AUBURN, ME — The Central Maine Community College women's basketball team improved to 2–0 on the season Sunday afternoon, outlasting a talented University of Maine at Fort Kent squad, 85–73, in a high-paced, physical contest between two of the Northeast's top small-college programs.
The Mustangs only trailed once, briefly at 2–0, but the game remained tight throughout. Several second-half ties kept the pressure on, but CMCC made the key plays down the stretch, including a dominant fourth quarter run to pull away for good.
Despite the high score, the game was anything but loose. Both teams played with intensity on the defensive end, turning stops into transition opportunities and contesting every shot. CMCC out-rebounded the Bengals by 13 and drew three offensive fouls, showcasing toughness and grit throughout the 40 minutes. The Mustang bench proved to be a major factor, outscoring UMFK's reserves 35–16, while the team shot a crisp 46.2 percent from the field.
Hunter Hartsgrove (Patten, ME) led the way offensively for CMCC, scoring 20 points on five three-pointers and pulling down six rebounds. Cassie Ririnui (Tauranga, New Zealand) added 15 points and seven boards on her birthday, while Breanna Dwyer (Gold Coast, Australia) chipped in another 15 points and five rebounds off the bench.
UMFK's Dejah Morris delivered a game-high 27 points to go with eight rebounds, four steals, and three blocks in a sensational performance. Nysia Ortiz and Sheyla Aguilar added 12 and 11 points respectively for the Bengals, who fell to 1–1.
"We are so pleased with our intensity for 40 minutes," said CMCC head coach Andrew Morong. "We had great rotations off the bench—Julie Darres really sparked us in the second quarter. We're starting to play more confidently, and I think opening the season with such strong competition has helped us build that. We're hoping to add Gabbie Tibbetts and Zoe Bedford back to the lineup over the next six weeks, but their absence has created opportunity for other players to really develop, which will ultimately make us deeper."
CMCC opens Yankee Small College Conference play on Wednesday, November 5, when they travel to the University of Maine at Augusta for a 6:00 p.m. tipoff.
