Orono, Maine -- The top two teams in the America East standings meet in a rematch of the 2022 America East Championship when the Black Bears (10-9, 6-1) host UAlbany (14-8, 8-0) in the 51st meeting between the two programs. Maine has won 11 of the last 12 meetings with UAlbany. Saturday's game will be a 'White Out' at The Pit. All fans are asked to wear white to support the Black Bears while the first 700 fans through the gates will receive a complimentary rally towel.
The game can be seen live on
ESPN3 and heard locally on 92.9 The Ticket and nationally at
GoBlackBears.com.
Â
 Â
LAST TIME OUT:
Lowell, Mass. -- Adrianna Smith and Caroline Bornemann each registered double-figures as the Black Bears moved to 6-1 in America East play with a 61-50 victory at UMass Lowell (2-16, 1-7) on Wednesday.
Smith posted her conference leading 11th double-double of the season after tallying a game-high 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds and four assists. Bornemann, who registered her third double-double of the season, posted 10 points and 10 rebounds. Olivia Rockwood hit 4-of-6 from three point range with 14 points as Jaycie Christpher added two triples and rounded out Maine's four double-digit scorers with 10 points.
For the eighth time in their last nine outings, the Black Bears won the rebounding battle while forcing 17 UMass Lowell turnovers and holding the River Hawks to just 18-for-47 (38.3 percent) from the floor. Maine's defense limited UMass Lowell to single digit scoring in the first and third quarters.
The Black Bears, who shot 9-of-17 (52.9) in an impressive third quarter in which they outscored UMass Lowell 20-8, ended the game 25-of-58 (43.1) from the floor.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
Maine enters action winners of six of its last seven after coming off a 61-50 road victory at UMass Lowell. Maine's defense has allowed the fewest and second fewest point totals (46 at Binghamton, 50 at UMass Lowell) in its last two outings and rank third in league scoring defense allowing just 57.0 points per game while averaging 63.9 points against league competition. The Black Bears have won the rebounding battle in eight of their last nine outings, going 7-2 over that stretch and are 9-2 overall when winning the rebounding battle this season, 6-0 in league play. Adrianna Smith leads the conference and ranks 12th in the nation with 11 double-doubles, including seven in her last eight outings. Smith is averaging 22.7 points and 10.9 rebounds in America East play, all league highs. Overall, Smith ranks first in the conference in rebounding (8.9), third in scoring (15.1), and third in assists (3.8). Caroline Bornemann, coming off her third double-double of the season, is adding 9.8 points while checking in sixth among league leaders in rebounding (6.3). Olivia Rockwood, who replaced the injured Anne Simon in the starting lineup at UMass Lowell, hit four triples while registering 14 points against the River Hawks. Rockwood checks in sixth among league leaders with 1.6 triples per game.
A LOOK AT UALBANY:
The Great Danes come into Orono undefeated in league play and riding an eight game win streak after a 65-52 victory over New Hampshire on Wednesday evening. UAlbany features one of the best statistical defenses in the country as it ranks second in the America East and 28th nationally in scoring defense (56.2) and tops in the league and 12th in the country in three-point defense, holding opponents to just 25.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Great Danes also forced 15.7 turnovers per game, the second highest rate in the America East. Helene Haegerstrand ranks second in the conference in scoring at 15.1 points per game while adding 3.7 rebounds and the third best field goal percentage (50.7) among America East leaders. Kayla Cooper is adding 13.1 points and team-high 7.5 rebounds. Ellen Hahne rounds out the double-digit scoring efforts at 12.9 points per game to go along with a team leading 2.6 assists.
SERIES WITH UALBANY:
Maine and UAlbany will square off for the 51st time in history. The teams, which have met eight times in the postseason, battled in last year's AE title game with UAlbany coming out on top, 56-47. The win snapped Maine's 11 game win streak over UAlbany as the Black Bears have won 11 of the last 12 meetings. Maine holds a 30-20 edge in the all-time series. Maine swept the regular season series with UAlbany a year ago, defeating the Great Danes at Memorial Gymnasium, 64-55, before earning a 49-45 road win. Maine is 13-7 at home all-time against UAlbany and has won eight of the last nine on its home court against the Great Danes.
Tale of the Tape
| Maine |
Category |
UAlbany |
| 59.1 |
Points Per Game |
59.1 |
| 61.2 |
Opponent Points Per Game |
56.2 |
| -2.1 |
Scoring Margin |
+2.9 |
| 42.1 |
FG Pct. |
43.2 |
| 33.0 |
3-PT FG Pct. |
35.5 |
| 69.4 |
FT Pct. |
73.9 |
| 33.2 |
Rebound Per Game |
34.0 |
| -0.4 |
Rebound Margin |
+2.8 |
| 13.5 |
Assists Per Game |
11.8 |
| 16.3 |
Turnovers Per Game |
15.7 |
| 13.4 |
Turnovers Forced Per Game |
12.6 |
| 5.9 |
Steals Per Game |
6.1 |
| 2.7 |
Blocks Per Game |
2.5 |
-UMaine-
