AUBURN — Sophomore guards Kristina Blais and Holly Decourcey have been selected as captains for the Central Maine Community College women’s basketball team, coach Andrew Morong announced Thursday.

“Both Kristina and Holly are exemplary young women. They lead by example, in the classroom, on the court, and in the weight room — and truly embrace what it means to be a student-athlete,” Morong said in a new release. “Both have GPAs above 3.6, and are on track to graduate with President Honors.

“Not only do they succeed at their own tasks, but they are capable and willing to hold their teammates to our high standards as well. There are well-defined attributes that make our program different than many others, and Kristina and Holly embrace and embody every one of them.”

Blais, who graduated from Lewiston High School, and Decourcey, of Billerica, Massachusetts, were both key members of the Mustangs’ 2017 USCAA Division II National Championship team, the first women’s basketball team from Maine to win a national title.

“We’re excited about the season and ready to get to work,” Blais said. “Being captain means it is our job to make sure people don’t get comfortable, and push them to their limits so we can succeed as a team, in season and in the offseason. We have a lot of talented players coming in, it is important to take them under our wings and show them the ropes of what it means to be a Lady Mustang.”

Blais averaged 5.5 points and 2.8 assists in 19.5 minutes per game as a freshman in 2016-17. Decourcey averaged 4 points in 10 minutes. She played in all 34 games for the Mustangs, who finished the season 33-1.

“I like to lead by example, and I hope to show the incoming freshmen what hard work really is,” Decourcey said. “I think my experience last year has made me even more determined for this year’s season. I gained a lot of experience and knowledge last year, and there was a lot of adjusting that had to be done. I think I have learned from the experience and that I should have a better year this year because of it.”

Among those incoming freshman will be Spruce Mountain star Alex Bessey, who committed to the Mustangs in May.

Bessey, a guard, scored 430 points and became the Phoenix’s first 1,000-point scorer during her senior season.

“Alex is one of the state’s best guards, and I have been saying that for a couple of years now,” Morong said. “I think she has gone under the radar, and this is a huge pick-up for our program.  I have seen her play dozens of times, whether it was against KVAC Class B teams or against Division I-caliber guards at national AAU events, and I have always been impressed with the way Alex rises to the occasion.”

Bessey was twice selected to the KVAC first team. She also was named a Maine McDonald’s Senior All-Star and picked for the Sun Journal’s All-Region first team.

“I chose CM because I enjoyed the smaller campus with great academic programs,” Bessey said, “but also because of the winning tradition with a coach who I know cares about me as much off the court as he does on the court.”

Bessey joins the CMCC recruiting class that includes Edward Little’s Jordyn Reynolds, Wells’ Natalie Thurber, Lincoln Academy’s Cagney O’Brien and Devona Kinsey of New Britain, Connecticut.