AUGUSTA — The University of Maine at Augusta women’s basketball team is back in the national tournament.

The Moose (21-6) earned the No. 5 seed for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II National Championship tournament on Monday afternoon. UMA is one three Maine schools selected for the tournament, which will take place March 9-13 in Richmond, Virginia.

“We’re extremely excited,” said UMA head coach Heath Cowan, the Yankee Small College Conference Coach of the Year. “I thought we played really well in the conference tournament (last) weekend. We had some players really step up. We’re looking forward to the trip and hopefully making Maine proud.”

The Moose will play their first game on March 11 against Cincinatti-Clermont at 4 p.m. at Virginia State University. The Cougars (12-8) knocked UMA out of the tournament last year with a 76-62 victory in the quarterfinal round.

“I think both of their top players from last year aren’t there anymore,” Cowan said. “But obviously they’re a good team, they’re the four seed. But it’s kind of a good matchup for us. We’re certainly familiar with their style of play, with the research we did last year. We’re actually watching film right now, trying to get ready for practice (Tuesday).”

The team watched the selection show and celebrated its seeding with a gathering at the Augusta Civic Center.

University of Maine at Augusta women’s basketball coach Heath Cowan high-fives players while celebrating the team’s seeding in the upcoming United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II tournament. Players from left include Ariana Alcide, Holly Hunt, Alisyn Alley, Jade Trueman, Alizabeth Dumont and Bri Poulin. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

The other Maine programs picked for the USCAA Division II tournament are No. 3 Central Maine Community College (27-1) and No. 8 Southern Maine Community College (20-8). The remaining teams in the tournament include: No. 1 Johnson & Wales Charlotte (18-7); No. 2 Penn State Beaver (23-6); No. 4 Cincinatti-Clermont; Miami Hamilton (9-10); Christemdom College (19-5); Five Towns (12-6) and Penn State Shenango (18-7).

UMA finished the regular season on a roll, winning nine straight games before falling 59-52 to CMCC in the Yankee Small College Conference championship game on Sunday in Concord, New Hampshire.

Despite having a young roster — the Moose have eight freshmen — UMA reached 20 wins for the second straight season. The Moose also tallied the most points in a game in program history in a 124-40 win over New Hampshire Technical Institute on Feb. 24.

Sophomore guard Alisyn Alley (13.8 points per game) leads the team in scoring, followed by freshman guard and Cony High School graduate Sage Fortin (12 ppg). Freshman guard and Lawrence High School alum Alizabeth Dumont is averaging 8.9 points per game and has shot 47.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

CMCC is led by guard Ella Lavigne, who is averaging 18.2 points per game. Forward Destiny Mora Lopez averages 9.8 points per game, along with seven rebounds per game. CMCC has beaten the Moose in all three meetings this season.

The Moose have beaten SMCC in all three meetings this season. The Seawolves are led by junior guard and Lincoln Academy grad Maddy York, who is averaging 14.3 points per game.

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