Women's Basketball Falls To # 1 Bentley, 83-66

Bridgeport, Conn.-The University of Bridgeport women's basketball team saw its two-game winning streak snapped by the Bentley University Falcons on Friday afternoon, as the number one ranked team in the nation in the NCAA Division II ranks topped the host Purple Knights, 83-66, in the final game of the 2011 University of Bridgeport Women's Basketball Holiday Classic.  With the win, Bentley is now 11-1 on the year, and with the loss, UB falls to 3-9 overall.

Bentley's Lauren Battista, who was named the Classic's Most Valuable Player, netted a game-high 29 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to lead the victorious Falcons.

Bridgeport was led by junior Tanisha Carter (East Hartford, Conn.) who had 20 points and tallied nine boards.  Carter was joined in double-figure scoring by senior Edna Marant (Philadelphia, Pa.) with 18 points.

The Purple Knights connected on 27 field goals to the Falcons 25 baskets, but Bentley put the game away with outstanding free shooting going 27 of 30 from the line (90.0%) to UB's 8 of 10 from the stripe.

Battista was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammate Courtney Finn, and the Purple Knights' Marie Biondi (Sr., West Haven, Conn.) was earned All-Tournament accolades.  Southern New Hampshire's Christine Duffy and Dowling Sarah Schicher rounded out the five-person All-Tourney squad.

Friday's contest was Bridgeport's final non-conference game of the 2011-12 campaign.

Bridgeport returns to the court on Wednesday night at C.W. Post when the return to East Coast Conference action.  Game time on Long Island is set for 5:00 p.m.