Preview The Rivalry: SMCC vs. CMCC

AUBURN, Maine – The Southern Maine Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams are set to travel to the campus of Central Maine Community College (CMCC) to take on the Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) Mustangs on Wednesday, Dec. 14 for tip-offs scheduled at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. For each program, this much-anticipated date will have both conference and national-ranking implications. On the women’s side, it is a clash between the top two nationally-ranked teams—per the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Week 2 Coaches’ Poll. The men’s teams also rank back-to-back (SMCC eighth and CMCC ninth) for the second consecutive week in the same USCAA Coaches’ Poll. In either game, the outcome will determine sole possession of first place in the YSCC North Division standings. This is the first of two meetings between CMCC—the other scheduled for Feb. 8 in South Portland.

Women’s Basketball

All-Time Series vs. Central Maine
In 40 total meetings all-time, the SeaWolves have won 18. Last season the teams split, however SMCC won on the road by a five-point margin, a performance they will look to repeat on Wednesday.

Results

Scouting the Opposition
Sophomore Brooke Reynolds leads the Lady Mustangs in points-per-game averaging 14.2 over 13 games this season. Teammate Eraleena Gethers-Hairston averages near 10 rebounds-per-game and first-year Tianna Harriman ranks second in the conference in three-point percentage (37.3) having made 31 of 83 on the season. This top nationally-ranked team averages 86.2 points-per-game and has limited its opponents to an average of 45.9 points-per-game. Like SMCC, Central Maine remains unbeaten at 13-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play. The Mustangs are coming off a dominating performance over YSCC-opponent Paul Smith’s College at home on Sunday, Dec. 11.

Leading the Way
Senior forward Jennifer Conrad (Monmouth, Maine) leads the SeaWolves in points and rebounds-per-game, averaging 15.2 and 7.5. Conrad ranks fourth in the conference in points-per-game having totaled 197 over 13 games this season. First-year Alicia Ruth (Plaistow, N.H.) averages an even 10 points-per-game and ranks first in the YSCC in three-point percentage, making 37.9 percent from beyond the arch. Sophomore Alexis Antonacci (Long Island, N.Y.) orchestrates the SMCC offense averaging 4.4 assists-per-game.

Men’s Basketball

All-Time Series vs. Central Maine
In 110 total meetings all-time, the SeaWolves have won 60. Despite the advantage in series history, SMCC dropped both games to its rival a season ago. The SeaWolves will look to avenge their most recent two-point loss on the road on Wednesday.

Results

Scouting the Opposition
Sophomore Pietro Badalassi leads the Mustangs in points and rebounds averaging near a double-double (14.9/9.7) over 12 games this season. Junior guard Rob Skinner quarterbacks his team and leads the conference in assists-per-game averaging 4.8. The 9-4 Mustangs are 5-0 in conference play and own the top spot in the YSCC North Division standings. CMCC is riding a two-game winning streak, recently defeating both Great Bay Community College and Paul Smith’s College.

Leading the Way
SeaWolves’ captain John Morgan (Sanford, Maine) leads his squad in scoring averaging 16.1 points and 6.6 rebounds-per-game. Morgan ranks in the YSCC top 10 in scoring having tallied 226 points over 14 games this season. Sophomore Ryan Cloutier (Pelham, N.H.) averages 12.2 points-per-game at the forward position and sophomore Chase Soares (Falmouth, Mass.) is getting it done on both ends of the court averaging 3.4 assists and 2.5 steals-per-game in his 2016 campaign. 

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