Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team goes for a season sweep of NJIT when it travels to take on the Highlanders on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Broadcast Details:
Saturday's game will be live streamed on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on the Black Bears Sports Network in an online only broadcast.
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LAST TIME OUT:
Baltimore, Md. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team led by as many as 12 in the first half but could not hold, falling by a final of 67-59 at UMBC on Thursday evening.
The loss snapped Maine's six game win streak as the Black Bears fell to 18-9, 11-2 America East while UMBC improved to 9-17 and 5-9 in league play.
Anne Simon and
Adrianna Smith led the way as each tallied double-doubles in the loss. Simon led all scorers with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Smith added 16 points and five boards.
Maine finished the contest 21-of-60 (35.0) from the floor including a 6-of-24 showing from three point range while UMBC shot 26-for-51 (51.0) on the evening.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears have won six of their last seven after seeing their six-game win streak snap with a loss last time out at UMBC. Maine has featured single digit turnover totals in two of its last three outings and enters play ranked 14th in the country as it is averaging just 12.4 giveaways per game. In conference only action, Maine leads the league in scoring (65.9) and checks in second in scoring defense (51.8).
Anne Simon, who recently was awarded her 11th career America East Player of the Week accolade, has tallied double-digit scoring in each of her last six outings with two of those six scoring totals being 30-plus showings. Simon, coming off her 13th career double-double and fifth of the season, leads the America East in scoring (18.7) and checks in fourth in rebounding with 7.0 per game. Simon, who has tallied five or more steals in two of her past three games ranks second in the conference in the category at 2.6 swipes per game.
Adrianna Smith has been impressive in all facets of the game this season. Smith, who leads the league in both conference-only scoring (18.5) and conference-only rebounding (11.7), ranks third in the country with 19 double-doubles on the season and ninth in rebounding at 11.1 per game. Smith ranks among the top-8 of conference leaders in eight statistical categories including scoring, rebounding, and assists. Maine has hit double-digit triples in three of its last five games and leads the America East at 7.6 three pointers per game.
A LOOK AT NJIT:
The Highlanders, 7-6 at home this season, are 1-2 in their last three after picking up a 64-52 victory over New Hampshire last time out. NJIT ranks seventh in the America East in scoring (57.5) and seventh in points allowed per game (62.7) with a conference worst 18.1 turnovers per game and a -3.4 turnover margin on the season. The Highlanders check in second in the league to Maine in rebounding (36.6) while ranking tops in the conference and 14th in the nation with 5.2 blocks per game. Alejandra Zuniga leads NJIT as she ranks fifth among America East leaders in scoring at 15.7 points per game. Trinity Williams is adding 8.7 points, a team-high 6.6 rebounds, and leads the America East with 1.6 blocks per game.
SERIES WITH NJIT:
Maine and NJIT meet for the 11th time in history after the Highlanders joined the America East in the 2020-21 season. Maine owns the all-time series, 6-4, after earning an 81-39 victory earlier this season in Orono. In that win,
Caroline Bornemann led all scorers with 27 points on five triples to go along with 12 rebounds.
Anne Simon added 20 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in the win while
Adrianna Smith chipped in 10 points and 10 boards. Defensively, Maine forced 19 turnovers and held NJIT to just 28.6 percent from the floor. The Black Bears have won four of the last five meetings. Maine is 2-1 all-time at 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.
-UMaine-
