(03-03-09) WALTHAM, Mass. - The University of New Haven women's basketball team fell 69-54 to (3) Bentley University Tuesday night in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament quarterfinals. With the loss the Chargers conclude their 2008-09 season with a record of 16-13, Bentley moves on to the semifinals with a record of 20-10.
The Chargers opened the game with a 6-0 run, but the Falcons answered and took the lead at the 14:55 mark as part of a 7-0 run. Over the next six minutes the Chargers gained a slight edge with a four-point lead (21-17) at the 8:40 mark. Bentley regained the lead with a three-pointer at the 7:30 mark and the Falcons held the momentum and the lead until the 3:48 mark when Yasmin Ithier-Vicenty put down a layup to give the Chargers a 27-26 lead. UNH finished the half by scoring eight of the last 15 points, including two three-pointers to secure a 35-33 lead.
Lauren Hood went a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor and 1-for-1 from downtown for nine points in the first half. Freshman Nikki Carroll went 4-for-5 from the field and 1-for-1 at the line for another nine points. The two combined for 11 rebounds as well.
As a team, UNH shot 57.7 percent from the floor, 75 percent from three-point territory and 66.7 percent from the line. They held Bentley to 45.3 percent from the floor, 25.7 percent from behind the arc and went 0-for-2 from the line.
The Falcons hit a three pointer to take the lead and open scoring in the second half. The teams exchanged the lead for the next five possessions until UNH gained momentum and took a 44-41 with 13:45 left in the second half. Bentley once again fought back and regained the lead at the 8:54 mark. Bentley sealed the win and took a 10-point lead at the 4:40 mark as part of an 11-0 run. The Chargers narrowed the lead to eight in the final minutes, but struggled shooting to get back in the game as the Falcons connected down the stretch.
New Haven finished the game shooting 37.7 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from downtown and 60 percent from the foul line. Bentley improved their percentages in the second half and connected on 50.9 percent from the floor, 36.8 percent from downtown and 54.5 percent from the foul line. UNH turned the ball over 16 times and caused 15 Bentley turnovers. The Chargers, however, were out rebounded 36-31.
In their final collegiate game, seniors Hood and Briiana Rende combined for 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Carroll finished with 12 points and six boards, while Itheir-Vicenty finished with a team-high 13 points and four assists.
The Chargers conclude the 2008-09 season, their first in the Northeast-10 Conference, with a 16-13 overall record. UNH appeared in the program's first ever Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament and upset sixth seeded Assumption College in the opening round of the tournament.
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