LOWELL, Mass. – Six-foot-one junior Caleigh Crowell (Harwich/Worcester Academy) came off the bench to pour in 22 points, including 15 in the first half, and junior guard Kelsey Roberson (Arlington/Arlington Catholic HS), also a non-starter, provided 13 points and seven helpers as Bentley University secured sole ownership of the Northeast-10 Conference regular season women's basketball championship with a 74-61 win over UMass-Lowell Tuesday night at Costello Gym.

Bentley, ranked sixth nationally in Division II, completed the regular season at 24-3 overall, including 20-2 NE-10, while claiming its second straight NE-10 title, and 21st overall. It's the first time since a six-year run from 1996-2001 that the Falcons have earned back-to-back championships.

By winning the title, Bentley will have the top seed and homecourt advantage throughout next week's NE-10 playoffs. The Falcons will begin defense of the playoff crown on Sunday when they host the winner of Friday night's 8-9 game, Stonehill at American International.

Bentley went into the break riding a 34-21 lead following an 11-12 burst over the final two minutes, a run that was fueled by two triples by senior guard Katherine Goodwin (Goffstown, N.H./ Governor  and five points from Crowell, whose six baskets in eight attempts represented half of the Falcons' total during the opening 20 minutes.

It took about 11 minutes for Bentley to grab its first lead of the game, a free throw by sophomore forward Jacqui Brugliera (Fitchburg/Wachusett Reg. HS) in the midst of an 8-0 run putting the visitors up six at 18-12. A baseline jumper by Crowell tied the game at 12 apiece and her first three-ball of the night put the finishing touches on that run.

A 13-4 Falcon run midway through the second half extended Bentley's lead to 22, 53-31, with 8:40 left. Sophomore forward Lauren Battista (North Easton/Oliver Ames HS) had her hands all over that surge with four points and three assists.

After the Bentley lead peaked at 24 (59-35 with 6:47 left), UMass-Lowell heated up, using a 13-2 run to close to within 13, 61-48 with four minutes left.  The River Hawks eventually got as close as ten, following a put-back by sophomore forward Dominique Pagan (Bronx, N.Y.) with 1:16 to play.

The Falcons were miserable from the line for most of the night, making only 13 of 27 during the first 39 minutes, but got the job done when it counted.  Bentley locked up the win by making six of six in the final 58 seconds, including four by Roberson, who also came up with a final-minute steal.

 Crowell earned the second-highest scoring total of her career by making 8 of 13 overall, including a three-for-seven effort from three.  She also pulled in five rebounds during her 23 minutes of play.

In addition to a season-high point total and seven assists, Roberson filled the stat sheet with four rebounds and two steals.  She made two of three from outside the arc and nailed seven of ten free throws.

Completing Bentley's list of five double figure scorers were Battista, Goodwin and junior guard Courtney Finn (Winthrop/Winthrop HS), all with ten points. Battista also had six rebounds and six assists,  Finn came down with eight boards, and Goodwin drained three triples.  Brugliera just missed a double-double, finishing with nine points, nine rebounds and three steals.

UMass-Lowell, 11-16, 9-13 NE-10), which was eliminated from playoff consideration, received 19 points from junior guard Bianca Simmons (Middletown, Conn.).

Bentley shot 43 percent overall, with nine three-pointers, and outrebounded the River Hawks, 48-42. UMass-Lowell hovered in the low 20s for most of the night, with countless air balls, and finished at 29.6 percent.  The River Hawks did much of their damage off the offensive glass, outscoring the Falcons 23-6 in second-chance points.