ORONO, Maine – The University of Maine women's basketball team returns to the road to start a stretch of six of its next seven away from home as they take on their second of three Ivy League opponents this year with a trip to Penn on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
Thursday's game can be seen nationally on
ESPN+. Additionally, Thursday night's game can be heard on the Black Bears Sports Network at
GoBlackBears.com and on 92.9 FM.
Game 9 | Maine at Penn
Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 | 6:00 P.M. | ESPN+
The Palestra | Philadelphia, PA
LAST TIME OUT:
ORONO, Maine –
Adrianna Smith posted her fifth double-double of the season to guide Maine to a 54-45 victory over Boston University on Monday evening.
Smith concluded the night with 24 points and 10 rebounds while
Sarah Talon posted double-figure scoring for the second-straight game with 12 points, five rebounds, and two steals.
Maine's defense, which held the Terriers to single-digit scoring total in both the first and third quarters, forced 21 turnovers with 11 steals.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears, who have one neutral site win this season, head back out on the road in search of their first true road victory of the season.
Adrianna Smith, the reigning America East Player of the Week, has logged five double-doubles on the season and currently ranks second in the America East in scoring (18.1), rebounding (9.5), and assists (5.1). Smith, fourth in the country in double-doubles, recently moved into 12th on Maine's all-time scoring list, ninth on the all-time rebounding list, and stands just two rebounds of 800 for her career.
Asta Blauenfeldt, who has tallied double-digit scoring efforts in 12 of her last 13 outings, ranks 11th among America East leaders in scoring (13.1) and checks in as Maine's top three-point threat at 39.2 percent from the floor and a fourth in the conference at 2.5 triples per outing.
Sarah Talon, who has registered double-digits in each of her last two outings including a season-high 12 point showing in Maine's most recent game, has posted two or more steals in three straight games including a career-high matching five against UIC. Talon is 12th in the league at 1.8 steals per game. The Black Bears have notched nine or fewer turnovers in three games this season as they enter play ranked 16th in the country at just 11.9 mishaps per game. The Black Bears have won the turnover battle in seven of their eight outings. Maine, which turned in a 24 assist showing against Saint Francis, rank third in the league at 14.6 assists leading to an impressive 1.23 assist to turnover mark, 34th best in the country and tops in the America East. Head Coach
Amy Vachon recently tallied her 172 career victory as she is the America East active leader in career wins and stands sixth in all-time coaching wins in the league.
A LOOK AT PENN:
The Quakers are 5-3 on the season, 2-1 at home, and are coming off a 81-63 loss at No. 4 Texas. Penn dropped a 74-53 decision to Saint Joseph's, the lone common opponent between Maine and Penn. The Black Bears fell to Saint Joseph's , 63-62. Penn, selected fourth in the Ivy League's preseason poll, return the last two Ivy League Rookies of the Year in Mataya Gayle and Katie Collins. Collins leads Penn in scoring at 11.0 points and team-high 6.9 rebounds while Gayle is adding 10.6 points and team-best 4.1 assists. Simon Sawyer rounds out Penn's double-figure scorers at 10.1 points per game. Penn ranks second in the country from the free throw stripe with a 84.0 percent clip and lead the Ivy with 7.8 triples per outing. Penn ranks third in the Ivy in scoring (67.4) and third in scoring defense (56.0).
SERIES HISTORY WITH PENN:
Maine enters play 1-3 all-time against the Quakers and has dropped each of the last two meetings including a 56-52 decision a year ago in Orono. In that game, Maine took a one point lead with 2:41 to play but Penn would end the game on a 10-5 run to secure the victory. Maine's
Adrianna Smith missed last season's meeting due to injury but tallied 18 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in the two team's 2023 meeting, won by Penn 72-69. Maine is 0-2 at Penn. Maine won the second meeting between the two teams, 47-46, in a game played at Navy in 2018.
-UMaine-
