WALTHAM, Mass. - Senior guard Erika Stupinski (Topsham, Maine) scored 18 points, including 12 in the second half, and 5-10 junior Bethany Tighe (North Easton) collected a career-best 19 rebounds, as undefeated Stonehill College rallied in the second half for a 59-48 win over Bentley in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Saturday afternoon at the Dana Center.
The loss was the third straight for the Falcons, who were ranked 21st in last week's USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II coaches poll, and dropped Bentley to .500 on the season (4-4 overall, 3-3 NE-10). Stonehill, number 22 nationally in the latest poll, improved to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the conference after overcoming a 10-point deficit in the final 12:44.
Bentley, which limited the Skyhawks to six field goals and 20 percent shooting in the first half, extended a 22-17 halftime advantage to 36-26 before going cold. The Falcons managed only two points over the next six-plus minutes, a stretch in which they missed eight of nine field goal attempts.
Stonehill took advantage in a big way, with a 19-2 run producing a 45-38 lead. Six-foot-three junior Kelsey Simonds (Middleboro), held in check much of the afternoon, had seven of her 12 points during that stretch.
Bentley got back to within four with 4:32 left, but never got the offense back on track. The Falcons were just two for seven the rest of the way and also missed a couple of free throws. Meanwhile, they were forced to foul, and Stonehill capitalized, making eight of ten charity tosses in the final minute to pull away.
With the exception of the six-minute stretch in the second half when Stonehill claimed control, Bentley turned in a strong defensive effort, holding the Skyhawks (31.6 percent shooting, 4-of-19 threes, 19 turnovers) to 17 points below their season norm.
Bentley, which also shot poorly (31.4 percent), actually finished with four more field goals than Stonehill. However, the Falcons attempted only six free throws (making but two) while the Skyhawks finished 19 of 25 at the line after their late parade to the stripe.
Senior center Vanessa Lux (Arundel, Maine/McAuley HS), sophomore guard Kristy McLean (Staten Island, N.Y./Poly Prep) and freshman guard Kim Brennan (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley HS) each scored nine points to top the Falcons in scoring.
Eights were wild for Bentley sophomore forward Colette Josey (Framingham/Framingham HS), who put up that number in points, rebounds and blocks.
Stupinski, in addition to 18 points, had four assists and four rebounds for Stonehill. Simonds finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, and freshman Asley Caiafa (Massapequa, N.Y.) provided a spark off the bench, with 10 points on four-of-five shooting. Tighe, in addition to her dominance on the boards, added six rebounds.
Bentley will look to snap its slide on Tuesday when it hosts Merrimack College (5:30 p.m.).
