Auburn, ME - Head Women's Basketball Coach, Andrew Morong, is please to announce the commitment of Carly Paynter (Bradenton, FL), a senior post player from Manatee High School. Paynter, who was a 4-year varsity player for the Lady Canes, helped lead them to a district championship during her senior year. 

Coach Morong commented, "We got ourselves a good one. Not only is Carly a physical presence in the paint, but she is an awesome young lady. The CM fans are going to love watching her play, and getting to know her off the court. She has the type of personality that draws people in, and we are so excited to get her to campus. Carly has tremendous court vision, whether its post to post passing, or kicking the ball out after drawing a double team. She plays very physical and is not afraid to bang bodies inside, get on the floor for a loose ball, or contest shots. She was part of the building process with Coach Persinger at Manatee High School, who took a program who was not winning many games at all, and turned them into a District Champion. Going through that process is going to help her buy in to the way we do things from the jump."

On her commitment to CM, Paynter said, "I chose CM becuse from the moment I spoke with Coach Morong and a few of the players, I felt as if I had known them for ages. Very early on in the process, it just seemed like I was already a part of the team. One thing that really stuck out was the fact that we talked so little about basketball. They were interested in who I was as a person, and what I could become. Being a part of the program at CM is more than just about winning championships, its about winning after college is over, and I just felt I was 'home' every time I talked with Coach. I cannot wait to get to CM and settle in to my new routine and start building even more relationships. The adjustment to college is going to be a challenge, off the court I will be far away from home, and on the court, everyone else was the best player at their position on their high school team. I look forward to the challenge the the opportunity to grow."

Paynter is enrolled in the Nursing program at CM.