Thursday, November 5
Orono, Maine
6:00 p.m.
University of Maine
vs
Siena College
11/3/2026 11:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Black Bears to host Saints on Thursday at 6 p.m.
ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team begins its 63rd season of competition on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. when it hosts Siena in the first meeting between the two teams since 2012.
This is the third consecutive season in which Maine will open at home after falling to St. Joseph's by a point a year ago in a home season opener. Maine is 36-26 all-time in season openers and 7-4 in its last 11 openers.. Limited tickets still remain for the game and can be purchased at GoBlackBears.com/Tickets.
PROMOTIONAL ITEMS:
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026 | 6:00 P.M. | ESPN+ | GoBlackBears.com (Audio)
Skip Chappelle Court | Orono, Maine
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
Amy Vachon enters her 10th season at the helm of the Black Bears who are coming off a return to the America East Championship game a year ago after posting a 19-13 overall mark and a 12-4 conference campaign. Maine lost its top three scorers to graduation, including the 2026 America East Player of the Year Adrianna Smith (22.8 pts/10.7 rebounds). Lala Woods (8.4 points) and Kaliyah Sain (8.4 pts) are featured as Maine's top returning scorers with Sain only seeing action in eight games a year ago before suffering a season-ending injury. Woods ranked 10th in the America East in both three-point percentage (30.4) and triples made per game (1.6). Lizzy Gruber, who appeared in all 32 games a year ago, returns after averaging 4.3 points and ranking fifth in the conference at 1.0 blocks per game. Olivia Alvarez will run the point for Maine after making 23 starts in 32 games played last year. The Black Bears ended the 2025-26 season ranked sixth in the nation with just 11.4 turnovers per game and enter play riding a three-game streak of single digit turnover totals, with single digit giveaways in six of their last seven.
Maine will look to replace the 70.4% of its scoring that was lost from last year's roster, including America East Player of the Year Adrianna Smith who graduated after averaging 22.8 points per game to go along with 10.7 rebounds. In addition to Smith, the Black Bears lost their second (Asta Blauenfeldt - 11.0 ppg) and third (Sarah Talon - 8.9 ppg) leading scorers to graduation.
A LOOK AT SIENA:
The Saints opened the 2026-27 campaign with an 82-71 win at home over Brown on Monday evening. In the win, Siena forced 24 Brown turnovers and were led by Nicole Melious' 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting. Francesa Schiro added 21 points while Caydence Hadley added 10. Siena, under the guidance of third-year head coach Terry Primm, return four starters off last season's squad which finished the 2025-26 year 11-9 in the league and 13-17 overall. Schiro, the reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year, leads the Saints after points 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.9 steals a year ago. Schiro is one of 25 student-athletes nationally who has been named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Preseason Watch List. Siena was selected second in the Metro Preseason Poll, one spot behind favorites Fairfield.
SERIES WITH SIENA:
The meeting marks the eighth all-time meeting between the two clubs with Maine holding a slight 4-3 advantage. Siena has won two-straight in the series with wins at home in 2012 (53-50) and 2011 (78-51). Maine's last win in the series game in 1991, an 81-55 decision. The Black Bears also opened the 1989 season against Siena, earning a 68-52 win over the Saints to begin the season that year.Â
-UMaine-
This is the third consecutive season in which Maine will open at home after falling to St. Joseph's by a point a year ago in a home season opener. Maine is 36-26 all-time in season openers and 7-4 in its last 11 openers.. Limited tickets still remain for the game and can be purchased at GoBlackBears.com/Tickets.
PROMOTIONAL ITEMS:
- Fans are encouraged to arrive early as the first 200 fans through the gates will receive this year's commemorative schedule poster.
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026 | 6:00 P.M. | ESPN+ | GoBlackBears.com (Audio)
Skip Chappelle Court | Orono, Maine
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
Amy Vachon enters her 10th season at the helm of the Black Bears who are coming off a return to the America East Championship game a year ago after posting a 19-13 overall mark and a 12-4 conference campaign. Maine lost its top three scorers to graduation, including the 2026 America East Player of the Year Adrianna Smith (22.8 pts/10.7 rebounds). Lala Woods (8.4 points) and Kaliyah Sain (8.4 pts) are featured as Maine's top returning scorers with Sain only seeing action in eight games a year ago before suffering a season-ending injury. Woods ranked 10th in the America East in both three-point percentage (30.4) and triples made per game (1.6). Lizzy Gruber, who appeared in all 32 games a year ago, returns after averaging 4.3 points and ranking fifth in the conference at 1.0 blocks per game. Olivia Alvarez will run the point for Maine after making 23 starts in 32 games played last year. The Black Bears ended the 2025-26 season ranked sixth in the nation with just 11.4 turnovers per game and enter play riding a three-game streak of single digit turnover totals, with single digit giveaways in six of their last seven.
Maine will look to replace the 70.4% of its scoring that was lost from last year's roster, including America East Player of the Year Adrianna Smith who graduated after averaging 22.8 points per game to go along with 10.7 rebounds. In addition to Smith, the Black Bears lost their second (Asta Blauenfeldt - 11.0 ppg) and third (Sarah Talon - 8.9 ppg) leading scorers to graduation.
A LOOK AT SIENA:
The Saints opened the 2026-27 campaign with an 82-71 win at home over Brown on Monday evening. In the win, Siena forced 24 Brown turnovers and were led by Nicole Melious' 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting. Francesa Schiro added 21 points while Caydence Hadley added 10. Siena, under the guidance of third-year head coach Terry Primm, return four starters off last season's squad which finished the 2025-26 year 11-9 in the league and 13-17 overall. Schiro, the reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year, leads the Saints after points 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.9 steals a year ago. Schiro is one of 25 student-athletes nationally who has been named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Preseason Watch List. Siena was selected second in the Metro Preseason Poll, one spot behind favorites Fairfield.
SERIES WITH SIENA:
The meeting marks the eighth all-time meeting between the two clubs with Maine holding a slight 4-3 advantage. Siena has won two-straight in the series with wins at home in 2012 (53-50) and 2011 (78-51). Maine's last win in the series game in 1991, an 81-55 decision. The Black Bears also opened the 1989 season against Siena, earning a 68-52 win over the Saints to begin the season that year.Â
-UMaine-
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Center
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
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