Orono, Maine -- Maine continues its two-game season opening road trip when it travels for its first meeting with La Salle on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 4:30 p.m.
For the fifth consecutive season, the Black Bears begin the year on the road as they travel for their fourth-ever meeting with the Bobcats. Maine is 35-24 all-time in season openers and 6-2 in its last eight season openers after 60-58 victory over James Madison to begin the season a year ago.
Broadcast Details:
Thursday'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 enters the contest coming off a 70-57 loss in its season opener at Quinnipiac. In the contest,
Anne Simon (11),
Adrianna Smith (10), and
Sarah Talon each posted double-digit scoring efforts to lead the offensive attack. For Smith, it marks her 22nd straight game in double-figures while Simon ran her double-digit scoring streak to five in a row while she currently ranks 11th on Maine's all-time scoring list (1,368) just 19 points shy of moving into 10th.
A LOOK AT LA SALLE:
Despite 32 turnovers, La Salle opened the season with a 73-68 victory over Coppin State. Freshman Aryss Macktoon guided the Explorers with 17 points. The Explorers return five players from last year's squad which finished the year 17-14 overall with an 8-7 mark in conference play, good for an eighth seed. La Salle, which lost their top four point producers from a season ago, feature top returning scorer Molly Masciantonio. A year ago, Masciantonio averaged 6.0 points and led the NCAA in assist to turnover ratio (4.72) as she finished the season with 118 assists and just 25 turnovers. La Salle's offense was heavy on the three-point shot a year ago as the Explorers took 822 triples, averaging 7.6 three point makes per game.
SERIES WITH LA SALLE:
Maine will meet La Salle for the first time in history. La Salle marks the first of three contests this season against opponents the Black Bears have never played against (Louisiana Tech & Arkansas Little Rock).
-UMaine-
