PETERSBURG, Va. — After grinding out a poor-shooting performance in the quarterfinals, the Central Maine Community College women’s basketball team found its shooting touch in Wednesday’s semifinal.

The Mustangs shot 42.1% from the floor to beat Cincinnati-Clermont 70-56 in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national tournament at Virginia State University.

CMCC advances to its fifth straight national championship game and will be trying for its third title in five years on Thursday (8:45 p.m. scheduled tip-off) against Penn State Schuylkill.

Eliza Brault paced the Mustangs with 15 points and seven rebounds, and she got help offensively from Luna Love and Safena Te Nana-Williams, who scored 12 points apiece. Lewiston grad Emily Strachan was held to five points while playing with four fouls. Oxford Hills grad Jade Smedberg matched Brault with seven rebounds and added two points.

Victoria Brooks scored a game-high 22 points for the Cougars, who were held to 33.3% shooting.

MEN’S BASKETBALL
UMF, BATES PLAYERS EARN MMBCWA HONORS: The Maine Men’s Basketball Coaches and Writers Association named The University of Maine at Farmington’s Terion Moss its Player of the Year and Bates College’s Jahmir Primer as the Rookie of the Year.

UMF’s Jack Kane earned the Defensive Player of the Year accolade and the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Dan Kane was named Coach of the Year.

Moss, a senior guard from Portland, averaged 27 points per game for the Beavers. He also averaged 4.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds and shot 81.9% from the foul line. He helped lead UMF to a 14-7 record.

Primer, from Hempstead, New York, averaged 12.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game for the Bobcats. He was the team’s second-leading scorer and turned in four 20-point performances during the season.

Kane, a senior center from Cumberland, averaged 10.2 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game for the Beavers.

Moss and Kane were also named First Team All-State, along with Bates’ Stephon Baxter, and Kane was an All-Defensive Team selection. Primer was named to the All-Rookie Team.

Dan Kane guided the Owls to their best record since 1997 with an overall record of 15-10.

SOUTHERN MAINE CC 61, PENN STATE MONT ALTO 44: Zachary Mickle’s 27 points and six rebounds powered the Seawolves (20-5) past the Nittany Lions (25-5) in the USCAA Division 2 national tournament semifinal in Petersburg, Virginia.

Cameren Cousins had 13 points and nine rebounds for SMCC, which faces Johnson & Wales (NC) in Thursday’s championship game.

Darrius Bush led Penn State Mont Alto with 11 points and seven rebounds.

MEN’S HOCKEY
MERRIMACK 6, MAINE 2: The Warriors (18-14-1) eliminated the Black Bears (7-21-4) in the opening round of the Hockey East Tournament in North Andover, Mass.

Max Newton led No. 6 Merrimack with two goals and an assist. Filip Forsmark had a goal and two assists. Hugo Ollas tallied 26 saves.

Lynden Breen scored in the second period for No. 11 Maine and Matthew Fawcett added a late goal. Matthew Thiessen made 19 saves.

MEN’S LACROSSE
WENTWORTH 15, ST. JOSEPH’S 14: Erik Madden and Calvin McKenna each had four goals as the Leopards (3-2) beat the Monks (1-4) in Davenport, Florida.

Sam Prunier put Wentworth ahead 15-12 with 6:57 remaining, and the Monks kept it close on goals by Noah Tierney-Honan (5:22 left) and Timothy Goodfellow (45 seconds left).

Goodfellow and Max Lacy had four goals, Oak Hill grad Xavier Michaud had three and Tierney-Honan had two for St. Joseph’s. Gray-New Gloucester grad Brannon Gilbert made 14 saves.

U. OF NEW ENGLAND 14, SOUTHERN MAINE 7: Andrew Lawrence had four goals and two assists and the Nor’easters (3-3) outscored the Huskies (1-1) 7-2 in the second half to win in Gorham.

Jordan White added three goals and an assist, Kyle Kennedy had two goals and two assists and Sam McGregor also scored twice for UNE.

Nick James had three goals and an assist and Schuyler Wetmore had two goals and an assist for the Huskies. Oxford Hills grad Nathan Plourde made 14 saves in goal.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE
ROGER WILLIAMS 13, COLBY 10: Lily Cunningham and Devon Sarazin each scored four goals to lift the Seahawks (5-1) over the Mules (1-2) in Waterville.

Mandy Beck and Karly Chapin each had two goals for Roger Williams. Hannah Goodwin made 19 saves.

Annie Eddy and Elizabeth Hennessey led Colby with two goals apiece. Emily Podgorni stopped 11 shots.