WALTHAM, Mass. – Make it a three-peat as Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball champions for the Bentley University Falcons, who also earned an automatic berth into next weekend's NCAA Division II East Regional.

Tournament MVP and sophomore forward Ciara Norman (Roebling, N.J./Life Center Academy) came off the bench for a season-high 15 points, junior forward Kylie DuCharme (Wilmington/Wilmington HS) impressed at both ends and graduate guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) scored all nine of her points during the Falcons' closing 11-0 run as the top-seeded Falcons bested sixth-seeded Southern Connecticut State, 64-49, Sunday afternoon in the NE10 championship game on Barbara Stevens Court.

The championship was Bentley's 23^rd all-time and ninth since 2011. The three-peat is the first in NE10 basketball since the Falcons had a four-year run from 2011-14.

Bentley never had the lead in a first half that ended all even at 26 following a 9-4 closing burst. That spurt included three-pointers by freshman guard Niya Morgen (Swampscott/St. Mary's HS) and DuCharme.

After six lead changes in the first six-and-a-half minutes of the third, Bentley put together eight straight points and went into the final stanza up four, 44-40. Two free throws by Morgen evened the game at 38, Norman scored on a drive to give her team the lead for good, Morgen had a fast-break lay-in after a steal and senior guard Brooke Obar (North Yarmouth, Maine/Greely HS) hit a pair from the stripe.

Coach C White's squad opened the fourth with another Norman inside basket and a three from the right side by Obar. That made it a 49-40 advantage with eight minutes to play.

After the Owls drew to within four, 53-49, with 4:18 to play, Bentley pitched a shutout the rest of the way. Southern misfired on its final five shots and committed three turnovers down the stretch.

Meanwhile, the Falcons scored the final 11, including a right-wing three and six free throws by Thompson. The closing run also included a driving lay-up by sophomore guard Cassidy Yeomans (Marion/Tabor Academy) that made it a nine-point differential, 58-49, with 2:08 to play.

Norman headed a list of five Falcons who scored at least nine points. DuCharme finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, junior guard Amanda Kabantu (Portland, Maine/Portland HS) followed with ten and Morgen had nine without missing a shot. Thompson, in addition to nine, had three assists.

Senior guard Jillian Martin (Orange, Conn.) led Southern Connecticut (19-13) with 12 points.

Bentley had a slight edge in field goal percentage (.413-391) but used a significant advantage in rebounds (31-23), free throws (22-8), points in the paint (30-20) and points off turnovers (15-8) to claim the championship and its fifth consecutive win.

For White, it was her 15^th with Bentley as a player, assistant and head coach, with her teams now 11-0 in NE10 championship play. The title was the third for Thompson, senior forward Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS), DuCharme, Obar and Kabantu.

Norman was joined on the all-championship team by Kabantu, DuCharme, Southern's Makenzie Helms and Franklin Pierce's Anna Badosa Soler.

Bentley will take a 26-5 in its record 38^th NCAA tournament, which will begin Friday. The NCAA Selection Show will air tonight at 10:30 pm on NCAA.com.