Falcons rally from ten points down for record 21^st title, NE10's automatic bid

Raymond earned All-Tournament honors for the second-straight postseason, leading the Skyhawks with 14 points today (PHOTO BY Lewis Glass/SportsPix)

WALTHAM, Mass. (March 6, 2022) – Northeast Division No. 2 seed Bentley University, ranked No. 7 in this week's NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, held No. 3-seeded Stonehill College, ranked No. 8 in the region, to just one field goal and four points in the fourth quarter to complete a comeback from a ten-point deficit earlier in the second half and claim a 56-49 victory and its Conference record 21^st Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball championship inside the Charles A. Dana Athletic Center this afternoon.

In addition to laying claim to its record NE10 title, Bentley (19-8, 13-6 NE10) earns the Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament set to get underway with regional championship play next weekend. Stonehill (16-9, 12-7 NE10) now awaits official word of its at large NCAA Tournament fate when the Division II selection show is streamed via ncaa.com tonight at 10 p.m. The Skyhawks, although ranked No. 8 in the latest East Regional rankings, are likely to see their bubble burst by the East Coast Conference's automatic qualifier, Daemen College, as the Conference didn't have a team ranked in the top eight this week. 

Leaders

Stonehill
Kayla Raymond Senior, Forward: 14 points (6-for-6 FTs), 8 rebounds, 2 assists.
Emily Bramanti Senior, Guard: 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, steal.
Isabella Santoro Senior, Guard: 8 points, 7 rebounds, blocked shot. 

Bentley
Autumn Ceppi Postgrad, Forward: Double-double 17 points (8-for-24), 13 rebounds, 3 blocked shots.
Kari Brekke Senior, Guard: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, steal.
Janessa Gonzalez Sophomore, Guard: 9 points (2-for-3, 5-for-5 FTs), 2 rebounds, 2 steals. 

How it Happened

• Bramanti also earned a spot on the All-Tournament team for the Skyhawks (PHOTO BY Lewis Glass/SportsPix)

  Stonehill scored the first six points of the game, including a pair of free-throws each by Raymond and senior Sophie Glidden, to grab the early lead two minutes into the game.
• Bentley followed with seven-straight points of its own to grab a lead (7-6) after a Ceppi layup with 5:32 remaining in the quarter.
• Stonehill capped the frame with baskets from Raymond and Santoro to take a five-point cushion (14-9) into the second.
• Ceppi scored the first basket of the second quarter, but Stonehill followed with seven straight, sparked by a Bramanti three-pointer, to grab its first ten-point lead (21-11) after two minutes.
• Stonehill kept Bentley at arm's length for the remainder of the half and carried an eight-point lead (29-21) into halftime after baskets from sophomore Jada Thornton and Santoro to close out the second.
• Stonehill reclaimed its ten-point cushion twice in the first three minutes of the third quarter after two Raymond free-throws and then following a jumper by junior Mia Kelly 30-seconds later.
• Neither team scored for the next two minutes before Bentley scored seven straight, keyed by a three-point play by Brekke to trim the deficit to three (35-32) with four minutes left in the third.
• Stonehill stretched its lead back to seven (39-32) after a Santoro layup with 2:45 left in the third, but the Falcons closed within two (39-37) after two Brekke free-throws with 2:10 left.
• Stonehill carried a four-point lead (45-41) into the final frame, but would be held to just four points on 1-of-14 shooting (7.1-percent) over the final ten minutes.
• Raymond opened the fourth quarter with two free-throws, but Bentley followed with seven straight points, including three by Ceppi to take its first lead since the first quarter (48-47) after a Ceppi free-throw midway through the frame after an initial miss was called back for a lane violation.
• Santoro pushed Stonehill back in front with a jumper, but the Skyhawks wouldn't score again, and Bentley grabbed the lead for good with a layup from freshman Amanda Kabantu with 3:07 remaining.
• The Falcons would seal the win by scoring the final eight points, from four different players, over the last three minutes. 
  

Noteworthy

• Raymond and Bramanti on the All-Tournament team (PHOTO BY Steve Lewis/NE10)

  Ceppi was named Most Outstanding Player of the NE10 Championships and was joined on the All-Tournament team by Brekke, Raymond and Bramanti. It marks the second-straight All-Championship team selection for Raymond, who was Most Outstanding Player of the 2020 Championship.
• Bentley wins its 21^st NE10 Championship in its 30^th finals appearance, with Stonehill's six NE10 titles ranking second all-time in NE10 history.
• Bentley improves to 6-2 all-time in NE10 Championship games against Stonehill, which was making its 13^th finals appearance. The Skyhawks are the only program to participate in all 40 NE10 Tournaments, and was making its third finals appearance over the last four tournaments.
• Raymond led Stonehill in scoring in her 11^th-straight game played and 15^th time this season overall, scoring in double digits for the 16^th-straight game and 21^st time this season overall (59^th career).
• Raymond's 14 points tonight give her 1,188 points in 69 career games played to finish 23^rd all-time on Stonehill's career scoring list. Her 108 career blocked shots rank seventh all-time.
• Despite seeing its four-game winning streak halted, Stonehill finished the year winners of seven of nine, 11 and 14 and having posted a 14-5 mark since mid-December after opening the season 2-4.
• Stonehill finished the game with 17 turnovers, compared to five for Bentley, with the Falcons taking full advantage with a 23-2 margin in points off.
• Stonehill finished shooting 32.7-percent (18-for-55) from the floor, including 1-for-19 (5.3%) from three, compared to 30% (18-60) for Bentley, including 2-for-11 (18.2%) from three.
• Stonehill posted a 43-35 rebounding edge in the game.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.