The University of Maine women’s basketball team will play against Vermont in the Air Force Reserve America East Championship on March 13. The game, set for 5 p.m. at Patrick Gymnasium in Burlington, will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
This matchup is significant as it marks Maine’s 23rd appearance in the conference title game and its first since winning the championship in 2024. Both teams split their regular season meetings, with Maine being one of only two teams to defeat Vermont at home this year. This will be the eighth time Maine and Vermont have met in the title game, with each team having won four times previously.
Maine advanced to the championship after a semifinal win over Binghamton, led by Adrianna Smith’s double-double performance. Smith has been a standout player throughout the season, leading the conference in scoring, rebounding, and assists. She recently became the only student-athlete in America East history to record over 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 400 assists.
The Black Bears enter the final on a five-game winning streak and have won nine of their last ten games. They finished conference play with a league-best turnover margin and are ranked among national leaders for fewest turnovers per game. Other key contributors include Asta Blauenfeldt and Sarah Talon, who have provided consistent scoring support.
Vermont comes into the championship as regular season champions with a strong defensive record and an impressive home record at Patrick Gymnasium. The Catamounts are led by Nikola Priede and Keira Hanson.
Historically, Maine holds a slight edge over Vermont in postseason matchups but both teams have had success against each other in previous finals. The outcome of Friday’s game will determine which program claims its fifth title-game victory over their rival.
