Box Score

WALTHAM, MA - For the first time in program history, Bloomfield College women's basketball stepped onto the court of a NCAA Tournament game but it was not meant to be as the Deacons fell, 80-65 against the top-seeded Falcons of Bentley College.  The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) automatic-bid qualifiers conclude their season with a 20-10 record while the Northeast-10 Champs move to 30-0 on the year and advance to the East Regional semifinal game tomorrow evening. 

Bentley converted 30-for-34 free throws on the evening, in contrast to the Deacons 8-for-12 performance in trips to the line. The Falcons held a 38-26 edge in rebounds while Bloomfield force 15 turnovers, committing 14 of their own.  2nd chance points were even at 9 a piece with CACC top team winning the points in the paint battle 30-26.
 
Bentley controlled the opening tip and scored the game's first bucket on a baseline inbound play.  Freshman Tianna Smith (Nanuet, NY) took a drive to the lane and the Deacons found themselves up 9-6 heading into the games first time out. The Falcons answered with back-to-back 3-pointers on their next two possessions by Courtney Finn (Winthrop, Mass) and Caleigh Crowell (Harwich, Mass). Crowell connected from beyond the arc again and Bentley extended their lead to eleven (24-13).  Junior Tierra Scott (Bear, DE) battled in the paint to draw the Deacons to within 3 (27-30) with just over four minutes remaining in the half.
 
The CACC Champions were plagued by early foul trouble forcing starters Nakaida Thomas (Trenton, NJ) and Morgan Taylor (Paterson, NJ) to the bench tallying 3 fouls each. Bentley entered the bonus at the 12:40 mark and even reserve Lauren Deverin (Sewaren, NJ) collected 3 personals as the Falcons took full advantage shooting 13-of-14 from the free-throw line in the period.
 
Bloomfield would counter the #1 team in the region with a steady dosage of drives to the basket that yielded dividends for Smith and Scott who finished the opening stanza with 12 and 7 points respectively. A layup by sophomore Iman Williams (Chesapeake, VA) drew the Deacons even at 36-36 with 1:00 left before the break.
The Deacons headed to the locker room down 36-37 after a Bentley free throw closed the scoring for the half. Smith led all scorers at intermission while Scott had 6 rebounds to lead all players in that department.
 
Smith continued her hot hand, scoring on Bloomfield's first two possessions of the 2^nd half however Crowell continued her sharp-shooting from beyond the arc giving Bentley a 50-44 lead early in the period. The Deacons took their first lead of the second stanza, 58-57 on a deep ball from Ariel Wilson (Chesapeake, VA). Bentley reeled off the next 7 to extend to a 65-58 margin with over six minutes left to play. Wilson drew the Deacons to within four (61-65) just before Deverin picked up her 4^th foul sending Jen Gemma (Milton, Mass) to the line.  She converted 1 out-of 2 from the charity stripe but Bentley grabbed the rebound on the miss of her second attempt and the Bloomfield forward fouled out on the very next play.  The Falcons would close the contest with 10 of their last 14 points coming at the free throw line bringing a conclusion to Bloomfield's season.
 
Bloomfield shot 44.0% from the field for the game (26-59) with Smith netting a team-high 18 points in the setback. Scott grabbed a game-high 8 rebounds to compliment her 11 points on the evening.  Wilson rounded out the Deacons double-figure scorers with 12 points to go along with 4 assists and a steal. On the Falcons side of the ball Finn poured in a game high 23 points including a 14-for-16 night at the line.  Gemma went 8-for-10 from the free throw line bolstering 12 points for the game while Crowell connected on 4-for-5 from 3-point range closing out with 16 points.
 
"We gave the #1 team in the nation all they could handle," Coach Caputo added after the game.  "Everyone said we gave them their toughest challenge they have had all year. I'm very proud of all that we accomplished this season. We will be back."