The hope of a national championship for the University of Maine at Augusta women’s basketball team was spoiled on Monday afternoon.
For the second straight season, Cincinnati-Clermont played the role of spoiler. The Cougars ran away with an 81-50 victory in a United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II quarterfinal game on the campus of Virginia State University in Ettrick, Virginia.
Tyra Murphy led the Cougars (13-8) with a game-high 34 points, while Victoria Hord added 13 points. Cincinnati-Clermont will play the winner of the Johnson & Wales Charlotte vs. Southern Maine Community College — played on Monday night — in the semifinal round at 6 p.m., Tuesday at Virginia State.
UMA (21-7) had three scorers who had 10 points or more, led by Brianna Poulin, who had 14. Sage Fortin had 13 points, while Alisyn Alley added 10. The Moose will wrap their season up with a consolation round game against the loser of the CMCC vs. Miami Hamilton at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday at Richard Bland College in South Prince George, Virginia.
The Cougars dominated the game from the start, jumping out to a 24-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. UMA outscored Cincinnati-Clermont 12-9 in the second quarter, but could never regain ground to make a strong comeback attempt.
The Moose are still guaranteed one of the best seasons in program history. It’s the third consecutive trip to nationals for the Moose, and a second consecutive 20-win season, both of which are program firsts.
Should the Moose meet CMCC on Tuesday, it would be the fourth meeting between the rivals this season. The Mustangs (27-1) have won all three games, the latest a 59-52 win in the Yankee Small College Conference championship game on March 3.
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