Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team returns to the Augusta Civic Center for the first time since Feb. 24, 2019 to host Rhode Island for the 26th all-time meeting between the two programs. Maine is 13-12 all-time against the Rams.
Tickets for Sunday's contest remain available and can be purchased online at
TicketMaster.com or by visiting the Augusta Civic Center box office. Sunday's game will be broadcast live on
ESPN+. The game can also be heard worldwide on the
Black Bear Sports Network and locally in Maine on 92.9 F
M.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears, who have challenged themselves by competing against the 58th toughest schedule in the nation thus far, are looking to snap a three-game losing skid and also score their first 'home' victory of the season. Maine continues to be impressive in its ball control, entering the match-up ranked second in the America East with just 15.5 turnovers per game and are coming off a season low nine turnover total in the contest against Drexel. Junior guard
Anne Simon continues to lead Maine's offensive production as she ranks first among America East leaders at 15.6 points per game. Simon has also been impressive on the defensive end, also leading the league in steals per game at 2.4. Simon has registered double-digit scoring totals in seven of Maine's eight games this season.
Maeve Carroll is adding 11.8 points and leads the America East in rebounding with 9.2 per game. Carroll has tallied double-digit rebounding totals in three of her last five outings.
Alba Orois, the America East leader in assists at 4.6 per game, is averaging 9.0 points with a team-best 49.2 percent mark from the floor.
A LOOK AT RHODE ISLAND:
The Rams have had an up-and-down start to the season as they opened the year 7-0, including a 61-53 win over Princeton, before dropping three in a row. Rhode Island recently snapped its three-game losing skid with an 84-49 victory over Hartford. Rhode Island, which is 5-0 at home to start the season, was selected second the 2021-22 Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll. The Rams featured four players who are averaging double-figures, led by Emmanuelle Tahane's 15.0 points per game and a team-high 9.8 rebounds. Marie-Paule Foppossi is adding 12.1 points and 7.5 boards while Dez Elmore is chipping in 11.8 points and 8.4 rebounds. Dolly Cairns rounds out the double-digit scorers at 11.4 points. The Rams have been impressive on both ends of the court, ranking second in the A-10 in scoring (71.4) and second (37th nationally) in scoring defense, allowing just 54.0 points per game. The Rams rank second in the A-10 in rebounding (41.7) and enter play with a +8.9 rebounding margin over the opposition through the first 11 games.
SERIES WITH RHODE ISLAND:
This will be the 26th all-time meeting between Maine and Rhody. Maine leads the all-time series, 13-12, after a 61-47 win at Rhode Island on Dec. 11, 2020. In that win, four Black Bears registered double-figure scoring efforts, led by
Anne Simon's game-high 16 points to go along with seven boards.
Abbe Laurence added 10 points in the win. Rhode captured the most recent meeting in Maine, scoring a 51-38 victory on Dec. 8, 2012 in a contest played at the Portland Expo in Portland, Maine. Maine is 4-3 as the home team in the series since 1986-87. The Black Bears are 3-2 in their last five games against the Rams.
Tale of the Tape
| Maine (2-6, 0-0) |
Category |
Rhode Island (8-3, 0-0) |
| 54.2 |
Points Per Game |
71.4 |
| 73.0 |
Opponent Points Per Game |
54.0 |
| -18.7 |
Scoring Margin |
+17.4 |
| 38.3 |
Field Goal Percentage |
44.8 |
| 23.2 |
3-Point Field Goal Percentage |
35.8 |
| 58.0 |
Free Throw Percentage |
65.7 |
| 32.4 |
Rebounds Per Game |
41.7 |
| -9.0 |
Rebound Margin |
+8.9 |
| 12.4 |
Assists Per Game |
14.5 |
| 15.5 |
Turnovers Per Game |
15.8 |
| 13.3 |
Turnovers Forced Per Game |
16.2 |
| 5.9 |
Steals Per Game |
8.6 |
| 2.9 |
Blocks Per Game |
3.0 |
-UMaine-
