AUBURN — Basketball is more about shooting and scoring, and the Central Maine Community College women’s basketball team is a prime example of that.

The Mustangs shot less than 50 percent from the floor (47.7), 3-point range (32.0) and the foul line (30.8), but they couldn’t miss in any of the other statistical categories, doing all the little things and fundamentals necessary to run away with a 98-47 victory over NHTI, Concord’s Community College, in a Yankee Small College Conference game at Kirk Hall on Wednesday.

CMCC (7-0, 4-0 YSCC) used a one-sided second quarter to seize control of the game, outscoring the Lynx (1-1, 1-1) 28-12 after the first quarter ended with the Mustangs holding a slim 18-15 lead.

“We talked about the importance of the little things,” CMCC coach Andrew Morong said. “You know, it’s like, yeah, we can get rebounds because we’re taller than them, but do it the right way because on Saturday when we play, or next week when we play, you know, we’re not going to be significantly taller. So you got to do it the right way every time, regardless of who you’re playing, regardless of what the scoreboard is. So we just kept reinforcing that, every timeout, every quarter break, at halftime, that’s what we talk about every day.”

The Mustangs’ muscles flexed even more in the third quarter when they extended the lead with a 29-8 advantage in the period.

The performance was quintessential CMCC women’s basketball. Everyone on the roster not only got into the game, but every player got on the score sheet with at least two points, along with a rebound or an assist.

“I think it’s really important that we all found the scoring column. It’s the first time this year that we did that,” Morong said. “But more importantly, it was the little things. It was the diving on the floor when you’re up 40, it was taking a charge with a minute and a half to go in the game up 50. You know, to me that says a lot about the character of our kids because they know, they have a bigger goal in mind that’s beyond just this game or this week.”

Freshman Kasie Maloney led the Mustangs, and all scorers, with 16 points. Natalie Thurber and Jordyn Reynolds each had 14, and Reynolds added a game-high 14 rebounds. Half of the Mustangs’ points came from the bench, including Maloney’s total.

“It was awesome to see (from Kasie), and it was even more significant to see because she’s from Concord, New Hampshire, because that’s where NHTI is located,” Morong said. “We wanted her to come in as a freshman and do exactly what she did tonight.”

Jillian Douzanis paced the Lynx with 14 points to go along with six rebounds.

CMCC forced 43 turnovers, and scored 43 points off of them. The Mustangs out-rebounded the Lynx 56-27, and they compiled 29 assists and 30 steals.

wkramlich@sunjournal.com