WALTHAM, Mass. -- A 10-0 run to start the game and 27 consecutive points to open the second half was more than enough as Bentley, the only remaining unbeaten team in Division II, rolled to a 77-51 victory against Le Moyne in the quarterfinals of the Northeast-10 Conference championships on Sunday afternoon at the Dana Center.
Senior All-America and NE-10 Player of the Year Lauren Battista led a balanced attack for the 27-0 and three-time defending champion Falcons, filling the stat sheet with 13 poi9nts, nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block.
The win propels the season-long No. 1 in the coaches' poll into Thursday's semifinals, with the Falcons, the top seed in the Northeast Division, hosting Assumption, the third seed. The Greyhounds advanced with a 61-58 win at New Haven.
Jacqui Brugliera and Jen Gemma joined Battista in double figures, finishing with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Like Battista, Brugliera missed a double-double by just one rebound.
Bentley also received eight points from Caleigh Crowell, seven from grad student Crystal Guarin and six apiece from Finn and senior forward Tyler Parker Kimball. Senior point guard Christiana Bakolas added six rebounds, five assists, five points and two steals.
Greer, with 14 points, was the top scorer for Le Moyne, which finishes its season at 15-13.
Bentley, which entered the game No. 1 in Division II in both scoring margin and rebound margin, outshot the Dolphins 48-37 percent, finished with a 19-9 edge in free throws and dominated the boards 45-22.
Bentley and Assumption met twice during the regular season with the Falcons prevailing 89-68 at home and 89-70 out in Worcester.
In the other semifinal, Adelphi will host Stonehill.
