ST. LEO, Fla. – After trailing by as many as 21 early in the fourth quarter, the Bentley University women's basketball team fought back to within four with 72 seconds to play before falling to unbeaten St. Leo University, 95-87, in non-conference action Sunday afternoon at the Marion Bowman Center.

It was the second loss in as many days for Bentley, which took a number nine ranking in the WBCA Division II coaches poll to Florida. The Falcons closed out a season-opening stretch of six straight road games with a 4-2 overall record while St. Leo improved to 6-0.

All-Northeast-10 guards Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North HS) and Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) led the Falcon offense with 20 and 18 points respectively as each connected four times from downtown.

Down 18 with six minutes to play, Bentley embarked on a 20-6 run to close within four, 85-81. The charge began with an inside basket from junior Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS), two free throws from freshman Ciara Norman (Roebling, N.J./Life Center Academy) and two more from Thompson.

Still trailing by a dozen with about three minutes remaining, Bentley ran off eight straight. Brekke sank a three-ball from the right wing, Thompson hit two from the line, Brekke did the same and freshman forward Julia Elie (Rockland, Mass./Rockland HS) converted one of two.

That would be as close as the Falcons would come as senior guard Amanda Ullrich (Secaucus, N.J.) resumed an outstanding afternoon for St. Leo. She made a pair of free throws and after a stop by the Lions, drained a three-ball to return the lead to nine with a half-minute left. She completed her brilliant 33-point performance with two more from the stripe with ten seconds left.

With the game tied at 13-13 after six minutes, St. Leo finished the first quarter with an 11-5 run. The Lions limited the Falcons to 23 percent shooting in the second quarter to go up 42-29 and shot a sizzling 72 percent in the high-scoring third quarter (56 combined points included 30 by the home team).

Brekke's 20-point performance saw her made seven of 11 shots overall, including all four of her three-balls. Thompson scored 15 of her 18 during Bentley's 58-point second half and finished four of ten from beyond the arc.

The Falcons also received 14 points, six rebounds and six assists from Whitmore, as well as nine points off the bench from both Elie and Norman.

Ulrich made 12 of her 19 shots, buried three treys and was perfect on her six free throws. St. Leo also received 23 points from fifth-year senior Alex Button (Cohocton, N.Y.) and 18 from junior guard Kiki McIntyre (Dorchester, Mass.).

St. Leo outshot the Falcons 55-45 percent and had a 38-27 rebounding advantage. Bentley took very good care of the ball with only eight turnovers.

Bentley will play its long-awaited home opener next Saturday against Southern Connecticut State.