WOMEN’S HOOPS EDGED BY BENTLEY, 73-67

DURHAM, N.H. - Lauren Wells (West Chester, Pa.) and Jill McDonald (Middlebury, Vt.) notched a career-high 18 and 11 points, respectively, but it was not enough, as the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team fell to Bentley University in an exhibition matchup on Sunday afternoon at Lundholm Gymnasium.

Bentley tipped off the game with a 14-5 run, as Katherine Goodwin tallied five points during the stretch, in the first nine minutes of the action. Lauren Massie would cap off the run with a pair of free throws at 11:29.

The Falcons and ‘Cats would exchange baskets for the next five minutes of play, until Amy Simpson (Waterford, Conn.) nailed the second of two free throw attempts at 6:15 to spark a 7-0 UNH run.

Wells would lead the way for the ‘Cats during the scoring stretch, as she scorched the nets for remaining six points on the run. She capped off the run with a layup, cutting Bentley's lead down to just two points, with 4:29 remaining to in the first stanza.

The Falcons would respond with a pair of free throws by Massie at 4:04, increasing their lead to four points. On the ensuing possession, Simpson lofted a pass over the heads of a pair of Bentley defenders, and set up Denise Beliveau (Framingham, Mass.) with an easy layup, to bring the score to 20-18 in favor of Bentley.

The Falcons would turn up the heat once again as Kelsey Roberson drained a 3-pointer, igniting a 7-1 Bentley run in the next three minutes of play. Elise Caira finished off the stretch with a layup ay 1:29, setting the score at 27-19.

The Wildcats would rebuttal on the ensuing possession, as Kate Early (Corning, N.Y.) netted a pair of free throws and a layup on UNH's next two trips down the floor to cut the lead down to four points, with the score 27-23 at the half.

The early portion of the second half was much of the same between both squads as the two traded baskets until Kim Brennan layed the ball in to give Bentley its largest lead of the game with score set at 45-35 at the 12-minute mark.

Diamon Beckford (Philadelphia, Pa.) would respond with a basket of her own on the following possession, cutting Bentley's lead down to just eight points. Wells would add insult to injury on UNH's next trip down the court nailing a trifecta, to set the score at 45-40 at 12:04.

Despite the late charge by the ‘Cats, Bentley would pick up the pieces jumping back out to a 10-point lead, as Brennan knocked down a 3-pointer and Massie dropped in a bucket in back-to-back trips down the floor to make the score 50-40 in favor of the visitors.

From that point on, both teams would exchange baskets for the remainder of the period, until Brennan netted three points the old fashioned way at 1:42 to give Bentley its largest lead of the game, as they pushed ahead 69-56.

New Hampshire wouldn't go down without a fight, as Wells drained a 3-pointer with just 0:23 remaining, cutting the score to 71-63. Massie would follow suit with a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession, to bring the Bentley lead back up to 10 points.

On next possession, Beliveau pulled in a rebound off a missed jumper and went up with a shot, banking it off the glass and through the net with just 0:11 remaining, setting the score at 73-65.

Bentley had a chance to increase its lead to 10 once again on the next possession, but Katherine Goodwin missed a pair of free throws, as Candace Williams (Norfolk, Mass.) pulled in the defensive rebound on the second shot attempt and pushed the ball up the floor for one last chance at the Falcons.

On the ensuing possession, Wells took the ball into the lane but missed a contested layup. However, Williams was once again there to clean up the glass, pulling down the board and putting the ball in the hoop with just 0:01 remaining, to make the final score 73-67.

Wells led the ‘Cats with 18 points and tallied three assists and a steal. Simpson finished with 10 points, four assists and four rebounds. Williams pulled in a game-high 10 rebounds and notched nine points.

As for the Falcons, Brennan finished with 19 points, two rebounds and two assists. Caira, Goodwin and Massie all tallied 14 points apiece in the contest.

The Wildcats open up their regular season on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. when they take on St. Joseph's University at Lundholm Gymnasium.