Orono, Maine -- Maine looks for its first 3-0 start to conference play since the 2018-19 season when it hits the road to meet NJIT in the eighth meeting between the two programs on Saturday at. 2 p.m. The Black Bears have won the last two meetings in the series, including a victory in last year's America East semifinal round, and four of the last five.
The game can be seen live on
ESPN3Â and heard locally on 92.9 The Ticket and nationally at
GoBlackBears.com.
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LAST TIME OUT:
Orono, Maine -- Adrianna Smith scored 18 of her career-high 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Black Bears moved to 2-0 in league play with a 70-63 victory over UMass Lowell on Wednesday evening.
Smith, who added 10 rebounds for her conference leading seventh double-double of the season, finished 11-of-17 from the field with five assists and 12 points in the pivotal fourth quarter.
Anne Simon added 17 points and nine boards while Caroline Bornemann finished with 14 points and a 4-of-6 mark from three-point range.
Maine, which led by 11 before falling behind by 10 with 6:01 to play, ended the game on a 24-7 run to earn the win.
The Black Bears finished the evening 24-of-56 from the floor (42.9), 7-of-22 from downtown (31.8) and posted season-highs in both free throws made (15) and free throws attempted (22).
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
Maine rides into its meeting with NJIT on a two-game win streak as it has started AE play with wins over Bryant and UMass Lowell. Adrianna Smith, averaging 24.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in league play, has tallied seven double-doubles this season to lead the AE in that category and check in 17th nationally in the mark. Smith, with double-digit scoring efforts in each of her last five outings, has produced a double-double in three-straight. The sophomore forward ranks second in the league in rebounding (8.3), second in assists (3.9) and fifth in scoring (12.6). Smith's line of 30 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists against UMass Lowell was the first time an America East player has produced that line against a Division-I opponent since 2009-10. Caroline Bornemann, fresh off hitting four triples against UMass Lowell, ranks 12th in the league in scoring (10.6), sixth in rebounding (6.4), and seventh in three-pointers made per game (1.5). Anne Simon returned from another injury setback to drop 17 points with nine rebounds and three steals against UMass Lowell. Simon is averaging 10.5 points and 3.7 rebounds through six games. Maine ranks fifth in the America East in scoring (58.5), sixth in scoring defense (63.4), and first in both assists (13.6) and three-pointers made per game (7.4).
A LOOK AT NJIT:
The Highlanders enter play on a two game win streak as they have started league play with victories over New Hampshire and at UMass Lowell. NJIT ranks fourth in the America East in scoring (58.6) and fourth in scoring defense (61.1) and hold the top rebounding margin (+2.5) in the conference. NJIT check in eighth among conference members in turnovers, giving it away 18.4 times per game and get to the free throw line more times (16.8 attempts) than any other America East team. Individually, NJIT is led by Aria Myers (10.4 ppg) and Trinity Williams (10.1 ppg) who are each averaging double-digits for the Highlanders. Williams also leads the team in rebounding (5.6). Alejandra Zuniga is adding 9.9 points. Through two league games, Myers and Zuniga are averaging 15.5 points per game in conference action.
SERIES WITH NJIT:
Maine and NJIT meet for the eighth time in history after the Highlanders joined the America East in the 2020-21 season. Maine owns the all-time series, 4-3, after defeating the Highlanders 72-48, in last season's America East semifinal round. The Black Bears have won two straight in the series, and four of the the last five. Maine is 1-1 all-time on the road in the series, including a 77-43 in last season's trip to NJIT. NJIT defeated Maine in overtime, 67-59, on Jam. 2 in Bangor before the Black Bears earned a 77-43 victory on Feb. 19 at NJIT. Anne Simon is averaging 14.8 points per game against the Highlanders with double-figures in four of her five games against NJIT. Prior to NJIT joining the league, the two teams met in 2009, a contest won by NJIT in Newark by a score of 63-50. The first-ever meeting came in 2008 where the Black Bears were defeated on their home court, 68-60.
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Tale of the Tape
| Maine |
Category |
NJIT |
| 58.5 |
Points Per Game |
58.6 |
| 63.4 |
Opponent Points Per Game |
61.1 |
| -4.9 |
Scoring Margin |
-2.5 |
| 41.5 |
FG Pct. |
40.7 |
| 33.6 |
3-Pt FG Pct. |
28.5 |
| 69.8 |
FT Pct. |
60.4 |
| 32.3 |
Rebound Per Game |
37.0 |
| -2.4 |
Rebound Margin |
+2.5 |
| 13.6 |
Assists Per Game |
10.5 |
| 16.9 |
Turnovers Per Game |
18.4 |
| 13.0 |
Turnovers Forced Per Game |
14.4 |
| 5.7 |
Steals Per Game |
4.9 |
| 2.8 |
Blocks Per Game |
3.4 |
-UMaine-
