BELCHERTOWN, Mass. — A Hampshire College student last week denied physically assaulting a Central Maine Community College basketball player over what the student called “cultural appropriation.”

Carmen Figueroa, 20, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of disorderly conduct, assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown.

The charges stem from a Jan. 27 incident at Hampshire College’s Robert Crown Center. According to court documents, Figueroa approached members the CMCC women’s basketball team and ordered them to remove braids from their hair, citing “cultural appropriation.”

Oxford Reference defines cultural appropriation as the “taking over of creative or artistic forms, themes or practices by one cultural group from another. It is in general used to describe Western appropriations of non‐Western or non‐white forms, and carries connotations of exploitation and dominance.”

When the players did not comply and began to leave the building, Figueroa allegedly initiated a fight with one of the players. At the same time, another unknown Hampshire College student pulled the hair of a visiting women’s basketball player, causing her to fall to the ground, according to court documents.

While the player was on the ground, police allege Figueroa kicked and stepped on the player, causing injury.

Another Maine player attempted to protect her fallen teammate but Figueroa “grabbed her by the head and threw her to the ground,” according to court documents.

The second player suffered scratches and other marks.

As coaches broke up the fight, Figueroa attempted to punch at the Maine students and “was screaming swears and racial slurs,” according to court documents.

CMCC Athletic Director Dave Gonyea, also the men’s basketball coach at the small Auburn college, said he was unaware the case had gone to court, and had no further comment.

He did confirm that, to the best of his knowledge, none of the women players missed any playing time due to injuries sustained in the attack.

The CMCC women recently won the United States Small College Athletic Association Division II national title.

The number listed for Figueroa in court documents was temporarily disconnected and an email was not returned Friday.

Hampshire College confirmed Friday that Figueroa is a student at the college, but declined to comment on whether she was or is on the college’s women’s basketball team.

“The college has no comment on an active district court proceeding,” John Courtmanche, a college spokesman, wrote in an email.

Figueroa was released on personal recognizance and is scheduled to return to court in May.

Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.