Orono, Maine -- Maine begins America East conference play when it travels to take on new league member Bryant on Thursday, Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. The game can be seen live on
ESPN+ and heard locally on 92.9 The Ticket and nationally at
GoBlackBears.com. Maine has won five-straight conference openers and six of its last seven. The Black Bears are 15-10 in America East openers dating back to the league's start in the 1996-97 season.
LAST TIME OUT:
Cambridge, Mass. -- Adrianna Smith registered her conference leading fifth double-double of the season in Maine's 84-56 loss at Harvard on Sunday afternoon.
Smith tallied her seventh double-digit scoring performance of the year with a team-high 16 points to go along with her 10 rebounds. Paula Gallego added eight points while Sarah Talon and Caroline Bornemann each chipped in seven points.
Maine, which won the rebounding battle 33-32, finished the day 22-of-53 from the floor (41.5) while hitting eight of 22 from three point distance.
The Black Bears jumped out to a 3-0 lead but would not lead again.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
Maine opens league play and beings its quest to capture its fifth America East regular season crown in the last six years and looks to qualify for its eighth consecutive trip to the conference title game. Maine is led by Adrianna Smith who ranks in the top 10 among America East leaders in scoring (10.7 ppg), rebounding (7.8), and assists (3.7) while leading the league with five double-doubles on the season. Smith has registered double-digit scoring efforts in each of her last three games and four of the last five. Reigning America East Player and Defensive Player of the Year Anne Simon, who missed eight games during the non-conference slate, returned from injury in Maine's last outing. Simon is averaging 9.5 points on the season as she looks to work her way back to full strength. Counting playoff games, Simon has registered double-digit scoring in 21 straight games against America East opponents. Caroline Bornemann ranks 11th in the league in scoring (10.5) and sixth in rebounding (6.4). Olivia Rockwood is Maine's top threat from beyond the arc as she ranks third among America East leaders in three point percentage (35.7) and fourth in triples made per game (2.1). Maine's 7.4 three pointers made per game lead the America East while it ranks third in three-point percentage at 33.8.
A LOOK AT BRYANT:
The Bulldogs, playing their first league game as a member of the America East conference, enter action 2-3 at home and coming off a 108-43 victory over Mitchell to close out their non-conference slate. The Bulldogs rank tops in the America East in scoring offense at 68.2 points per game with a league leading 11.8 offensive boards per contest. Bryant ranks ninth in the league in three-point percentage defense, allowing opponents to hit at a 34.9 percent clip. Mariona Planes Fortuny leads the way for Bryant's offense with an America East best 16.2 points per game. Planes Fortuny checks in first in the league in field goal percentage (53.0) and free throw percentage (88.9) while leading the team at 4.9 rebounds per game. Nicole Gallegher is adding 8.4 points and 4.7 rebounds. The Bulldogs are led by Mary Burke who is in her 32nd season as head coach of the Bulldogs.
SERIES WITH BRYANT:
Maine and Bryant will meet for the 10 time and first since 2018. Maine currently holds a 6-3 edge in the all-time series and have won each of the last four meetings, including a 74-57 victory in Maine's last trip to Bryant in 2018. Maine is 3-2 on the road against the Bulldogs. The two teams first met in 2010, a 75-66 road victory for the Black Bears. The teams split the first six meetings, before Maine has most recently been able to roll off four-straight wins against Bryant.
Tale of the Tape
| Maine |
Category |
Bryant |
| 56.3 |
Points Per Game |
68.3 |
| 63.6 |
Opponent Points Per Game |
64.5 |
| -7.3 |
Scoring Margin |
+3.8 |
| 40.9 |
FG Pct. |
42.3 |
| 33.8 |
3-Pt FG Pct. |
34.9 |
| 69.4 |
FT Pct. |
73.5 |
| 31.3 |
Rebound Per Game |
37.3 |
| -3.4 |
Rebound Margin |
+1.3 |
| 13.3 |
Assists Per Game |
12.3 |
| 17.5 |
Turnovers Per Game |
16.2 |
| 12.5 |
Turnovers Forced Per Game |
15.8 |
| 5.4 |
Steals Per Game |
8.8 |
| 2.6 |
Blocks Per Game |
3.3 |
-UMaine-
