The University of Maine women’s basketball team, having just clinched the America East championship, is set to take on Ohio State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament as the 15th seed. The match-up is scheduled at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, though the exact time and date are still to be determined.
Ohio State, holding the 17th rank nationally and crowned the Big Ten regular season champions, boasts a record of 16-2 in the regular season. However, their journey was halted by Maryland, the eighth seed, with a surprising 82-61 defeat in the conference quarterfinals on March 8.
The Black Bears, on a high with a 24-9 record and victories in 12 of their last 13 games, secured their spot by overcoming the defending champion Vermont with a score of 64-48. This victory, celebrated by a full house at the Memorial Gym in Orono, marked their first conference tournament title since their back-to-back wins in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
In recent years, UMaine faced challenges in clinching the America East championship, falling short against Stony Brook in 2020-21 and Albany in 2021-22, with Albany also knocking them out in the semifinals the previous year. The 2019-20 season saw them reaching the league title game, only for the COVID-19 pandemic to cancel the season just before their scheduled final against Stony Brook.
The last NCAA Tournament saw UMaine as the 14th seed, where they were defeated by North Carolina State, the third seed, with a score of 63-51 in Raleigh, North Carolina. North Carolina State was ranked 10th in the nation at that time. The year before, UMaine, as the 15th seed, faced a loss against second seed Texas with a score of 83-54 in Austin, Texas.
Anne Simon, UMaine’s graduate student guard, expressed her excitement about the tournament. Recognized as the America East Tournament Most Valuable Player, and the league’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, Simon is aware of Ohio State’s strong defense and their pressuring style of play. Ohio State, alongside Michigan, allowed the fewest points per game among the 14 Big Ten teams, averaging 63.8 per game.
Sarah Talon, a sophomore guard from Windham, views the upcoming game as a significant opportunity to face top-tier competition. Having dreamt of participating in the NCAA women’s tournament since childhood, Talon sees this as a realization of those dreams.
The two teams share a common opponent in the Indiana Hoosiers, with Ohio State securing a win at home and UMaine facing a loss in Portland. Despite the challenges, Talon believes in the team’s ability to compete at the highest level, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of tournament play in March.
UMaine’s head coach, Amy Vachon, is focused on devising a solid game plan, aiming to enjoy the competition and make the most of the opportunity. Ohio State boasts the Big Ten’s top two players in steals per game, with Celeste Taylor and Jacy Sheldon leading the statistics. Sheldon also ranks third in the Big Ten for scoring and 11th in assists, while Taylor is 12th in assists. Sophomore forward Cotie McMahon also stands out in rebounding and scoring for Ohio State.
The history between the teams includes two previous meetings in Columbus, with Ohio State securing victories in both encounters. As the teams prepare to face off once again, the excitement and anticipation for this match-up are palpable, promising a thrilling contest in the NCAA Tournament.