Stevens collects 750th win

DePaul's Natasha Williams and West Virginia's Chakhia Cole battle to get the upper hand while pursuing a loose ball. (JEFF GENTER/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Erica Kirwan's career game resulted in a career milestone for Bentley coach Barbara Stevens.

Kirwan, a senior forward, scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds - both personal highs - to lift Bentley to a 57-46 victory over host UMass-Lowell yesterday, giving Stevens her 750th victory.

Stevens, the winningest women's coach in Division 2 history, became the sixth coach to reach the milestone. Pat Summitt (Tennessee), Jody Conradt (Texas), C. Vivian Stringer (Rutgers), Sylvia Hatchell (North Carolina), and Philip Kahler (St. John Fisher) are the others. Stevens is 750-209 in 31 seasons, including 592-118 in 22 seasons at Bentley.

Vanessa Lux and Kim Brennan each added 12 points for the Falcons (16-8, 13-6 Northeast-10). Jen Valente scored 13 points for the River Hawks (10-14, 5-12), losers of four in a row.

Bryant 77, Southern Conn. 72 - At Smithfield, R.I., Kelsey O'Keefe scored 26 points and collected 12 rebounds, boosting the Bulldogs (16-9, 11-9 NE-10) over the Owls (14-10, 10-9), who got 20 points from Kate Lynch despite 5-for-28 shooting.

AIC 57, Saint Rose 46 - At Albany, N.Y., Jeannette Johnathan went 4 of 4 from 3-point range and scored 16 points to lift the Yellow Jackets (15-9, 11-8 NE-10) over the Golden Knights (11-13, 8-12), who were paced by Dana Brown.

Franklin Pierce 77, Merrimack 57 - At Rindge, N.H., Johannah Leedham hit four 3-pointers and scored 28 points, sparking the Ravens (20-4, 15-4 NE-10), ranked 21st in Division 2, over the Warriors (9-17, 5-15).

Saint Louis 71, UMass 65 - Katie Paganelli scored 21 points, and the host Billikens (10-15, 5-5 Atlantic 10) took command of a game that featured 13 lead changes by scoring back-to-back baskets with a little more than a minute remaining. The Minutewomen (11-14, 3-7) were led by Pam Rosanio's 24 points.

Holy Cross 73, Bucknell 67 - At Worcester, Bethany O'Dell and Briana McFadden each scored 19 points as the Crusaders (14-11, 7-3 Patriot) held off a late charge by the Bison (10-14, 5-5) by going 6 for 6 from the free throw line in the final 15 seconds.

St. John's 73, Providence 63 - Monique McLean's 23 points boosted the visiting Red Storm (13-12, 4-8 Big East) past the Friars (11-13, 1-10), who were led by Kendria Holmes's 16 points.

Harvard 73, Columbia 65 - At New York, the Crimson (13-9, 6-2 Ivy) roared to a 37-16 halftime lead, and behind Katie Rollins's 23 points held off the Lions (8-14, 5-3).

Cornell 50, Dartmouth 43 - At Ithaca, N.Y., Jeomi Maduka's 15 points and 12 rebounds helped the Big Red (15-6, 6-1) take sole possession of first place in the Ivy League with a win over the Big Green (8-14, 5-3), who shot just 25 percent from the field.

Princeton 70, Brown 56 - At Providence, Meagan Cowher's 24 points led the Tigers (5-18, 2-5 Ivy) over the Bears (2-20, 1-7).

Penn 75, Yale 67 - At New Haven, Sarah Bucar had 15 points and 14 rebounds, and the Quakers (4-18, 1-6 Ivy) overcame a 9-point halftime deficit to defeat the Bulldogs (6-15, 4-4).

Vermont 68, Albany 48 - At Albany, N.Y., Courtnay Pilypaitis scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and Amy Rosenkrantz also scored 17 points as the Catamounts (17-7, 8-3 America East) pulled away from the Great Danes (9-15, 7-4) in the second half.

Hartford 74, UNH 44 - At West Hartford, Diana Delva scored 15 points in 15 minutes, and the Hawks (19-5, 9-2 America East) rolled past the Wildcats (6-16, 3-7), who shot just 25 percent.

Maine 55, Stony Brook 53 - Colleen Kilmurray scored 17 points and Amanda Tewksbury added 16 - including the winning basket with 24 seconds remaining - to give the host Black Bears (7-17, 4-7 America East) the victory over the Seawolves (6-18, 1-10).

Salem St. 68, Framingham St. 38 - At Framingham, the Vikings (18-4, 8-1 MASCAC) took a 38-14 lead into halftime, and behind Danielle Jenkins's 18 points cruised past the Rams (5-16, 0-10), who committed 33 turnovers.

Fitchburg St. 73, Westfield St. 48 - At Westfield, Steph Payette scored 17 points and Diana Doyle added 14, including the 1,000th of her career, to help the Falcons (15-6, 7-2 MASCAC) cruise past the Owls (8-15, 2-8).

Mount Holyoke 47, Smith 46 - At South Hadley, Erin Cain's 16 points helped the Lyons (5-17, 2-9 NEWMAC) hold off the Pioneers (4-17, 2-9).

Springfield 79, Clark 64 - Tara McCarthy hit 8 of 11 shots and 7 of 8 free throws on her way to 24 points, lifting the host Pride (13-9, 8-3 NEWMAC) over the Cougars (8-14, 4-7), who were led by Sarah Roderigue's 16 points.

Tufts 84, Colby 60 - At Medford, Khalilah Ummah had 17 points, 19 rebounds, and 5 blocks, helping the Jumbos (21-2, 7-2 NESCAC) top the White Mules (8-15, 2-7).

Nichols 77, Eastern Nazarene 44 - At Dudley, Margaret Lilly scored 14 of her game-high 18 points at the free throw line, and the Bison (17-6, 9-2 Commonwealth Coast) rolled over the Crusaders (5-18, 1-10).

Curry 77, Wentworth 65 - Sarah Walker had 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 steals to lift the Colonels (10-13, 5-6 Commonwealth Coast) over the host Leopards.

Rutgers 71, South Florida 50 - At Tampa, Matee Ajavon scored 14 points and Epiphanny Prince and Myia McCurdy added 10 apiece as the No. 5 Scarlet Knights (20-4, 10-1 Big East) never trailed.

Stanford 79, Arizona St. 57 - Candice Wiggins had 23 points to move into second place on the Pac-10 career scoring list, leading the No. 6 Cardinal (24-3, 13-2) over the host Sun Devils (16-9, 10-4) for their sixth straight win.

California 66, Arizona 45 - Ashley Walker scored 24 points and the ninth-ranked Bears (23-3, 14-1 Pac-10) won their 16th straight home game with a victory over the Wildcats (9-16, 3-11).

DePaul 81, West Virginia 80 - At Morgantown, W.Va., Deirdre Naughton had 24 points and a career-high 15 rebounds to lead the Blue Demons (17-7, 6-5 Big East) to an upset of the No. 11 Mountaineers (20-4, 9-2).

St. Bonaventure 63, George Washington 60 - At Olean, N.Y., Dana Mitchell and Katelyn Murray scored 14 points each to help the Bonnies (17-9, 5-16 A-10) beat the No. 14 Colonials (20-4, 8-2) for the program's first victory over a ranked opponent.