What a season. The 2011-2012 Bentley women’s basketball team tallied 31 wins and came within one victory of the Division II National Championship game, falling in the semifinals to Ashland (Ohio) University. It was a second consecutive appearance in the Division II Elite Eight for the squad and coach Barbara Stevens – and the program’s best finish since 2002-2003.

The team was led by forward Lauren Battista (North Easton, Mass.). The sophomore was named to the Daktronics Division II All-America team by the nation’s sports information directors and to the State Farm All-America team by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. She averaged 17 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, becoming only the second sophomore in school history to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau.

While losing a handful of players to graduation – Katherine Goodwin (Goffstown, N.H.), Elise Caira (Wakefield, Mass.), Meghan Thomann (Andover, Mass.), Shatasia Kearse (Framingham, Mass.) and Lauren Massie (Fairfax Station, Va.) – the team returns its top four scorers next year: Battista, sophomore forward Jacqui Brugliera (Fitchburg, Mass.), junior guard Courtney Finn (Winthrop, Mass.) and junior forward Caleigh Crowell (Harwich, Mass.).