Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team opens the home portion of its 2023-24 schedule on Sunday when it hosts UMass at 1 p.m. inside Memorial Gymnasium.
Tickets for Sunday's men's and women's doubleheader are still available and can be purchased here.
Broadcast Details:
Sunday's game will be live streamed on ESPN+ and can be heard locally on 92.9 The Ticket and nationwide at GoBlackBears.com.
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A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
Maine, selected second in the America East preseason coaches' poll, returns all five starters from last year's team which finished the year third in the America East with a 16-14 overall mark and an 11-5 conference record. The Black Bears will welcome back 97% of its scoring from a year ago including each of its top eight point scorers including Smith who led the America East in both scoring (17.9) and rebounding (9.5) while adding 16 double-doubles on the season. Simon, a two-time America East first team selection, also returns a year after averaging 13.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in an injury shortened season. Three-point threats
Caroline Bornemann (9.1 ppg) and
Olivia Rockwood (6.8 ppg) also return to bolster Maine's offensive output. Maine split its season opening two-game road swing with a loss at Quinnipiac before scoring its first victory of the season on Thursday evening at La Salle. In the win,
Anne Simon (20 pts/10 rebs) and
Adrianna Smith (12 pts/15 rebs) each registered double-double efforts. With the 20 point effort, Simon moved past Lauree Gott and into 10th on Maine's all-time scoring list with 1,388 career points. Simon currently ranks 12th among America East leaders in scoring at 15.5 points per game. Smith, who is averaging a double-double through two games, ranks 16th in the America East in scoring (11.0 ppg) and first in rebounding at 12.0 per game. Maine has won the rebounding battle in each of its first two games and boast a +14.0 rebounding margin on the season. Maine pulled down 50 rebounds at La Salle, its first time eclipsing the 50 rebound mark since 2017 (vs. UMBC).
A LOOK AT UMASS:
UMass, under the direction of first-year head coach Mike Leflar, enter play 1-1 after earning a season opening win over St. Peter's before falling by a pair to Northeastern in its most recent outing. UMass is coming off earning a share of the A-10 Regular Season Championship in 2022-23 with a 24-5 regular season mark and a 14-2 record in league play. The Minutewomen return three from last year's squad while welcoming in 10 newcomers consisting of six transfers and four freshmen. Through two games, Kristin Williams leads UMass in scoring at 16.0 points per game and is joined in double-digits by Stefanie Kulesza (11.5) and Bre Bellamy (10.0).
SERIES WITH UMASS:
Maine and UMass meet for the 25th time in history with the Black Bears holding a 14-10 edge in the overall head-to-head series. The two teams last met a year ago in Amherst, a 67-54 win by UMass.
Olivia Rockwood his five triples in the loss to lead Maine with 15 points. Maine's last win in the series came in 2013, an 86-56 triumph in the opening round of Maine's November Tournament held in Bangor. Since 1985, Maine is 8-0 against UMass in the state of Maine ... Maine has won three of the last six meetings in the series. Maine's last road win in the series came on Nov. 23, 2008, a 54-45 decision.
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