Video Highlights (courtesy the Pack Network)

WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior All-America Lauren Battista (North Easton/Oliver Ames HS) made seven of 11 shots for 21 points and classmate Caleigh Crowell (Harwich/Worcester Academy) followed with 14 as undefeated Bentley University, the number one-ranked team in the USA TODAY Sports/WBCA Division II poll, advanced to the Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball championship game for the fourth straight year and 25th time overall with a 75-59 win over Assumption College in a semifinal contest Thursday night at the Dana Center.

The Falcons, who captured the conference's regular season title in the Northeast Division, will carry a 28-0 record into Sunday's championship game against Adelphi University, the Southwest Division winner who rolled to a 93-77 semifinal victory over Stonehill College. Bentley will be seeking its fourth straight NE-10 title with tip-off at the Dana Center set for 1 pm.

While they gave up 59 points, it was an impressive defensive effort for the Falcons, who had 12 steals, five blocks and three drawn charges.  About half of Assumption's points came in the final minutes of each half after Bentley had established a significant lead.

The 18-10 Greyhounds scored 13 in the final 3:30 of the first half, matching their total in the first 16:30, to draw within seven at the break, 33-26. And the Hounds scored 18 in the last 5:40 of the game after the Falcon advantage peaked at 27, 68-41.

After Assumption netted the game's first basket, Bentley responded with a 20-2 run. Crowell had six of the first 12, with a three from the right wing and a conventional three-point play. By the time Bentley senior forward Tyler Parker Kimball (New Britain, Conn./New Britain HS) scored on an inside basket with 9:51 left in the opening half, the Falcons had limited the visitors to 2-for-11 shooting and forced eight turnovers.

Battista, who is now 18 points away from 2,000 for her sparkling career, hit a pair of jumpers during an 8-2 run later in the half that made it a 28-13 contest with 3:45 left until halftime.  

After a last second put-back by Assumption cut the halftime margin to seven, Bentley came storming out of the gate when play resumed.  Ten unanswered points to start the second made it 43-26, and the run grew into a 19-5 burst, giving the Falcons a 21-point edge, 52-31, with nearly 12 minutes left to play.

Senior forward Jacqui Brugliera (Fitchburg/Wachusett Reg. HS) had six of the 19, including two of Bentley's first three second-half baskets, and Crowell added five with a three-pointer from the top of the key and a second-chance basket.

Later in the half, Battista scored seven straight to extend the lead to 26, 63-37 with 8:25 left. She finished a fast-break lay-up, hit a three from the top of the key and knocked down a pair of free throws in a productive 75-second span.

Battista also filled the stat sheet with six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Crowell made five of her nine shots overall and also provided four rebounds, three blocks and a pair of steals. All-Region grad student Courtney Finn (Winthrop/Winthrop HS) was the other Falcon to score in doubles as she finished with ten points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Senior point guard Christiana Bakolas (Manchester, N.H./Central HS) only scored five points, but grabbed seven rebounds, dished six assists and came up with four steals.

Senior guard Shannon Ray (Yonkers, N.Y.) led Assumption with 12 points, well below her 22-point average in the first two games against Bentley this season. The Greyhound bench actually outscored the team's starters, 30-29, with the reserves 10 of 18 from the field and the starting five 12 of 36.

Both teams shot about 41 percent overall, but 19 offensive rebounds and five fewer turnovers (15 for the Falcons, 20 Assumption) helped Bentley take nine more shots. Coach Barbara Stevens' team also had a 20-9 advantage at the foul line and dominated the boards, 46-27. In addition, the Falcons doubled the Hounds in the paint, 40-20, and finished with ten more second-chance points, 19-9.

Bentley topped Adelphi, 77-66, in the only regular season meeting between the two clubs, a game played at the Dana Center back on Jan. 15.