Maine women’s basketball schedules game in Portland

Maine women’s basketball returns to Portland on Dec. 9

The University of Maine women’s basketball team begins its season at home against Siena on Nov. 5, with a trip to Portland scheduled for Dec. 9. The Black Bears’ game against Fairfield at 6 p.m. at the Portland Expo will mark their first appearance in the city since November 2023.

Maine is coming off a 19-13 season that ended with a loss to Vermont in the America East tournament final. Its roster features several players with strong ties to the state, including Emmie Streams-Stevens of Bangor High, Izzy Allen of Central, Lizzy Gruber of Gardiner, Maddie Fitzpatrick of Cheverus and Bailey Breen of Oceanside.

The Dec. 9 game will also be Maine’s first at the Expo since a Nov. 24, 2019 matchup with Navy. The team’s previous Portland performance came at Cross Insurance Arena on Nov. 30, 2023, when it faced Indiana in a game led by Gorham native Mackenzie Holmes.

For the Black Bears, the Fairfield matchup will provide an opportunity to reestablish a Portland presence after three years away. It will be the first time the program has played in the city since the 2023 game against Indiana and the first time it has appeared at the Expo since the 2019 meeting with Navy.

Maine opens its campaign Nov. 5 against Siena before traveling to Portland for the Dec. 9 contest with Fairfield.