Dec. 1, 2010

Box Score | O'Neil 'We have some work to do'

Freshman F Jacqui Brugliera compiled 24 points and nine rebounds as Bentley University defeated UMass Lowell, 84-60, Wednesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball clash at the Costello Athletic Center.

With the loss, UMass Lowell slipped to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the NE-10 entering Saturday's clash at Saint Anselm (1:30).

The win was the fourth straight for the Falcons, who improved to 4-1 overall and 4-0 in the Conference entering Saturday's home game against No. 7 Franklin Pierce (1:30).

Sophomore G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, Conn.) led the River Hawks with 17 points and seven assists. Freshman G Danielle DePierro (Tewksbury, Mass.) came off the bench to add nine points as she converted 3 of 5 attempts from 3-point range.

Brugliera converted 6 of 11 field goal attempts, all three 3-point shots, and 9 of 11 free throws. Senior G Kim Brennan added 16 points and five assists while junior G Katherine Goodwin chipped in 10 points.

The Falcons outrebounded UMass Lowell 46-34 overall and 20-9 offensively, leading to a 15-6 scoring advantage on second chance points. Bentley also forced UMass Lowell into committing 20 turnovers (opposed to 11) which translated into a 20-14 edge in points off turnovers.

Bentley also enjoyed significant advantages from 3-point range (27-18) and the free throw line (21-8).

"We have some work to do," said UML Head Coach Kathy O'Neil. "There are definitely some little things that we need to get down. We have to do a better job of moving the basketball."

UMass Lowell led 19-13 in the first half, but the Falcons found their touch and outscored the River Hawks, 29-13, to end the half with a 42-32 lead. Brugliera scored 14 of her points in the spurt.

Bentley opened the second half with a 14-2 run, led by a pair of treys by Goodwin and four points apiece from Caira and Brennan, to take a 56-34 lead with 15:52 remaining.

The Falcons led by as many as 23 (71-48) with 7:18 left to play, but UMass Lowell rallied for an 8-0 run behind a trey by DePierro and a conventional 3-point play from Simmons, to cut the deficit to 71-56 with 5:53 remaining.

Bentley, however, answered with six straight points for a 77-56 lead to put the game out of reach.