PETERSBURG, Va. — A suffocating second-half defense led Central Maine Community College to a 63-35 victory over Penn State Schuylkill in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II women’s basketball national championship game Thursday night.

It’s the third national title in five years for the Mustangs (2017, 2019), who were playing in their fifth straight national final.

The Mustangs led 30-23 at halftime, then allowed the Lions to score just four points in the third quarter and eight more in the fourth. CMCC forced 30 turnovers and turned them into 26 points. The Lions were held to just 23.5% shooting.

Lewiston grad Myah Nicolas led all scorers with 13 points for CMCC, including going 3 of 4 on 3-point shots. Kali Thompson added 10 points and nine rebounds, and fellow Lewiston grad Emily Strachan scored eight points. Oxford Hills grad Jade Smedberg scored four points and grabbed six rebounds.

National tournament MVP Eliza Brault finished with a stat line of five points, four rebounds and three assists.

The Mustangs had assists on 17 of 21 field goals, and they outrebounded the Lions 50-43, including bringing down 22 offensive rebounds.

Desiree Ellison and Alyssa Gerber paced the Lions with nine points apiece.

BASEBALL
ENDICOTT 4, BATES 3: Robbie Wladowski’s home run in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Gulls (2-0) to a win over the Bobcats (2-4) in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Jake Nardone also homered and drove in three runs for Endicott.

Bates tied the game in the top of eighth on an RBI single by Tyler Attal. The Bobcats opened the scoring in the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead when Henry Jamieson singled home Attal and then scored on a double by Bryan Gotti.

Braden Karess allowed one run on three hits with three strikeouts over four innings to start for Bates.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE
ST. JOSEPH’S 20, UMAINE-FARMINGTON 2: Lydia Dexter scored five goals and set up two others as the Monks routed the Beavers in Standish.

Carson Battaglia and Brianna Paul each added three goals, and Bridget Collins had two goals and two assists for St. Joe’s (5-0).

Madisyn Smith and Abby Trefsger scored for UMaine-Farmington (0-3), and Jade Petrie notched an assist. Maddy TenKate made 13 saves in goal.

BOWDOIN 20, UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND 2: The Polar Bears (2-0) raced out to a 14-1 halftime lead on the way to a win over the Nor’easters (0-5) in Brunswick.

Colleen McAloon led Bowdoin with four goals. Fiona Bundy added three goals and an assist, and Emilia Krakora and Anna Kelly each had two goals and two assists.

Anna Stowell scored both goals for UNE.

MEN’S BASKETBALL
USCAA D2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
SOUTHERN MAINE CC 79, JOHNSON & WALES (NC) 75: Southern Maine Community College held off a late comeback bid by Johnson and Wales of North Carolina and won the United States Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division 2 Small College men’s basketball championship with a 79-75 victory Thursday night in Richmond, Virginia.

Zachary Mickle scored 20 points and Ian Regan and Anderson Kavutse each recorded a double-double for the SeaWolves (21-5), who never trailed and survived a flurry of 3-pointers in the closing minutes by Johnson and Wales (17-12). The Wildcats cut a 12-point deficit to 73-72 with 1:24 remaining, but Mickle and Regan combined to go for 6 for 6 at the free-throw line in the final minute.

Regan finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Kavutse had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

De’Andre Williams led Johnson and Wales with 24 points. Anthoney Ray and Nathan Meshida each scored 14.