The University of Maine men’s and women’s basketball teams continue their America East schedules this week, while facing some of the more stiff teams in the league. The men’s team will host a pair of home games against Hartford and Stony Brook, while the women travel to Hartford and Stony Brook starting with a re-match of the America East Tournament title game last season.
The Maine men, 3-15 and 1-2 in America East, return home after garnering their first league win on Saturday 66-62 over Albany. It was the Bears first win over the Great Danes in three seasons and first win over them at Albany since 2011. Wednesday night Maine welcomes in Hartford to the Cross Insurance Center for a 7 pm start. The Hawks are 8-9, and off to a 1-1 league start. Hartford is 65th in made three point shots this season averaging 8.9 per game, and are 14th in free throw percentage at 76.3, both out of 351 Division I teams. John Carroll (15.7 points per game), J.R. Lynch (15.2 PPG), Jason Dunne (13.9 PPG), and George Blagojevic (13.3 PPG) lead the Hawks. Saturday, the red hot Stony Brook Seawolves visit the CIC for a 1 pm matinee. SB is 15-3 and 3-0 in AE, winners of five straight games. Stony Brook had a good non-conference season as well, recording road wins over George Washington, South Carolina, Rhode Island, and Northern Iowa. Akwasi YeboTah (17.9 PPG), Miles Latimer (11.9 PPG), and Elijah Olaniyi (11.7 PPG) are the Seawolves leaders. The three leaders for Maine thus far this season have been Isaiah White (14.4 PPG), Andrew Fleming (13.5 PPG), and Sergio El Darwich (11.4 PPG).
The Maine women’s team, winners of four straight carry an 11-6 record overall and 4-0 league mark after a 76-65 win at home over Albany last Saturday. The Bears face maybe the top foe with them in America East this season when they visit West Hartford, Connecticut and Chase Arena Wednesday night at 7 to battle the Hartford Hawks. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since Maine knocked off Hartford in Bangor last March to win the America East Tournament with a 74-65 win in the title game. The Hawks also come in with a perfect league mark so far at 3-0, 10-7 overall. The most impressive game of the non-conference, despite a loss, was a 74-66 overtime setback to #22 Michigan State in Hartford back on December 16. The leaders for the Hawks are three returners from last years squad that made it all the way to that title game. Lindsey Abed (13.2 PPG), Sierra Dacosta (12.7 PPG), and Ella Awobajo (10.8 PPG) are those leaders. Saturday Maine heads to Long Island and a place they have struggled in over recent years, when they visit Stony Brook for a 2 pm tip. The Seawolves are also off to a strong start at 14-3 overall, and 3-1 in conference. They are currently on a three game win streak after dropping their America East opener 64-36 to Hartford. Shania Johnson (17.2 PPG), Jerell Matthews (15.9 PPG), and India Pagan (12.7 PPG) are the floor leaders so far this season. The Black Bears have lost two straight seasons on their visit to Stony Brook, with the last win coming during the 2015-16 campaign. Some familiar names are also filling up stat sheets across America East so far for Maine as Blanca Millan, Tanesha Sutton, and Parise Rossignol have helped fuel another drive towards back to back conference titles. The big three have averaged 17.7, 14.5, and 11.3 PPG so far respectively.
Eastern Maine Sports will have you covered as always this week in Black Bear Nation, with live scoring updates via our Twitter page at EasternMESports, Facebook at Eastern Maine Sports Scores, and recaps to be found on easternmainesports.com.
