ORONO, Maine -- For the first time since Dec. 7, the University of Maine women's basketball team returns home for its first conference game at Skip Chappelle Court and the 43rd overall meeting between Maine and UMBC on Thursday at 6 p.m. Tickets remain available and can be purchased by visiting GoBlackBears.com/tickets.

Thursday's game can be seen nationally on ESPN+. Additionally, Thursday's game can be heard on the Black Bears Sports Network at GoBlackBears.com.

Game 16 | Maine vs. UMBC
Thursday, Jan. 8, 2025 | 6:00 P.M. | ESPN+ | Radio - Listen
Skip Chappelle Court | Orono, Maine

LAST TIME OUT:
SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- After falling behind by 14 points in the first quarter, Maine fought back to take a lead in the fourth quarter. However, the comeback would fall short as the Black Bears dropped an 82-73 decision at Bryant on Saturday afternoon.

Adrianna Smith led all scorers with 27 points to go along with five rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Sarah Talon posted a season-high 15 points with six rebounds while Asta Blauenfeldt added 14 points. Olivia Alvarez chipped in a career-high eight points with four steals off the bench. 

Maine's defense forced 20 turnovers with 11 steals, turning the mishaps into a 24-10 advantage in points off turnovers.

The Black Bears finished the afternoon 29-for-59 (49.2), hitting 13-of-19 from the free throw line. Bryant held a 34-22 advantage on the boards and shot 58.5 percent from the line include a 91.7 (11-of-12) showing in the first quarter in which they outscored the Black Bears, 26-12. 

A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears are averaging 73.0 points per game through their first two conference games and enter their first home game since Dec. 7 1-1 in the league with a win at UMass Lowell and a loss at Bryant. Maine boasts a +9.5 turnover margin in league play. Adrianna Smith, averaging 32.0 points per game in conference action, is the current America East leader in scoring (20.2) which is good for 19th best in the country. Smith also leads the America East in rebounding, checking in 34th nationally in the category, at 9.4 boards per game. Smith, who ranks 10th in the country with seven double-doubles, will be looking to register her first double-double since Dec. 14 when she tallied 18 points and a career-high 20 boards at Quinnipiac. Smith has posted double-figure scoring in each of her last 10 outings. Following back-to-back zero point outings, Asta Blauenfeldt has rebounded to post double-digit scoring in her last five outings. Blauenfeldt checks in 17th in the league at 11.8 points per game and, statistically, is Maine's top three-point threat as she ranks eighth among league leaders at 1.9 triples per outing with a 33.7 percent clip from downtown.  Maine, which has won the turnover battle in 10 games including each of its first two conference outings, ranks second in the league and 39th nationally at just 13.5 giveaways per game.

A LOOK AT UMBC:
The Retrievers, 2-4 on the road this season, enter play 1-3 in their last four outings including a conference opening 80-75 loss at home against NJIT. Junior Jade Tillman, a transfer from East Carolina riding a six game double-figure scoring streak, leads the Retrievers at 14.0 points per game along with a team-high 5.9 rebounds. Kennedy Austin is adding 12.0 points and 3.7 rebounds. The Retrievers enter action with the league's fifth ranked offense (68.0) and fourth ranked scoring defense (61.2). UMBC leads the America East with 20.5 turnovers forced but are giving it away 17.4 times, last in the league. The Retrievers have also been impressive on the offensive glass where they lead the conference with 15.2 boards on the offensive end per game.

SERIES WITH UMBC: 
Maine has won 11 of its last 15 meetings against the Retrievers and lead the all-time series, 27-16. Maine is 17-5 at home against UMBC and have won each of the last five head-to-head meetings in Maine. UMBC has not defeated the Black Bears in Maine since 2020. The two teams first met on Jan. 24, 2004 with Maine coming away with a 60-45 victory in Baltimore. The Black Bears would go on to win each of the first five meetings in the all-time series. Maine defeated UMBC last year at home, 61-47, before falling at UMBC in the latest meeting, 71-53. Adrianna Smith, who missed both meetings between the two teams a year ago, is averaging 19.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in six career meetings against UMBC.

-UMaine-