ORONO, Maine -- The No. 15 seed University of Maine women's basketball team (24-9) is set to meet No. 2 seeded Ohio State (25-5) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 22 at noon.
Maine makes its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and first since 2019, as it takes on No. 2 Ohio State in the First Round on Friday, March 22 at noon. Maine is 1-9 all-time in the NCAA Tournament with its lone win coming in 1999, a 60-58 victory over Stanford.
Broadcast Details:
Friday's game will air nationwide on ESPN and be live streamed on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on the Black Bears Sports Network and live on 92.9 FM in the Bangor market, 100.5 FM in the Portland Market, and AM 1160 in the Augusta region.
Watch Parties:
Orono Brewing Company (Orono), Sea Dog Brewing Company, and Buffalo Wild Wings will be your official watch party locations for Friday's contest. For fans traveling to Boston for the Hockey East semifinal game on Friday, The Greatest Bar (262 Friend St., Boston) will be your location to gather with fellow Black Bears and watch Maine take on Ohio State.
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LAST TIME OUT:
ORONO, Maine -- The No. 1 seeded University of Maine women's basketball team (24-9) defeated No. 3 Vermont (22-11) by a final of 64-48 to earn its league-record 10th America East title in front of 1,507 fans on Friday evening.
Maine, which improved its record to 10-12 in conference championship games, never trailed in the victory. The Black Bears, who led by as many as 22, outrebounded Vermont 37-27 while shooting 27-of-60 (45.0) from the floor. Maine hit 7-of-13 in the third quarter, outscoring Vermont 17-8 in the period, to pull away in the second half.
Anne Simon was named the Most Outstanding Player of the America East Tournament as she finished the game with 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists to lead four Black Bears in double-digit scoring efforts.
Adrianna Smith, who earned a spot along Simon on the America East All-Tournament team, added 16 points and eight rebounds while
Sarah Talon chipped in 12 points and five boards.
Olivia Rockwood rounded out the double-figure scoring efforts with 10 points and six boards.
Maine, which turned the ball over just seven times for its third-consecutive single digit turnover performance, forced 13 Vermont giveaways and outscored the Catamounts 16-2 in points off turnovers.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
Maine enters NCAA Tournament action riding a six-game win streak after picking up three victories as the No. 1 seed in the America East Tournament, including a 64-48 win over No. 3 seed Vermont to capture its 10th league title. The Black Bears finished the regular season 14-2 on their home court and undefeated at home against America East competition (11-0). One of Maine's key strengths is its ball control as it checks in 12th in the nation with just 12.2 turnovers per game, with single digit turnover totals in each of its last three outings and seven outings overall this season. Maine leads the America East in rebounding at 37.5 per game and has won the rebounding battle in 24 of its 33 games. The Black Bears lead the America East in three-point attempts per game (24.2) with a league-high 7.3 makes from downtown per outing. Defensively, the Black Bears have held 13 opponents to 50 points or fewer this season and boast the America East's top scoring defense, allowing just 56.3 points per game; 25th best in the nation.
Individually, Maine is led by
Anne Simon and
Adrianna Smith as the duo has accounted for 54.1 percent of the teams total points this season, 53.6 percent of its assists, and 48.1 percent of its rebounds. Simon, who leads the America East in scoring (18.8), became just the second player in America East history to be named Player and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. The graduate guard extended her double-digit scoring streak to 12-straight after posting 15 points in the America East championship game before being named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Adrianna Smith, who broke the America East record for double-doubles in a season with 22, was named to the America East All-Conference First Team for the second time in her career. Smith ranks among the top-two in the America East in scoring (18.8), rebounding (10.9), and assists (4.7); leading the league in latter two. Smith averaged 18.7 ppg and 7.7 rpg in the conference tournament while Simon added 17.3 and 7.3, respectively.
A LOOK AT OHIO STATE:
The Buckeyes, 15-1 at home this season, won the Big Ten regular season title before being upset by No. 8 Maryland, 82-61, in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. Ohio State enters the tournament on a two-game losing skid as its regular season finale loss to Iowa snapped its 15-game win streak. The Buckeyes rank second in the Big Ten in scoring defense (63.8 ppg allowed) and check-in eighth in the nation with 21.2 turnovers forced per game and rank fourth in the country with a +7.7 turnover margin. Ohio State is averaging 79.4 points per game on the offensive end; 15th best nationally. Jacy Sheldon, one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year award, leads the Buckeyes at 18.0 points per game with a 50.9 percent mark from the floor, 38.0 percent clip from downtown, and a team-high 2.1 steals. Cotie McMahon is adding 14.1 points and 6.5 rebounds while Taylor Thierry (11.4 ppg) and Celeste Taylor (10.2), a semifinalist for the Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year, round out the double-figure scorers.
SERIES WITH OHIO STATE:
Maine and Ohio State last met in 2017, an 83-70 victory by the Buckeyes in Columbus. The teams' first meeting came in 1995, a 93-64 win by Ohio State. Maine is 0-2 all-time against Ohio State. The Black Bears are 0-1 this season against the Big Ten, a 67-59 setback in Portland, Maine to Indiana.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY:
Maine makes its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first since 2019. The Black Bears are 1-9 all-time in the tournament with their lone win coming in 1999, a 60-58 victory over No. 7 seeded Stanford. Current head coach
Amy Vachon was the point guard for that team and finished the game with 11 points and seven rebounds. Vachon is making her seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament, four as a player (1997, 98, 99, 00) and as head coach (2018, 19).
-UMaine-
