Orono, Maine -- For the sixth-straight season, and the 20th time in program history, the University of Maine women's basketball team will compete in the conference title game when they host Stony Brook on Friday, March 12 at 5 p.m. live on ESPNU. The meeting will mark a rematch of what was scheduled to be last season's match-up before the title game was canceled due to Covid-19. It will be the third time in the past four seasons in which the Black Bears have earned the right to host the championship contest as the Black Bears look for their league-leading tenth America East title and tenth trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Friday's contest will mark the first conference championship game played at 'The Pit' inside Memorial Gymnasium since Maine defeated Vermont, 79-64, in the North Atlantic Conference title game on March 9, 1991.
The Black Bears are the America East's most successful team in postseason history as they enter play with a 49-24 overall postseason mark, including a 31-17 record since the America East conference began in 1997. Maine has captured nine titles, more than any other member school, and carry a nine-game conference postseason win streak into the championship game. Maine is 9-10 all-time in the championship round and have won two-straight title games. Coach Vachon is 11-1 all-time in postseason play and ranks second on the America East all-time coaching records mark with a .909 win percentage in postseason play. Vachon ranks tied for sixth on the America East all-time postseason coaching wins list. Maine is 28-6 all-time as the No. 1 seed in the tournament and 9-1 against the No. 2 seed.
Millan is averaging 20.5 points per game in her two championship game appearances.
Maine and Stony Brook have met four times in postseason play, each winning two games. The Black Bears have captured each of the last two postseason meetings. The teams last met in the postseason in 2016, a 51-48 semifinal victory by Maine. This will be the first-ever meeting in the championship game, after last season's scheduled title contest between the two programs was canceled due to Covid-19 concerns. This postseason meeting will mark the first between the two teams to be held in Maine.
POSTSEASON HISTORY WITH STONY BROOK:
#2 Maine 51, #3 SBU 48 (2016)
Semifinal
#8 Maine 49, #9 SBU 43 (2012)
Championship
#8 SBU 76, #9 Maine 55 (2011)
Opening Round
#9 SBU 64, #8 Maine 58 (2008)
Opening Round
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LAST TIME OUT:
Orono, Maine -- For the sixth-straight year, and the 20th time in the history of the program, the University of Maine women's basketball team has earned a berth in the America East title game after defeating UAlbany, 67-47, on Sunday afternoon.
The Black Bears were impressive on the defensive end as they limited the Great Danes to just 47 points, marking the ninth time this season in which Maine has held its opponent under 50 points. UAlbany, which had seen solid offensive production in the paint, finished with just 18 points in the paint as the Black Bears forced 17 turnovers while holding the visitors to a 36.4 percent showing from the floor.
Maine, which shot a season best 57.9 percent from three-point range, were led by
Blanca Millan who finished just shy of a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds. Millan was joined by three other Black Bears in double-figures with
Dor Saar and
Anne Simon each chipping in 13 points.
Maeve Carroll rounded out the double-digit scorers with a complete day of 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.
After falling behind by five early, the Black Bears responded with a 15-0 run and never looked back.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears, who check in No. 10 in the latest College Insider Mid-Major Top-25 poll, enter play 6-0 at home this season and carry a 12-game home win streak, dating back to last season, into postseason play. As a unit, Maine has led the America East in scoring since game one, averaging 66.5 points per game while ranking sixth-best in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 52.1 points per game. Maine has limited nine of its 19 opponents to 50 points or fewer while forcing a 17.9 turnovers per game. Offensively, Maine leads the league in all three-point shooting categories, with a 33.1 percent mark from downtown and 7.6 makes from beyond the arc per game, while limiting its turnovers to just 12.4 - good for 19th in the nation. Maine also ranks 19th in the country with a +5.58 turnover margin.
