WORCESTER, Mass. – In a season of first for the Assumption University women's basketball team, the Greyhounds are advancing to their first-ever NCAA Division II Regional Final as the Hounds defeated Northeast-10 Conference foe Bentley University 62-49 Saturday night in a sold-out Laska Gymnasium.
 
THE BASICS
Score: Assumption University 64, Bentley University 47
Records: Greyhounds (26-5, 16-4 NE10), Falcons (22-10, 14-6 NE10)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Greyhounds came out on fire behind a packed Laska gymnasium, as they came out on a seven-point run behind Monica Spain with her layup at 6:18. Bentley eventually found their way back in the game through their stars, as Maggie Whitmore made two free throws and Ella Thompson hit a step back jumper. Teagan Curran hit a floater as time expired in the first quarter to give the Greyhounds a 13-8 advantage. 
 
Another standout for Assumption was Ja'Lyn Armstrong, who ended up being the leading scorer for Assumption with 19. She scored her seventh point at 7:17 in the 2nd quarter with a driving layup to increase the lead to 18-12. Another run occurred, spearheaded by the two longest-tenured members in Armstrong and Spain, who scored all nine points in the 9-5 run that gave the Greyhounds a 25-15 lead. It went scoreless for a while, with Assumption taking a 25-19 lead into halftime. 
 
Marina Callahan got in on the action in the third quarter with her first points at the free throw line to give Assumption another double-digit lead. The defense from the Greyhounds kept Bentley guessing offensively, and they struggled to string together a run of consistent baskets. Armstrong continued with more baskets in the paint as she found a home there, scoring 16 of her 19 in that area. Amanda Mieczkowski and Molly Stokes, the main focal points of the Dominican game, scored back-to-back threes to end the third quarter and blow the game open, with the Greyhounds winning 43-25. 
 
The fourth quarter was all Assumption, as they spread the ball around and kept it at an unreachable distance for the Falcons. The Falcons outscored the Greyhounds in the fourth by three, but the gap was too big from a huge third. History was made in Laska Gymnasium as the Greyhounds advanced to their first-ever Division II East Regional Semifinal, defeating this year's NE10 champions, 62-47.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ja'Lyn Armstrong had a game-high 19 points, as she was 9-for-13 from the field, while Monica Spain recorded another double-double following her 16-point, 10-rebound performance. 
• Assumption controlled the glass, as they outrebounded Bentley 41-33 while outscoring the visitors 34-16 in the paint.

UP NEXT

• Assumption vs. Jefferson, Monday, March 13, 7:00 pm – NCAA Division II Sectional Final

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