Orono, Maine -- It's a rematch of the 2021 America East Championship game as the Black Bears welcome Stony Brook to the Cross Insurance Center on Sunday, Jan. 9 at 1 p.m. Stony Brook and Maine, selected first and second respectively in the America East Preseason Coaches Poll, meet for the 47th time in what has been a very evenly played series with the Black Bears holding a 24-22 edge in the head-to-head match-up. The two teams have split each of the last six meetings.
Tickets are available for Sunday's game at
TicketMaster.com or at the Cross Insurance Center box office and can be purchased for a 25% discount by using the code 25OFF. 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:
Anne Simon continues to lead the Black Bears as the junior guard as posted double-digit scoring totals in 12 of her first 13 games this season, including each of the last five. Simon ranks second in the America East in scoring at 16.0 points per game, and atop the leader board with 2.7 steals per outing.
Alba Orois, who is averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 assists in league play, leads the America East in assists, ranking 60th in the country, at 4.8 dimes per game. Orois, who has five or more assists in three of her last five games, has posted assist totals of five or more in six games. The sophomore point guard, coming off a game-high 15 points at Hartford, ranks 21st in the league in scoring (10.1) and has posted double-digit scoring totals in three of her last four games. Orois' 47.3 percent mark from the field is good for seventh best in the America East while she checks in tops in the league and sixth in the country at 38.2 minutes per game. Orois has just four turnovers in her last five games, including posting zero turnovers in three of those five.
Maeve Carroll ranks among the America East's top-15 leaders in seven categories. Carroll, who has posted double-figure rebound totals five times this season, leads the America East in rebounding at 8.9 per game, nearly averaging a double-double with 11.4 points. Carroll also checks in second in the league in blocks (1.2), sixth in assists (3.2), and 12th in field goal percentage (44.4). Maine has prided itself in ball control this season, ranking tops in the America East and 57th nationally with just 14.2 turnovers per game.
In conference play, the Black Bears feature four players averaging double-figures in Simon (14.7), Carroll (13.0), Orois (13.0), and Bornemann (10.7). Through three league games, Maine ranks second in the league-only in scoring (62.7), tops in steals (9.0), and first in three-point field goals made per game (7.0).
A LOOK AT STONY BROOK:
The Seawolves opened the season by winning their first eight outings, but opened conference play with a 54-49 setback at NJIT. Gigi Gonzalez leads a balanced Stony Brook scoring attack which features five players averaging double-figures. Gonzalez leads the way at 13.1 points per game while also sitting atop Stony Brook's roster in assists (3.8). Anastasia Warren, who tallied 31 points in last year's America East Championship game at Maine, checks in at 12.4 points to go along with 5.0 rebounds. India Pagan, the fifth-year grad student, is adding 12.1 points and a team-best 7.1 rebounds.
Stony Brook, who leads the league in scoring at 69.8 points per game, has been dominant on the boards. The Seawolves rank 70th in the nation and first in the America East with 40.7 rebounds per game. Stony Brooks checks in fourth in the nation from the free throw stripe (80.5) and third-best among league leaders in scoring defense (58.3).
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 24-22 advantage in the all-time series. Stony Brook is 3-2 in its last five against Maine, as the two teams have split each of the last six meetings. The two teams last met in the America East title game, a contest won 64-60 by the Seawolves at The Pit in Orono.
Maeve Carroll tallied 13 points and four rebounds in that loss. Maine's last win over Stony Brook came on Feb. 14, 2021 as the Black Bears earned a 54-49 road victory. The Black Bears have won six of the last seven meetings in Maine. Prior to the last showdown, Maine had won six-straight against Stony Brook on its home court. Overall, Maine has won 10 of the last 15 contests with the Seawolves.
Tale of the Tape
| Maine (5-8, 2-1) |
Category |
Stony Brook (10-2, 1-1) |
| 56.2 |
Points Per Game |
69.8 |
| 65.5 |
Opponent Points Per Game |
58.3 |
| -9.3 |
Scoring Margin |
+11.5 |
| 37.8 |
Field Goal Percentage |
41.2 |
| 25.5 |
3-Point Field Goal Percentage |
33.5 |
| 59.1 |
Free Throw Percentage |
80.5 |
| 33.9 |
Rebounds Per Game |
40.7 |
| -5.6 |
Rebound Margin |
+5.3 |
| 12.9 |
Assists Per Game |
13.7 |
| 14.2 |
Turnovers Per Game |
15.9 |
| 14.6 |
Turnovers Forced Per Game |
17.0 |
| 7.3 |
Steals Per Game |
6.9 |
| 2.5 |
Blocks Per Game |
2.8 |
-UMaine-
