Orono, Maine -- Maine concludes the 2023-24 regular season with a two-game homestand beginning when it hosts Binghamton on Thursday evening at 6 p.m., presented by Dirigo Pines, in the annual pink game for the cancer awareness series, presented by Black Bear Inn and Event Center.
Broadcast Details:
Thursday's game will be live streamed on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on the Black Bears Sports Network and live on 92.9 The Ticket in the Bangor market.
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LAST TIME OUT:
Newark, N.J. --
Adrianna Smith and
Anne Simon each tallied double-doubles as the University of Maine defeated NJIT, 72-46, on Saturday afternoon.
The win moves Maine, which led by as many as 26 in the game, to 19-9 overall and 12-2 in America East play while NJIT slips to 10-17, 2-12 in the conference.
Smith posted her league-leading 20th double-double of the season behind a 25 point, 13 rebound effort to go along with four assists, three steals, and three blocks. Smith has now scored 10 or more points in 16-straight outings. Simon picked up her second double-double in as many outings, stretching her double-digit scoring streak to seven in a row with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Sarah Talon and
Paula Gallego each added eight points in the win.
The Black Bears outscored NJIT 38-19 in the second half, including a 22-9 advantage in the third quarter, to pull away from the Highlanders.
Maine finished the day 28-63 (44.4%) from the floor with 10 triples while holding NJIT to 32.1 percent shooting while forcing 18 Highlander turnovers.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
Maine is 9-2 on its home court this season and undefeated in league play in Orono (6-0) this year. In total, dating back to last season, Maine has won its last nine home games against America East competition at home. Overall, Maine has won seven of its last eight outings including a most recent 72-46 decision at NJIT.
Anne Simon, sixth on Maine's all-time scoring list and 12th on the America East all-time scoring list, enters play as the league's leader in scoring at 18.4 points per game. Simon has posted double-digit scoring efforts in each of her last seven outings with double-doubles in her last two games. Simon, who ranks third in the league in rebounding (7.2), checks in second in the league in steals (2.5) with a league-leading 34.7 minutes per game.
Adrianna Smith ranks third in the country with 20 double-doubles and recently stretched her double-digit scoring streak to 16 with a 25 points, 13 rebound effort at NJIT. Smith ranks third in the league in scoring (16.5), first in rebounding (11.2), and second in assists (4.2). The Black Bears have hit double-digit threes in three of their last five outings and currently lead the America East at 7.7 triples per game. Maine ranks 15th in the country with just 12.4 turnovers per game.
A LOOK AT BINGHAMTON:
The Bearcats enter play with the longest active win streak (3) among America East schools with most recent wins over UMass Lowell, NJIT, and UMBC. Binghamton ranks second in the America East in scoring (62.6) and fifth in scoring defense (60.8) while checking in third in the league and 59th in the country with just 13.8 turnovers per game. Binghamton, which leads the league in fouling (16.9), ranks just behind Maine at 6.7 three pointers made per game. Leading scorer Denai Bowman is averaging 11.5 points and 4.1 rebounds. Jadyn Weltz is adding 10.6 points and team highs in rebounding (5.0) and assists (4.5); leading the league in assist average. Genevieve Coleman (10.5) and Ella Wanzer (10.4) round out Binghamton's double-figure scoring averages. Wanzer ranks second in the America East at 2.4 triples made per game.
SERIES WITH BINGHAMTON:
Maine and Binghamton will meet for the 49th time with the Black Bears holding a 33-15 advantage. Maine, which has won 22 of the last 25 meetings, will be looking for its 10th-straight win over Binghamton after winning the earlier meeting this season, 59-56, on the road.
Anne Simon is averaging 17.1 points per game in 10 all-time meetings with Binghamton with double-digit scoring totals in nine of the 10 meetings.
Adrianna Smith has posted double-double in each of the last four meetings between the two clubs. Maine and Binghamton first met in 2001, a 63-62 overtime victory by the Black Bears. Maine is 16-4 at home in the series.
