PREVIEW: Women's Basketball to host Oregon, Red Panda

ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team looks for its first 3-0 start since 2020 when they take on Big Ten opponent Oregon in the first-ever meeting between the two programs on Friday evening at 7 p.m. Limited tickets for this game are available by visiting GoBlackBears.com/Tickets.

Game 2 | Maine (2-0, 0-0 AE) vs. Oregon (3-1, 0-0)
Friday, Nov. 13, 2026 | 7:00 P.M. | ESPN+ | GoBlackBears.com (Online Only)
Skip Chappelle Court | Orono, Maine

PROMOTIONS:
World famous Red Panda acrobat will perform during halftime. Her act involves riding an 8-foot tall unicycle while catching and balancing multiple metal bowls on her feet and head. Red Panda has performed during halftime of National Basketball Association (NBA) games and also appeared on America's Got Talent, Britain's Got Talent, and Live with Kelly and Mark.

LAST TIME OUT:
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. -- Five Black Bears scored in double figures as the University of Maine women's basketball team rolled to an 87-62 victory over Merrimack on Sunday afternoon at Lawler Arena. Maine improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2020 behind a balanced offensive effort that produced 12 three-pointers and 19 assists.

For the second consecutive game, Maddie Fitzpatrick posted a career-high scoring effort as she led the way with 19 points and nine rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting. Lizzy Gruber posted 15 points as did Bailey Breen. For Breen, the 15 points marked a new career-high. Lala Woods knocked down four triples and finished with 13 points while Kaliyah Sain rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points.

The Black Bears, who hit 17-of-31 from the floor in the first half, shot 49.3 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc. They also turned 19 Merrimack turnovers into 21 points while committing just nine turnovers of their own.

A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
Maine, off to its first 2-0 start since 2020, has opened the season with back-to-back impressive offensive outings and currently rank second in the America East at 78.5 points per game. Maddie Fitzpatrick, the reigning America East Player of the Week, has posted back-to-back career-high scoring outings including a most recent team-high 19 point showing at Merrimack. After averaging 1.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.0 minutes a year ago, Fitzpatrick currently ranks fifth in the conference in scoring (16.5) and tops in rebounding (13.0); eighth best in the country. Lizzy Gruber, also with double-digits in each of her first two outings, is a similar story. After posting 4.3 points and 2.7 rebounds a year ago, Gruber ranks fourth in the league in scoring (16.5) and fifth in rebounding (8.0) in the early going. Three-point threat Lala Woods is adding 13.0 points per game with 3.0 triples per game while Kaliyah Sain is adding 9.5 points.

After concluding the 2025-26 campaign ranked sixth in the country with just 11.4 turnovers per game, including 18 performances of 11 or fewer turnovers, the Black Bears have now posted single-digit turnover totals in four of their last five after just nine giveaways at Merrimack. Maine currently ranks second in the conference at 27.5 triples attempted per game and third with a 36.4 three point percentage. Overall, Maine ranks second in the league at 47.5 percent from the floor.

Head coach Amy Vachon returns for her 11th season at the helm and stands just 10 wins shy of 200 for her career and one away from passing Boston University's Christine Basile to move into fourth on the America East all-time coaching wins list.

A LOOK AT OREGON:
The Ducks are currently in the midst of a three-game road trip which saw them drop an 81-74 decision at Grand Canyon on Monday before an 81-56 win at Vermont on Wednesday in its first-ever game against an America East opponent. The Ducks are led by Ehis Etute and Katie Fiso who enter averaging 16.2 points to lead four double-figure averaging Ducks. Ari Long is adding 12.2 points while Mallory Heyer rounds out the double-digit scorers at 11.2 per game. Etute is adding 11.8 rebounds as she is averaging a double-double and team-high in rebounding while Fiso's 4.5 assists is a team-best. The Ducks have hit 31-of-92 from three point range (33.7) and enter with a 42.3 percent mark from the floor overall. Oregon is averaging 19.0 points off turnovers while forcing 16.0 takeaways per game with 9.8 steals and 5.5 blocks.

SERIES WITH OREGON:
This marks Maine's first-ever meeting with Oregon. It is the first of two game against the Big Ten this season for Maine as the Black Bears will travel to take on Michigan State on Dec. 3. This marks Maine's first contest against a current Big Ten member since a 60-51 setback at Purdue on Dec. 4, 2024. Maine last win against a Big Ten member came on Nov. 11, 2016 with a 67-47 home victory over Purdue. Maine has met 12 of the current Big Ten members with wins over Purdue, Michigan, Nebraska, and Rutgers. Maine is 4-20 all-time against current Big Ten members.

-UMaine-

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Players Mentioned

Bailey Breen

Maddie Fitzpatrick

Lizzy Gruber

Kaliyah Sain

Lala Woods

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