Men's hockey
MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN
Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono
Records: Maine 8-7-1 (6-4-1 Hockey East); Northeastern 6-7-1 (4-6-1)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 47-40-15, NU 5-2 on Nov. 14
Key players: Maine - RW Gustav Nyquist (11 goals, 13 assists), LWBrian Flynn (4 & 12), C Tanner House (7 & 6), LW Spencer Abbott (4 &9), D Will O'Neill (4 & 9), D Jeff Dimmen (2 & 6), G Scott Darling(8-3-1, 2.59 goals-against average, .909 save percentage); NU - RWGarrett Vermeersch (4 & 6), RW Kyle Kraemer (5 & 4), LW Wade MacLeod(4 & 5), C Alex Tuckerman (3 & 4), D Jake Newton (2 & 5), G BryanMountain (1-1, 1.86, .905), G Chris Rawlings (5-6-1, 2.95, .913)
Outlook: Maine has won four in a row and is unbeaten in five (4-0-1) while Greg Cronin's Huskies are 3-2-1 in their last six. NU is1-5-1 on the road. Maine is 5-2-1 at home. However, Northeastern haswon its last three games at Alfond Arena and four of its last five.Rawlings and Mountain are freshmen so whoever starts will be makinghis Alfond Arena debut. Maine will look to exploit thatinexperience. NU has scored two goals or less in eight of its last11 games. The Huskies are talented and will work hard and finishtheir checks. The Bears will have to match their intensity and grit.Maine has allowed just four goals in its last four games. Croninfeels his team will have to play a strong defensive game and stayout of the penalty box. The teams split a Nov. 13-14 series inBoston and the team that won the special teams battle won the game.
Men's basketball
MAINE vs. KENNESAW STATE
Time, site: Sunday, 1 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono
Records: Maine 4-4; Kennesaw State 4-4
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 1-0; Maine 60-47 Nov. 15, 2008
Key players: Maine - 6-3 G Gerald McLemore (16.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg,1.5 apg), 6-7 F Sean McNally (12.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg), 6-3 G TerranceMitchell (10.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.3 apg), 6-5 G Junior Bernal (9.4 ppg,5.6 rpg, 3.1 rpg), 6-7 F Troy Barnies (7.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 6-7 FMurphy Burnatowski (4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.6 apg); Kennesaw State - 6-7 F Markeith Cummings (17.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.3 apg), 6-3 G KurtisWoods (13.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.4 apg), 6-6 F Jon-Michael Nickerson(12.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.4 apg), 6-0 G Kelvin McConnell (8.8 ppg, 2.8apg), 6-9 F LaDaris Green (7.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg), 6-9 F Matt Heramb (7.1ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Outlook: The Black Bears are coming off a record-setting victoryin which they scored 133 points against the UMPI Owls, but pointswill be much harder to come by against these Owls, who Maine beat ontheir home court in the 100 Club Championship tourney title gamelast year. The KSU Owls have good size and should give Maine a toughbattle inside. KSU takes care of the ball with just 12.8 turnoversper game, so Maine will have to continue to cut down its turnovers.The Owls are scoring 76.8 points and grabbing 36.5 rebounds pergame.
Women's basketball
MAINE vs. QUINNIPIAC
Time, site: Saturday, noon; TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, Conn.
Records: Maine 2-5; Quinnipiac 2-5
Series, last meeting: Quinnipiac leads 1-0, QU 70-49 on 11/24/07
Key players: Maine - 6-0 F Samantha Wheeler (10.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg,.490 FG pct.), 5-9 G Amanda Tewksbury (9.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.9 spg), 5-5 G Kristin Baker (9.1 ppg, 3.6 apg), 6-2 F Corinne Wellington (7.8ppg, 3.8 rpg), 5-9 G Katelyn Vanderhoff (4.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.9 apg),5-11 F Katia Bratishko (4.6 ppg, .870 FT pct.); Quinnipiac - 6-3 CCourtney Kaminski (11.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.2 bpg), 6-1 G KathleenNeyens (11.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 5-7 G Felicia Barron (10.8 ppg, 4.5 apg,2.5 spg), 5-11 F Jacinda Dunbar (9.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg), 6-1 F Jacki Mann(5.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
Outlook: The Black Bears look to end their road woes against theBobcats. UMaine has lost 26 straight on the road dating back to a 54-53 win at Miami on 12/29/07. The Bears are coming off a goodperformance in Tuesday's 52-50 loss to Delaware. Quinnipiac of theNortheast Conference has dropped two in a row, including Thursday's75-74 home loss to No. 17/18 Vanderbilt, during which the Commodoresovercame a 13-point, second-half deficit. UMaine has been soliddefensively, but has struggled on offense. UMaine is averaging 52.3ppg and is shooting 35 percent from the floor, including a dismal 19percent from 3-point range. Both teams have had some turnoverdifficulties. Quinnipiac may have an edge in depth as nine playersaverage at least 10 minutes of action.