Individually, the Black Bears are led by
Blanca Millan who recently became the only women's player in America East history to capture the Player and Defensive Player of the Year honors twice each in a career. Millan, a semifinalist for the 2021 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award, ranks 17th in the country at 21.4 points per game. Millan, who has registered double-digit scoring totals in all 19 of Maine's games while besting 20 on 11 occasions. Millan, who leads the America East in six statistical categories, ranks fifth on Maine's all-time scoring list (1,954), second all-time in steals (322), and third in three-point field goals made (214). Defensively, Millan checks in 13th in the nation at 2.95 steals per game. Senior point guard
Dor Saar, Maine's all-time leader in three-point field goals (235) and the America East active leader in career assists (504), also leads the America East in six categories. Saar, a first team all-conference selection, ranks 47th in the country at 4.9 assists, tops among America East leaders, and also ranks first among league leader in three-point field goals made per game (2.37) and total three-point field goals 45). First Team all-conference selection
Anne Simon ranks fifth in the league in scoring at 12.8 points per game, sixth in field goal percentage (46.4), and fifth in steals (1.74). Simon, who has registered double-digits in 13 of her 19 games, recently surpassed 600 points for her career in just 50 games played.
Maeve Carroll, a second team all-conference pick in 2021 who led the America East with 11 double-doubles a year ago, checks in 16th best in the league at 10.5 points per game. Carroll ranks in the top-10 among league leaders in rebounding (6.3-8th), field goal percentage (46.9-5th), and assists per game (3.2-5th).
A LOOK AT STONY BROOK:
The Seawolves roll into Orono on a three-game win streak after earning a 75-55 victory over No. 3 seed UMass Lowell in the America East semifinals. Stony Brook boasts the nation's second best scoring defense after limiting opponents to just 50.2 points per game this season. The Seawolves, 5-2 on the road this season, ranks third in the America East in scoring at 60.1 points per game. Defensively, Stony Brook checks in second in the league in turnovers forced per game (18.2) and turnover margin +2.53. As impressive as they are defensively, the Seawolves rank seventh in the league in three-point defense (30.2). Second Team all-conference selection Asiah Dingle leads Stony Brook in scoring at 11.2 points per game while ranking fourth in the league at 3.7 assists. India Pagan, also a second team selection, 9.7 points and 5.1 rebounds. Anastasia Warren, a third team honoree, rounds out Stony Brook's double-figure scorers at 10.1 points per game.
SERIES WITH STONY BROOK:
Maine and Stony Brook have been evenly matched over their 19 year history. Dating back to the first meeting between the two teams in 2001, Maine holds a slim 24-21 advantage in the all-time series. Maine is 3-2 in its last five against the Seawolves, but have split each of the last four meetings. This season, Stony Brook took the opening game of the weekend series on Long Island, 59-54, before Maine bounced back to take game two, 54-49.
Blanca Millan (12, 17) and
Maeve Carroll (13, 16) each finished in double-figures in each meeting this season. Maine is 13-4 at home in the series with Stony Brook. Overall, Maine has won 10 of the last 14 contests with the Seawolves. Millan has posted double-digits in seven of her eight games against Stony Brook while Saar has posted double-figures in five of her eight career outings with the Seawolves.
REGULAR SEASON CHAMPS
For the third time in the past four seasons, and the 14th time overall, Maine has been crowned the America East outright regular season champions. The title is Maine's 17th overall, as they also captured co-champion honors in three past seasons. Maine has earned the outright or co-championship in five of the last seven years.
MILLAN NAMED A FINALIST FOR MID-MAJOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD:
University of Maine guard
Blanca Millan has been named one of five finalist for the 2021 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award, presented by Her Hoop Stats, as announced on March 10, 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 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.
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 5th on Maine's all-time scoring list with 1,954 points. She stands 199 points behind Liz Coffin (2,153) for 4th all-time.
Millan stands just 46 points from becoming the fifth all-time in Maine history to reach 2,000 points.
Millan currently ranks 13th on the America East all-time scoring list. Millan enters play this weekend 17 points behind Katie Terhune (Boston University - 2000-04, 1,971) for 12th all-time and 39 points behind Courtnay Pilypaitis (Vermont - 2006-10, 1,993) for 11th.
Defensively, Millan ranks second on Maine's all-time steals list (322), 12 behind Cindy Blodgett (334) for the all-time lead.
Millan currently ranks third on Maine's career 3-point list (214), five behind Cindy Blodgett (219) 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 15.6 points per game average currently ranks 7th all-time at Maine.
