Senior Emily Rousseau scored 11 of her team-high 13 points in the first half. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr) |
Falcons use series of big runs to score sixth straight win
Freshman Lauren Battista (North Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) led Bentley with a game-high 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, including 1-for-2 from three-point range, while converting 5-of-7 free-throws to go with seven rebounds (four offensive) and a blocked shot. Senior Kim Brennan (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley) added 13 points, five assists and two rebounds, while classmate Elise Caira (Wakefield, Mass./Arlington Catholic) posted 12 points, seven boards (four offensive), two assists and two steals. Junior Meghan Thomann (Andover, Mass./Andover) buried 3-of-5 three-pointers for nine points and freshman Jacqui Brugliera (Fitchburg, Mass./Wachusett Regional) pulled down a game-high nine rebounds to go with seven points off the bench.
Senior Emily Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine/Biddeford) scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half for Stonehill, while freshman Asia Ewing (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half. Rousseau shot 6-for-15 from the field, including 1-for-2 from deep, while Ewing made 6-of-12 shots from the floor and added three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Freshman Mary Louise Dixon (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) contributed nine points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field, connecting on her lone three point attempt, while adding three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Freshman Asia Ewing scored 11 of her team-best 13 points in the second half tonight. |
Bentley finished shooting 46-percent (29-for-63) in the contest, outscoring Stonehill 15-5 at the free-throw line and posting a 47-30 rebounding advantage. The Falcons enjoyed a 44-24 advantage in points in the paint and 14-2 edge for second chance points by pulling down 16 offensive rebounds. Stonehill finished shooting 44.3-percent (27-for-61) from the floor, including 4-for-9 (44.4%) from three-point range, and outscored the Falcons 21-15 in points off turnovers.
Stonehill came out firing in the early portion of the first half, taking an 11 point lead (19-8) after a layup by Ewing with 13:06 to play in the frame. The Skyhawks made eight of their first 12 shots (66.7-percent) on the night, including their first three three-pointers, to stake out the lead.
Bentley reeled off 15-4 run to knot the score (23-23) after a layup from Caira with 8:39 left in the half. Rousseau pushed Stonehill back in front with a jumper at the other end with 8:04 left and would score the Skyhawks final nine points of the half. The Falcons used a 17-4 run to open an 11 point lead (40-29) of their own following back-to-back three's from Thomann with 2:23 left in the half. After a Rousseau three, Bentley scored the last four points of the half to take a 12-point lead (44-32) into the lockerroom after Battista scored two-straight baskets, including a runner at the buzzer.
Junior Cori O'Kane (Pocasset, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) scored the first basket of the second half to pull Stonehill within ten, but Bentley quickly ran its lead to 17 (51-34) after a Thomann three less than four minutes in. Stonehill drew within 11 on three occasions, the latter (57-46) after a Ewing jumper with 11:21 remaining, however, Bentley held the Skyhawks right there and ran its lead to 23 (76-53) after a free-throw by junior Katherine Goodwin (Goffstown, N.H./Governor's Academy) with 3:06 to go to seal the victory.
Stonehill (6-4, 2-4 NE-10) is off until Wednesday, December 29, when it visits Bloomfield College at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks don't return home until Wednesday, January 5, to host Southern Connecticut State University for a conference clash at 5:30 p.m. Bentley (6-1, 6-0 NE-10) hosts LIU-C.W. Post on Sunday, December 19, at 2 p.m.