Purple Knights News

February 6, 2007

Basketball Drops NE-10 Doubleheader To Bentley


COLCHESTER, Vt. ? Saint Michael's College was swept by Bentley College in a Northeast-10 Conference basketball doubleheader on Tuesday at the Ross Sports Center. In the opener, the Purple Knight women suffered a 67-54 loss to the Falcons, and in the nightcap, the Saint Michael's men lost to the undefeated Falcons, 83-59.

In the women's contest, Bentley (17-6, 12-6 NE-10) opened up a 39-11 halftime lead and hung on for the victory, improving to 46-2 all-time versus the Purple Knights. Junior Vanessa Lux (Arundel, Maine) led the Falcons with a career-high 20 points, connecting on 9-of-15 shots from the field. Senior Shannon Kirwan (Melrose, Mass.) added 13 points and five assists, while sophomore Kristy McLean (Staten Island, N.Y.) had 11 points and three steals. Bentley outrebounded the Purple Knights, 40-30, in the contest, while shooting 46 percent from the field.

For Saint Michael's (10-12, 7-11 NE-10), junior Allison Dunn (Whippany, N.J./Morris Catholic) was the lone player to score in double figures, netting 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Senior Jevy Rayner (Westminster, Vt./Bellows Falls Union) added nine points and a team-best five rebounds. The 11 points that Saint Michael's scored in the first half represent the second-lowest total for one period in program history, eclipsing only the eight points that the Purple Knights scored in the first half versus Lyndon State College on Dec. 8, 1977.

After each team traded a 2-pointer in the first two minutes of play, Bentley held Saint Michael's scoreless for the next 5:30, going on a 15-0 run to take an insurmountable 17-2 lead. The lead grew to 39-11 at halftime, as the Purple Knights shot just 4-of-22 from the field in the first half, while committing 14 turnovers. Bentley, meanwhile, shot 52 percent from the floor in the opening half and held a 23-12 rebounding advantage in the period. The Falcons' lead grew to as many as 30 points in the second half, as the final score was the closest that the Purple Knights would get after the opening nine minutes.

In the men's game, Bentley (22-0, 18-0 NE-10), ranked second in the country, clinched the NE-10 regular season title and the top seed in the upcoming NE-10 Tournament by racing out to a 46-23 halftime lead. The 22 straight wins also mark the longest winning streak in league history. Eight Falcons scored at least seven points, with junior Nate Fritsch (Durham, N.C.) leading the balanced attack with 16 points. Senior Jeff Holmes (Westbrook, Maine) added 14 points and nine rebounds, classmate Andy Smith (West Sussex, England) netted 11 points off the bench, and freshman Jason Westrol (Millis, Mass.) recorded 10 points and nine rebounds. Bentley held a 48-31 edge in the rebounding department, and made 11-of-21 3-pointers.

For Saint Michael's (13-10, 10-8 NE-10), junior Brian Monahan (Kinderhook, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) had a game-high 19 points and a team-best eight rebounds. Classmate James Sorrentine (Pawtucket, R.I./Saint Raphael Academy) added 14 points and three assists, connecting on 4-of-9 3-pointers. As a team, however, the Purple Knights made just 5-of-29 from beyond the arc, and shot just 38 percent overall in the contest.

Saint Michael's scored the first four points of the contest, but Bentley then took control with a 13-0 run and never looked back. The Falcons held Saint Michael's to 0-of-12 3-point shooting in the opening period, while connecting on 7-of-11 trifectas in the half. Bentley's lead ballooned to as many as 30 points in the second half, as the Falcons continued their best start in program history, and extended the Purple Knights' losing skid to a season-high four games.

Saint Michael's returns to action on Saturday with an NE-10 doubleheader at Southern Connecticut State University (women at 1:30 p.m., men at 3:30 p.m.), before hosting Bryant University on Wed., Feb. 14 at the Ross Sports Center (women at 5:30 p.m., men at 7:30 p.m.). Bentley next takes on Stonehill College on Saturday (men at 12 p.m., women at 2:30 p.m.).

###PURPLEKNIGHTS###