SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Graduate forward Autumn Ceppi (Bedford, Mass./Dana Hall School) and senior guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North HS) each put up 16 points, helping Bentley University to a 57-47 win over Le Moyne College in the semifinals of the Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball championships Thursday night at Ted Grant Court.

With the win, the 18-8 Falcons reached the NE10 championship game for the 30^th time. They'll host longtime rival Stonehill College, a 59-56 winner over Southern Connecticut State in the other semi, Sunday at noon with their sights on a record 21^st NE10 title.

A one-possession game for virtually all of the first 35 minutes, Bentley finished strong, closing with a 12-4 run over the final 5:20. It was a block on a potential game-tying basket by Le Moyne senior forward Emma Brinker (East Aurora, N.Y.) that ignited the Falcons.

Following a media timeout, junior guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) stuck a three from the left side, off a Brekke assist. After a defensive stop and Ceppi's 11^th rebound of the night, Brekke dropped in a floater, making it 50-43 with 4:23 to play. The advantage grew to nine on a lay-up from sophomore Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) with 2:42 to play.

After the Dolphins got back within five, Bentley locked up with victory by making five of eight free throws in the final 40 seconds.

A low scoring opening quarter (Le Moyne had a 10-9 lead) was followed by a high scoring second with Bentley going into the halftime break in front 31-28. The Falcons put up 22 points in the quarter, on 8-of-10 shooting, with both Ceppi and Thompson scoring six. Ceppi did her work inside and Thompson buried a pair of distance.

Points were at a premium in the third, with each team scoring nine points. There were two ties but Bentley maintained its three-point lead, going to the fourth on top 40-37. It remained a one-possession game until Ceppi's block sent coach C White's team on its closing run.

Ceppi, who played all but 23 seconds, made seven of 12 from the floor, totaled 14 rebounds, delivered four assists, came up with three steals and blocked three shots in an outstanding all-round performance.  Brekke connected on three of seven treys and also had three rebounds and three assists.

Next on the scoring list was Thompson, who had three triples on her way to ten points. She also helped on the boards with seven. Whitmore chipped in with eight.

Senior guard Erin Fouracre (Loudonville, N.Y.) led Le Moyne, the number one seed out of the Southwest Division, with 16 points and four assists.

The outstanding defensive effort for Bentley limited the Dolphins to 26.8 percent shooting, including only 1 of 16 from three. Meanwhile, the Falcons connected at a 44.7 percent clip and buried 7 of 21 three-pointers.

Le Moyne (17-7) had the rebound edge, 42-38, and committed only eight turnovers, as compared to 15 for the visitors.

Bentley and Stonehill, who'll be meeting in the championship game for the eighth time, split the regular season series with the road team prevailing each time. The Falcons won back in November, 62-51, and the Skyhawks won in overtime, 76-73, a month ago.