Auburn, ME – The Central Maine Community College women's basketball team kicked off the 2025-26 season with an 83-71 home victory over St. Lawrence-Champlain on Saturday afternoon, using a dominant fourth-quarter run to pull away late.
The Mustangs trailed 21-18 after the first quarter but closed the half strong to carry a 41-38 lead into the break. CMCC built an eight-point cushion by the end of the third quarter, 61-53, before the visiting Lions surged back to tie the game at 61-61 early in the fourth. Unfazed, the Mustangs responded with a decisive 20-5 run that put the game out of reach.
Central Maine's depth was on full display, with the bench accounting for 41 of the team's 83 points. The Mustangs also had the edge on the glass, out-rebounding the Lions 49-31, while dishing out 23 assists on 30 made field goals. CMCC struggled from beyond the arc (5-for-25, 20.0%), but made up for it with relentless defensive pressure, forcing 25 turnovers.
Breanna Dwyer (Gold Coast, Australia) came off the bench to lead all scorers with 17 points, adding four rebounds and a game-high four steals in a breakout collegiate debut. Fellow first-year Gabbie Tibbetts (West Paris, ME) added 16 points and a game-high seven rebounds, also in a reserve role.
First-year starter Keilani Horne (Tauranga, New Zealand) impressed with 10 points, while redshirt freshman Hunter Hartsgrove (Patten, ME) chipped in 15 points, including three three-pointers. Sophomore Stella Laubenstein (Austin, TX) set a new career-high with eight assists, leading all players.
For the visitors from Canada, Justine Leclerc led the way with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Liamtsiky Ramanoelina and Marie-Laurence Lemelin each finished with 13 points in the Lions' loss.
"We have a long way to go, and there's no hiding that," said CMCC head coach Andrew Morong. "But we've got talent, toughness, depth, and the right mindset. If we stay locked in, we're going to have a very special season."
With the win, CMCC starts the season 1-0 and will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming slate. The Mustangs will scrimmage Kennebec Valley Community College on Wednesday as KVCC debuts its women's basketball program this season. From there, CMCC hits the road for two exhibition games against NCAA Division III opponents, Colby-Sawyer College on Saturday at 3:30 pm, and Lasell College next Thursday, October 30th, at 6:00 pm.
