WALTHAM, Mass. - Junior guard Kristy McLean (Staten Island, N.Y./Poly Prep HS) scored 16 points, including her team's first eight, and senior center Vanessa Lux (Arundel, Maine/McAuley HS) recorded her first career double-double, as Bentley moved into a tie for second place in the conference with a 71-57 win over The College of Saint Rose in Northeast-10 women's basketball Saturday afternoon at the Dana Center.
The victory was the eighth straight for the Falcons, who improved to 12-4 overall and 9-3 in the NE-10. Bentley is even with both Stonehill and Franklin Pierce, with all three a game back of first-place Assumption, an 84-69 winner over Southern Connecticut.
Bentley put a thumping on Saint Rose in the opening half, despite committing 13 turnovers. The Falcons forced 19 turnovers, which they converted into 32 points, and shot an incredible 68 percent. They had a 27-4 run over one stretch, led by as many as 29 and went into the halftime break up 23, 45-22.
McLean, after scoring Bentley's first eight, had 15 points at the break. Lux, freshman guard Kim Brennan (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley HS) and senior forward Erica Kirwan (North Kingstown, R.I./North Kingstown HS) were also instrumental, combining for 23 first half points on 8-of-9 shooting.
Saint Rose (8-8, 5-7 NE-10) took much better care of the basketball in the second half, and took advantage of cold Bentley shooting (2 of 9 to start) to close within 12, 50-38, with just under 13 minutes left.
The Falcons regained control with a 9-2 run over the next 4:50 pushing the lead back to 20, 59-39, with about eight minutes left. Four different players scored during that stretch, including Lux who had a pair of baskets.
The differential remained around 20 for the next six minutes before Saint Rose closed the final gap by scoring the game's final eight points.
McLean, in addition to 16 points, had seven rebounds and three steals. Lux followed with 15 points and a career-best 10 rebounds, and Brennan (6-of-6 free throws) helped out with 14 points, five assists and three rebounds.
Sophomore post Dedra Pritchard (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Jefferson Township HS) helped Bentley control the boards (44-33), collecting nine in 18 minutes. She also contributed six points and a couple steals.
Saint Rose junior guard Dana Brown (Elmont, N.Y.) led all scorers with 18 points. The Golden Knights also received 13 points and 10 boards from senior Emily Gottstein (Albany, N.Y.) and 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals from junior forward Ashley Anderson (Portland, Maine).
Bentley shot 52 percent for the game while holding the visitors to 31 percent. It finished with 38 points in the paint, 36 off turnovers and 10 fast break points.
Bentley will look to add to its winning streak on Tuesday when it hosts Pace University at 5:30 p.m.
At Waltham, Mass.BENTLEY 71, ST. ROSE 57ST. ROSE (8-8, 5-7 NE-10)--Dana Brown 5-14 5-6 18; Ashley Anderson 4-10 6-8 14; Emily Gottstein 4-11 5-7 13; Amy Voelkel 2-6 0-0 4; Kerri Revesz 1-1 0-0 3; Jenna Hughes 1-1 1-3 3; Lynsey Timbrouck 1-5 0-0 2; Elizabeth Buckley 0-10 0-0 0; Ivana Stojadinov 0-0 0-0 0; Rachel Coryea 0-0 0-0 0; Elizabeth Tremblay 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-58 17-24 57.BENTLEY (12-4, 9-3 NE-10)--Kristy McLean 6-11 2-4 16; Vanessa Lux 6-11 3-6 15; Kim Brennan 4-8 6-6 14; Erica Kirwan 3-4 1-2 7; Dedra Pritchard 2-3 2-2 6; Ashley Bruton 2-4 1-2 6; Kelly Barrett 2-4 0-2 4; Angela Manfredi 1-4 0-0 3; Caralyn Hart 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-50 15-24 71.Halftime: B 45-22; 3-point goals--SR 4-17 (Brown 3-6; Revesz 1-1; Gottstein 0-1; Voelkel 0-2; Timbrouck 0-2; Buckley 0-5), B 4-13 (McLean 2-6; Bruton 1-2; Manfredi 1-3; Hart 0-1; Brennan 0-1). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--SR 33 (Gottstein 10), B 43 (Lux 10). Assists--SR 10 (Voelkel, Timbrouck 3), B 19 (Manfredi, Brennan 5). Total fouls--SR 19, B 22. Technical fouls--None.
