Dec. 2, 2009

Box Score

Junior G Kim Brennan scored 18 points and led three teammates in double digits as Bentley University defeated UMass Lowell, 79-59, Wednesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball tilt at the Dana Center.

The loss halted a four-game winning streak for UMass Lowell, which slipped to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the NE-10 entering Saturday’s home clash against Saint Anselm (2:00).

Bentley improved to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the NE-10.

The River Hawks committed 27 turnovers (opposed to Bentley’s 22) which enabled the Falcons to build a 28-18 scoring advantage in points off miscues. Bentley also outscored UMass Lowell on the fast break (15-4) and in the paint (38-28), which buffered the River Hawks 20-12 edge on offensive rebounds leading to a 17-8 clip on second chances.

Sophomore F Sha’Nay Bushner (Akron, OH) led UMass Lowell with a career-high 21 points – hitting 8 of 15 field goal attempts and 5 of 6 free throws – along with eight rebounds (five on the offensive end) in 19 minutes. Freshman G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, CT) chipped in nine points.

Senior F Colette Josey added 15 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 7 for 9 from the floor for Falcons. Junior G Elise Caira chipped in 14 points, nine rebounds and four steals and sophomore G Meghan Thomann 12 points (4-7 from 3-point range).

Bentley shot .519 in the first half (14-27) and led 39-30 at the break. The Falcons opened the second half with a 13-5 run to grab a 52-35 cushion with 15:39 left to play. Caira led the run with a pair of free throws and a jumper.

Leading 62-47 with 10:52 to play, Bentley scored 12 straight points – four by Caira – to put the game out of reach, 74-47 with 7:36 to play.