Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team begins its 58th season when it travels to open the season at Nebraska on Tuesday at 1 p.m. Tuesday's season opener can be seen on the
Big Ten Plus ($) and heard nationally on the
Black Bears Sports Network and locally on 92.9 FM The Ticket. Maine is 34-23 all-time in season openers and 5-1 in its last six opening day match-ups.
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.
A LOOK AT NEBRASKA:
The Cornhuskers welcome five starters and 10 letterwinners back from a year ago after finishing 13-13 overall and 9-10 in the Big Ten and advancing to the round of 16 in the WNIT. Nebraska features All-Big Ten selection Sam Haiby (16.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.4 apg) and All-Big Ten honorable mention selection Isabelle Bourne (13.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg). Nebraska features six newcomers in a recruiting class ranked among the top-25 classes in the nation. Nebraska checked in ninth in the Big Ten in scoring (69.5) in 2020-21 and ninth in scoring defense (70.1). The Cornhuskers are coached by Amy Williams who begins her sixth season at the helm in Nebraska. Williams is 72-75 at Nebraska and guided the Cornhuskers to an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2018.
SERIES WITH NEBRASKA:
Maine and Nebraska are meeting for just the second time in history. Maine is 1-0 all-time against the Cornhuskers after capturing an 89-82 victory on Jan. 6, 1988 in a contest played in Bangor, Maine. The Black Bears are 4-13 all-time against current Big Ten programs. Maine's last win over a Big Ten program was on Nov. 11, 2016 when it defeated Purdue, 67-47. All four of Maine's wins against the Big Ten have come at home
-UMaine-