MILLAN EARNS 14th AMERICA EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR:
Six times this season, and 14 times in her career,
Blanca Millan has been named the America East Player of the Week. Millan trails only Cindy Blodgett (17) for most player of the week awards won during a career at Maine.
DOR IS SO GRACIOUS
Dor Saar is currently the America East active leader in assists (504) and this year leads the America East in assist turnover ratio (2.33), total assists (93), and assists per game (4.9) Saar has amassed five or more assists 50 times and double-figure assist totals four times in her career. With three assists at Hartford (12/23/20), With five assists against UMass Lowell (2/6), Saar moved past Cindy Blodgett and into second on Maine's all-time assists list. Saar trails Coach Vachon by 255 for the top spot on Maine's all-time assists list (759). Saar matched Maine's single-game assists record (14) in her outing with Husson. Saar is Maine's all-time leader with a 1.94 assist to turnover ratio over her time with the Black Bears. Saar stands 54 assists shy of moving into the top-5 on the America East career assists list.
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FOGARTY SETS SINGLE-GAME 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 ONLY BLACK BEAR TO REACH 1,000 POINTS/500 ASSISTS
On Jan. 23 at Binghamton,
Dor Saar became the 22nd Black Bear in program history to reach the 1,000 point plateau. On Feb. 20, Saar became the second Black Bear to surpass 500 career assists to become the only player in program history to eclipse 1,000 points and 500 assists.
SAAR - MAINE'S ALL-TIME LEADER FROM DOWNTOWN
With three triples at UAlbany (1/17,)
Dor Saar surpassed Cindy Blodgett as Maine's all-time record holder for three point field goals made with 220. Saar currently has 235 career triples, nine out of fifth on the America East all-time three-point field goals made list.
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 16 career rebounds away from 600.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE DEFENSE
As impressive as Maine's offense has been through 19 games in 2020-21 (66.5 ppg - 1st in AE), the defense has been equally, if not more, impressive. Maine enters the weekend with the sixth ranked defense in the nation, allowing just 52.1 points per game. Maine has held nine of its first 19 opponents to 50 points or fewer.
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 45 times, including 21 times last season and 10 this season. From Jan. 5 to March 8, 2020, Saar tallied 40+ minutes in 16-straight outings. Currently, Saar ranks 12th in the nation in 2020-21 at 37.74 minutes per game.
MILLAN SEMIFINALIST FOR INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
On March 8, it was announced that
Blanca Millan is on of 25 semifinalist for the World Exposure Report International Player of the Year award. The list will be narrowed to ten candidates on March 15th before the winner is announced on April 9.
COLLEGE INSIDER MID-MAJOR TOP 25:
The Black Bears check in at No. 10 in the latest poll released on March 9, climbing two spots from their ranking (No. 12) a week ago. Maine is the lone America East team represented in the top-25. Maine peaked in the poll at No. 8 earlier this season.
HOME SWEET HOME:
Over the past four seasons, Maine has built a 53-9 overall record at home and a 40-3 record in league play. Maine has won 12-straight at home.
ROAD WARRIORS:
Only two teams have played more road games than Maine this season - Santa Clara (16) and Stanford (14). The Black Bears have compiled an 11-2 record on the road this season.
CONFERENCE TIDBITS
Over the past four seasons, Maine has gone 56-9 in America East play.
Maine, which has captured two titles in the past five seasons, has earned six consecutive appearances in the America East title game.
Maine has registered double-digit conference win totals in seven of its last eight seasons.
Maine has captured three of the past four AE regular season titles.
THREE-POINT OFFENSE
Maine currently leads the America East in 3-point field goals made (145), 3-point field goals made per game (7.6), and 3-point field goals percentage (33.1).
FACTOR OF 60
Over the past seven seasons, Maine is 136-22 when holding its opponent to 60 or fewer points. The Black Bears are 78-12 in the Vachon era when limiting teams to 60 or less. Over the past seven seasons against league competition, Maine is 83-10 when holding America East opponents to 60 points or fewer.
60 OR MORE
On the flip-side, Maine is 137-25 over the past seven seasons when it scorers 60 or more. In league play, Maine has an 85-8 record when scoring 60 or more points.
DECIDED AT THE HALF
Maine is 50-4 when leading at halftime over the past three seasons and 77-10 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 25-8 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).
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).
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