#5 Bentley (Mass.) rallied from a 19-point deficit in the second half to shock #1 Wayne State 72-67 in the opening game at the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in San Antonio, Texas. The Wildcats end the best season in school history with a record of 32-3 while the Falcons advance to Wednesday’s semi-finals with a 31-3 mark.

After Bentley pulled within nine at 37-28 on a three pointer and free throw from Katherine Goodwin to open the second half, WSC scored the next seven points to take a 44-28 lead with 17:11 to play in the game. The Falcons trimmed the WSC lead to 46-35, but Wayne State scored eight straight points capped by a pair of Ellen Hansen free throws with 13:38 remaining to take their biggest lead at 54-35.

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Chris Kielsmeier of Wayne State College was named the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Region 7 Coach of the Year Monday evening at the Elite Eight Banquet in San Antonio, Texas.

Kielsmeier led the Wildcats to the Central Region title last week as the 32-2 Wildcats defeated Metro State 50-36 to earn the team’s first-ever trip to the Elite Eight. