CONCORD, N.H. – Lawrence Williams’ 22 points led four players in double figures as sixth-seeded Maine-Augusta edged second-ranked Central Maine Community College 77-72 in a Yankee Conference semifinal matchup.

The Mustangs were held scoreless for the opening three minutes and were forced to chase the scoreboard for the balance of the game.

Tyler Smithgall drained a game-high 28 points and hauled down 12 rebounds for the Mustangs (18-6), while Farrell Jean-Gilles poured in 16 points and Matt Sceviour added 11 points and six assists.

A Jean-Gilles 3-pointer tied the game with just over a minute remaining, but a stout Moose defense forced the Mustangs into poor shot selection in the closing seconds.

Moses Brathwaite dominated the paint for the Moose (10-19) with 20 points and 21 boards. Deon Cheers registered 13 points and Herbert Davis added 10.

Williams 87, Bates 78

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – Blake Shultz lead the charge with 21 points and Alex Rubin came off the bench for another 20 in a game of marksmanship as Williams topped Bates 87-78 in the first round of the NESCAC tournament.

The Ephs (17-8) outshot Bates 52 percent to 45 percent from the field and hurt the Bobcats at the free throw line, burying 31 freebees to Bates’ nine.

Junior Chris Wilson led the Bobcats (13-12) with 12 points, but only scored two in the second half. Wilson also grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists, both team highs.

After a back-and-forth first half left the Ephs up 35-32, things really heated up in the second half. Bates seemed to have an answer every time Williams threatened to stretch the lead, but things grew a bit desperate at 7:22 when the Ephs drew their biggest lead of the night, 66-52, capping a 10-2 run.

Women’s basketball

Trinity 76, Bates 71

LEWISTON – Michelle Royals came off the bench to wscore 23 points to propel No. 5 Trinity to a 76-71 upset victory over No. 4 Bates in the NESCAC quarterfinals.

Senior Val Beckwith led the Bobcats (16-9) with 17 points to go along with eight reboudns and three blocked shots. Beckwith finishes her career with 1,471 points, seven shy of Bates’ all-time leading scorer, Emily King .

Junior Lauren Yanofsky added 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Annie Burns scored 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds, while sophomore Jessie Igoe added 11 points and six boards.

CMCC 75, NHTI 44

CONCORD, N.H. – Michelle Holmquist led all players with 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead second-ranked Central Maine Community College in a 75-44 Yankee Conference semifinal victory over No. 3 New Hampshire Technical Institute.

The Mustangs (18-5) received scoring contributions from 11 players, including 11 from Katie Martin, nine from Tiffany Seams and eight apiece from Kayla Ellis and Britney Salley.

Ahead by 17 at the break, the Mustangs came out strong in the second half, forcing the Lynx into 25 turnovers, while allowing 28 percent shooting.

Martin added eight rebounds and four steals, while Danielle Hebert tallied seven points and seven rebounds.

Jess Hardiman and Ashley Woodbury paced the Lynx (14-17) with 10 points each.

The win sets up a championship game with top seeded Southern Maine Community College on Sunday afternoon. The winner will represent the Yankee Conference in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national tournament in Pennsylvania next month. Holmquist, who played for Dirigo High School last season, has averaged 17 points and nine rebounds in her first year with CMCC and was honored prior to the game with a Yankee All-Conference award.