Posted: Mar 24, 2016
- Undefeated Lubbock Christian brought Bentley’s season to an end in the NCAA Division II semifinals with a 67-57 decision in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Wednesday. While the Falcons never had a lead in the game and trailed by as many as 22 points, they fought all the way and capped off a remarkable turn-around season by advancing to the last four in the nation. Jen Gemma (25 points, 10-17 FG) had another excellent game for Bentley and Megan Lewis added 12 points in support but LCU’s trio of Nicole Hampton (21 points, 7 boards), Kelsey Hoppel (20 points) and Haley Fowler (12 points) proved too much to overcome. The Lady Chaps (34-0), who were held more than 15 points below their seasonal average, didn’t have it all their own way early as Bentley played them to a 10-10 standoff after one period, the first time all season LCU didn’t hold a lead after one quarter of play (and, in fact, the first time in their last 82 quarters that they did not enjoy a lead at the end of a given quarter). Things changed in the second stanza, though, as Hoppel scored eight points (two three-pointers included) in a 12-2 binge that put Lubbock Christian ahead to stay, 24-14 (6:36). LCU maintained and grew that margin to 38-22 by the break thanks to a 7-2 closing burst. Gemma and Lewis each tossed in six points as the Falcons came out of the locker room after the interval with a 12-6 spell to whittle the deficit to 44-34 at the 6:00 mark of the third period. That was the cue for the Lady Chaps to buckle down and they out-scored Bentley the rest of the frame, 10-2, to establish a 54-36 edge. The run continued to 14-2 at the onset of the fourth quarter as Fowler and Hoppel baskets made it a 58-36 game with 8:44 to play, all but locking up LCU’s spot in April 4’s title game against Alaska Anchorage in Indianapolis. Bentley made one more push and scored 21 of the game’s final 30 points to create the final margin but it was largely cosmetic in the end. LCU shot better than the Falcons from the floor (43%-37% FG) and at the line (14-19; Bentley 8-9 FT), and had their way in the paint (44-32) as well as in points-off-turnovers (17-6). Although this was the end of the line for the Falcons (losing only senior guard Jane White, who had a game-high seven assists in this contest) the season was a surprising success. Picked as the 4th place team in the Northeast-10’s Northeast Division in the pre-season, Bentley exceeded all expectations by winning conference and regional titles, not to mention reaching the final four of the NCAA tournament. The fact that it required an undefeated, senior-laden powerhouse to eliminate the Falcons is testimony to their resilience. Bentley’s 18-game turnaround (11-16 last year) is one of the biggest in recent years in the region and sets them up for continues future success.