SOUTH PORTLAND — Central Maine Community College rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half to win its Yankee Small College Conference tournament semifinal game over University of Maine-Machias, 102-95, on Saturday.
Shaun Hill scored 16 of his team-high 18 points in the second half to lead the Mustangs’ comeback. Kazre Cummings added 15 points and six rebounds and Jalen Lincoln 14 points as the top-seeded Mustangs (29-2) advanced to Sunday’s conference championship against St. Joseph’s (Vermont).
Trailing 67-57 with 15:41 to play, CMCC went on a 17-1 run, sparked by a Jimmy Pina layup and Chris Semedo 3-pointer. Hill topped-off the rally with back-to-back 3-pointers, the first of which put the Mustangs back in front to stay at 71-68.
Ford led UMaine-Machias (15-10) with 24 points. Elias Gutierrez chipped in with 18 points.
Women’s basketball
CMCC 107, Vermont Tech 60
SOUTH PORTLAND — Central Maine Community College started the game with a 16-2 run and never looked back as it swamped Vermont Tech, 107-60, in the Yankee Small College Conference semifinals at Southern Maine Community College on Saturday.
Susie French led five Mustangs in double figures with 30 points, seven rebounds and six steals. Gabby Foy added 16 points, Laura Soohey chipped in with 15 points and 10 rebounds and Samantha Bruce came off the bench for 15 points.
The top-seeded Mustangs (25-2) will face University of Maine-Augusta (15-9) for the conference title on Sunday.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Foy capped the Mustangs’ early explosion. Foy, French, Jaime Swart (11 points), Ashlee Arnold and Lexi Larson all had a hand in an 18-0 run that widened CMCC’s lead to 44-8 with 6:21 left in the first half.
Eight different Mustangs scored as they built a 56-25 lead at the half and cruised from there.
Ama Baker led Vermont Tech (12-16) with 21 points, while Paige Wells added 18 points and 20 rebounds.
Send questions/comments to the editors.