Orono, Maine -- The No. 1 seeded University of Maine women's basketball team will host its seventh consecutive America East postseason contest, dating back to 2018 when the tournament was held at a neutral site (Portland, ME), when it hosts No. 4 UAlbany on Sunday, March 7 at 1 p.m. at Memorial Gymnasium. The Black Bears enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed for the third time in the past four years. Maine has captured a league-high nine America East postseason titles and enter play with a 20-3 all-time mark in the conference semifinal round.
The Black Bears are the America East's most successful team in postseason history as they enter play with a 48-24 overall postseason mark, including a 30-17 record since the America East conference began in 1997. Maine has captured nine titles, more than any other member school, and carry an eight-game conference postseason win streak into the semifinal round. Maine is 20-3 all-time in the semifinals and have won five-straight semifinal contests. The Black Bears are 3-3 all-time in postseason play against UAlbany. Coach Vachon is 10-1 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. Maine is 27-6 all-time as the No. 1 seed in the tournament and 7-1 against the No. 4 seed.
The Black Bears are 3-3 all-time in postseason play against UAlbany. The two teams last met in the postseason in a 2019 semifinal, also played at Memorial Gym. Maine captured a victory in that game, 66-51. In that game,
Blanca Millan and
Dor Saar each registered 16 points. Maine is 2-0 all-time in the semifinal round against UAlbany (2019, 2004).
POSTSEASON HISTORY WITH UALBANY:
#1 Maine 66, #4 UAlbany 51 (2019)
Semifinal
#1 UAlbany 66, #2 Maine 50 (2017)
Championship
#1 UAlbany 59, #2 Maine 58 (2016)
Championship
#8 UAlbany 63, #9 Maine 43 (2009)
Opening Round
#8 Maine 73, #9 UAlbany 56 (2006)
Opening Round
#1 Maine 62, #4 UAlbany 49 (2004)
Semifinal
LAST TIME OUT:
Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team outscored visiting New Hampshire 24-9 in the first quarter before using a 17-0 second quarter run to put the game out of reach, finishing the regular season with an 82-53 victory over New Hampshire.
The Black Bears registered 46 points in the paint, forced 17 turnovers, and enjoyed one of their best shooting performances (47.0) of the season en route to a convincing victory over the Wildcats in the Border Battle, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings. Maine, which shot 50 percent from the floor in both the second and third quarters, were led by individual performances of 21 points and nine rebounds each by
Anne Simon and
Blanca Millan.
Maeve Carroll added 12 points and five assists in the win while
Kelly Fogarty knocked down four triples, also finishing with 12 points.
Milestones continued to fall for the Black Bears as
Dor Saar became the only player in Maine women's basketball history to eclipse 1,000 points and 500 assists for a career, as she added four assists to surpass 500 helpers.
Maine, which assisted on 17 of its 31 field goals, forced 10 steals to mark the eighth time this season in which it has produced double-digit steal totals. The Black Bears totaled just nine turnovers, the fourth time this season in which they have limited their giveaways to single digits.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears enter play 5-0 at home this season and carry an 11-game home win streak, dating back to last season, into postseason play. Maine leads the America East in scoring at 66.5 points per game while ranking seventh in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 52.4 points per game while holding eight of its 18 opponents to 50 points or fewer this season.
Blanca Millan became the first player in America East women's basketball history to be named both the league's Player and Defensive Player of the Year when she earned the accolade last week. Millan, who also earned her third selection to the America East First Team and third All-Defensive team honor, ranks 17th in the nation in scoring at 21.7 points per game. Millan has featured 11 scoring performance of 20 or more points this season and has finished with double-figures in all 18 of Maine's contests. The fifth-year guard, who leads the America East in eight statistical categories, checks in third best among league leaders in rebounding (7.4) and ranks 15th nationally at 2.94 steals per game - tops among America East.
Dor Saar, who earned her first selection to the America East First Team and her third overall all-conference honor, recently became the first Black Bear in program history to eclipse 1,000 points and 500 assists in a career. Saar, the America East active leader in assists, leads the league this season in assists per game (5.1), total assists (92), and assist to turnover ratio (2.42). Saar has been impressive from downtown this season where she leads the conference in 3-point field goals made per game (2.33) and 3-point field goals made (42), while checking in second best with a 37.8 percentage from 3-point range. Saar is the league's active leader in 3-point field goals made with 232 in her career - a Maine school record.
Anne Simon earned her first career spot on the league's first team as she checks in fifth among league leaders in scoring at 12.8 points per game, ranks 16th in rebounding (5.5), 16th in assists (2.2), and fifth in steals (1.8).
Maeve Carroll was tabbed to the America East second team for the second consecutive season after working her way back from an early season injury to average 10.5 points and 6.3 points. Carroll ranks eighth in the America East in rebounding and fifth in assists at 3.2 per game.
