CMCC Mustangs Are National Champions, Again!

BUFFALO, N.Y. (Mar. 7, 2026) … Tournament Most Valuable Player Ava Smith had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in five minutes of action as Central Maine Community College raced out to a 24-2 first quarter lead and cruised to a 74-47 win over Miami-Hamilton for the USCAA Division II National Championship Saturday night.

The championship for CMCC was the fourth in nine years for the school. They had previously won titles in 2017, 2019 and 2022.

CMCC scored the first eight points of the game as a layup by Abilene Corson with 6:36 on the clock of the first period. A jumper from Taj Pewett 12 seconds later put Miami-Hamilton on the board down 8-2.

From that point, CMCC kept the Harriers off the board holding them to a 1-for-11 performance from the floor as they took a 24-2 lead after one.

Joining Smith in double figures were Breanna Dwyer and Anais Balla Zambo with 10 points apiece for CMCC. Dwyer added eight rebounds, four assists and four steals for the Mustangs.

Beri Ngwa topped Miami-Hamilton with 16 points, followed by Pewett with 15. Kirsten Cross was the game-high rebounder with 11 caroms.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Jr., F, Maine-Augusta, Lillian Cox

Sr., F, Miami-Hamilton, Kirsten Cross

Sr., F, Miami-Hamilton, Taj Pewett

Fr., G, CMCC, Caitlyn McCoy

Fr., G, CMCC, Breanna Dwyer

MVP

So., F, CMCC, Ava Smith