |
4.0 |
-UMaine-
