AE Title Preview: Can Bears Stop Richards?

It is the matchup many basketball observers around the America East Conference have been waiting for. The #1 Albany Great Danes vs the #1A UMaine Black Bears for the league title and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

It happens today at 4:30pm in New York in front of ESPNU cameras.

Simply put, the winner goes to the NCAA tourney and the loser goes to the Women's NIT tourney.

Why (26-7) UMaine can win the AE championship...

>  The Black Bears are only the second team in league history to hold opponents to an average of less than 50 points per game for a season.

>  It has been a few years since the last title but Maine has seven AE titles, more than any other team.

>  The Bears own a 14-game winning streak.

>  They turn the ball over just 12.2 times a game - best in AE and 11th best in the nation.

>  The Bears have Sigi Koizar and Liz Wood.

Why (26-4) UAlbany can win the AE championship...

>  The home team record in AE title games is 21-4.

>  #1 playing #2 has happened 13 times and #1 has won 10 times.

>  The Great Danes are the highest scoring team in the conference at 71.4 PPG.

>  Albany shoots 49% from the field, 4th best in the country.

>  The Danes have Shereesha Richards.

NOTE:  ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme told Sports Radio 92.9 The Ticket 'Morning Pitch Show' that the UMaine/Albany winner is expected to be a #3 seed for the NCAA tournament and a likely opponent is #3 seed Kentucky. The Division-I women's Selection Show is Monday night at 7pm. The Women's NIT selections and matchups will be announced Monday night after the NCAA selections.