Maine has consistently all season long been impressive with taking care of the ball. Entering postseason play, Maine has won the turnover battle in all 18 of its contests and ranks 21st in the nation with just 12.6 turnovers per game. The Black Bears check in 20th overall with a +5.44 turnover margin and lead the America East in all 3-point categories including percentage (32.0), makes per game (7.4), and total triples made on the year (134).
A LOOK AT UALBANY:
The Great Danes earned a spot in the America East semifinal after earning a 49-43 quarterfinal victory over New Hampshire. UAlbany, just 1-3 in its last four outings, is 4-8 this season on the road. The Great Danes have not scored more than 49 points in three of their last four outings and check in 330th out of 336 Division I programs in scoring at 50.0 points per game. The Great Danes have also struggled on the boards, checking in last in the America East at 31.8 per game, and are also at the bottom of the America East standings in 3-point defense (32.5). Defensively, UAlbany ranks fourth in the conference and 27th nationally, allowing 56.5 points per game. The Great Danes feature sophomore and all-conference third team selection Helene Haegerstrand who leads UAlbany in scoring at 10.8 points with 3.0 rebounds. Ellen Hahne is adding 9.6 and a team-high 6.9 boards. Kayla Cooper, an all-rookie selection, is averaging 5.7 points and 4.8 rebounds.
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH UALBANY:
Maine and UAlbany will square off for the 47th time in history. Maine holds a 27-19 edge in the all-time series and has won eight-straight against the Great Danes. The Black Bears swept UAlbany in the regular season, taking a weekend series on the road by scores of 66-48 and 63-47. Maine has defeated UAlbany by a scoring margin of 17.5 points this season. Millan averaged 21.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the win, including a 27 point showing in the most recent meeting. Maine is 11-6 all-time at home against the Great Danes and have won six in a row at home against UAlbany.
Millan is averaging 18.6 points per game in 10 career performances against the Great Danes while Saar is scoring at a 12.2 clip with 5.4 assists in her nine appearances against UAlbany.
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 SEMIFINALIST FOR MID-MAJOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD:
University of Maine guard
Blanca Millan has been named a semifinalist for the 2021 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award, presented by Her Hoop Stats, as announced on Feb. 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. Five finalists being announced in early March. 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 1,937 points. She stands 216 points behind Liz Coffin (2,153) for 4th all-time.
Millan stands just 63 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 34 points behind Katie Terhune (Boston University - 2000-04, 1,971) for 12th all-time.
Defensively, Millan ranks second on Maine's all-time steals list (319), 15 behind Cindy Blodgett (334) for the all-time lead.
Millan currently ranks third on Maine's career 3-point list (211), eight 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 (503) and this year leads the America East in assist turnover ratio (2.42), total assists (92), and assists per game (5.1) 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 256 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 55 assists shy of moving into the top-5 on the America East career assists list.
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 232 career triples, 12 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 22 career rebounds away from 600.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE DEFENSE
As impressive as Maine's offense has been through 18 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 seventh ranked defense in the nation, allowing just 52.4 points per game. Maine has held eight of its first 18 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 44 times, including 21 times last season and nine this season. From Jan. 5 to March 8, 2020, Saar tallied 40+ minutes in 16-straight outings. Currently, Saar ranks 15th in the nation in 2020-21 at 37.64 minutes per game.
COLLEGE INSIDER MID-MAJOR TOP 25:
The Black Bears check in at No. 12 in the latest poll released on March 2, dipping two spots from their ranking (No. 10) 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 52-9 overall record at home and a 39-3 record in league play. Maine has won 11-straight at home.
ROAD WARRIORS:
Only two teams have played more road games than Maine this season - Santa Clara (15) 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 five 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.
CARROLL'S SEEING DOUBLE:
Last season (2019-20),
Maeve Carroll led all America East players with 11 double-doubles, including 10 against league competition. In league play, Carroll averaged 15.3 points and league-best 9.0 rebounds against league competition. Carroll earned her first-ever all-conference honor in 2019-20 with a spot on the America East second team.
THREE-POINT OFFENSE
Maine currently leads the America East in 3-point field goals made (134), 3-point field goals made per game (7.4), and 3-point field goals percentage (32.0).
FACTOR OF 60
Over the past seven seasons, Maine is 135-22 when holding its opponent to 60 or fewer points. The Black Bears are 77-12 in the Vachon era when limiting teams to 60 or less. Over the past seven seasons against league competition, Maine is 82-10 when holding America East opponents to 60 points or fewer.
60 OR MORE
On the flip-side, Maine is 136-25 over the past seven seasons when it scorers 60 or more. In league play, Maine has an 84-8 record when scoring 60 or more points.
DECIDED AT THE HALF
Maine is 49-4 when leading at halftime over the past three seasons and 76-10 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).
RARE OPPORTUNITY
The Black Bears have the opportunity to become just the fifth team in America East history to complete a three-peat of the league championship after earning America East Tournament titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Maine earned four-straight titles during the 1994-98 seasons. Maine earned a return to the AE Title game in 2019-20, but was unable to compete in the game at Stony Brook when the game was canceled due to COVID-19.
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).
-UMaine-
