The biggest game of the America East women’s basketball season, definitely the most anticipated, will take place Wednesday night at 7 pm at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor as Maine hosts Hartford on Senior Night in a battle for sole possession for first place as the regular season winds down.
Hartford (16-8, 9-1 America East) and Maine (17-7, 10-1) have already met once during the regular season, with the Hawks taking a 49-46 win in West Hartford back on January 16th. Hartford makes the first trip into the Cross Insurance Center since a 74-65 loss to Maine in the America East Tournament title game last March 9th. Maine is on a six game winning streak since the three point loss to the Hawks, while Hartford dropped their only conference game to Binghamton on January 30th. The winner Wednesday night will take over sole possession of first place in the conference.
Hartford is being by a trio of players in Lindsey Abed (14.3 points per game, 4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists), Sierra Decosta (11.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.4 APG), and Ella Awobajo (10.9 PPG and 4.9 RPG). The Hawks are scoring 64.4 points per contest, while giving up an average of 56.9. They are shooting 39 percent from the floor, but only 30 percent from behind the arc. Hartford comes in after their most recent win last Wednesday night 92-47 over UMBC.
Maine is also being led by a trio starting with Blanca Millan (17.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG), Tanesha Sutton (13.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG), and Parise Rossignol (12.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG). Dor Saar is also chipping in 7.9 points per game and 5.2 assists, while Fanny Wadling also comes in with a 7.4 PPG average. The Black Bears are scoring 66.9 points per game, while giving up an average of 59.1. They are shooting 43 percent from the floor, and 34 percent from three point range. Maine also averages only 11 turnovers per outing, while Hartford averages 16. The Bears also dish out an average of 17 assists a game, while the Hawks average 12. Maine comes in off their most recent win 58-45 Saturday over UMBC. Hartford has five games remaining after Wednesday night, with road games at Vermont and Albany and home contests with UNH, UMass-Lowell, and Binghamton. Maine will have four remaining, three on road at Albany, UMass-Lowell, and Binghamton while hosting Stony Brook at the Augusta Civic Center.
Also prior to the game, Maine will honor their two seniors in Sutton and Rossignol. It is also the annual Play4Kay game, where the Bears will wear special pink jerseys that will be auctioned off with proceeds to support cancer research and prevention.
