Postgame Interviews

WORCESTER, Mass. – Bentley University's 2022-23 women's basketball season came to an end Saturday night at a sold-out Laska Gym as the top-seeded Assumption University Greyhounds jumped out to an 7-0 lead and went wire-to-wire for a 62-47 win in the NCAA Division II East Regional semifinals.

Bentley, which had won a season-best eight consecutive games, was limited to 32 percent shooting overall and just 25 percent in the opening three quarters by an Assumption team that leads Division II in scoring defense.

Senior guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) led the Falcons in scoring with 17 points. For Assumption, graduate guard Ja'Lyn Armstrong (Baltimore, Md.) scored 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting and senior forward Monica Spain (Braintree) had 16 points.

"It's tough to come into an awesome, yet hostile, environment," said Bentley coach C White. "It took us a while to get going."

"I'm grateful to have been able to play in front of so many fans," said Falcon captain and graduate guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North HS).

Bentley came up empty on its first eight possessions with four missed shots and four turnovers. Meanwhile, the Hounds (26-5) received inside baskets from junior guard Amanda Mieczkowski (Hadley), Spain and junior guard Molly Stokes (Worcester), as well as a free throw, to make the full house even louder.

Bentley, 22-10, finally got on the scoreboard with 5:34 left in the quarter on a fast-break lay-up by junior guard Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS). The Falcons were within three, 11-8, before a spinning lay-up by freshman guard Teagan Curran (Duxbury) pushed the lead back to five seconds before the buzzer.

Assumption opened the second quarter with a 10-4 run, extending the advantage to 11 at 23-12. Bentley, the fourth best scoring defense team in D2, held the Hounds to two points over the final 5:40 of the second and went into intermission down six, 25-18.

The home team broke the game open in the third, giving up only three baskets in 15 attempts while outscoring the Falcons 18-6.

The Assumption lead peaked at 22, 54-32, with four minutes left before a late barrage of three-pointers by Bentley closed the difference to 15. After connecting only once from downtown in the first 36 minutes, the Falcons sank six in the final four minutes of the season, including two apiece by Thompson and Brekke.

White praised Brekke and the team's senior leadership in the postgame media session. "They get the Bentley way and did a great job in conveying that to our six freshman. Kari will go down as one of the greatest captains in our program's history."

In addition to the 17 from Thompson, Bentley received eight points, nine rebounds and three steals from Whitmore, seven from junior guard Amanda Kabantu (Portland, Maine/Portland HS) and six apiece from Brekke and freshman post Julia Elie (Rockland/Rockland HS), who made her first career start.

Assumption outscored Bentley 34-16 in the paint, 16-4 second chance, 17-9 off turnovers and 14-7 on the fast break.

The Hounds will play third-seeded Jefferson University in Monday's regional final.