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The University of Maine women’s basketball team will play in Portland for the first time in three years when it takes on Fairfield at 6 p.m. on Dec. 9 at the Expo.

It will be the first Portland appearance for the Black Bears since taking on Indiana, then led by Gorham native Mackenzie Holmes, on Nov. 30, 2023, at the Cross Insurance Arena. Their last game at the Expo was against Navy on Nov. 24, 2019.

Maine, which will open its season at home Nov. 5 against Siena, went 19-13 a year ago, losing to Vermont in the America East tournament final.

Five in-state players are on Maine’s roster: Emmie Streams-Stevens of Bangor High, Izzy Allen of Central, Lizzy Gruber of Gardiner, Maddie Fitzpatrick of Cheverus and Bailey Breen of Oceanside.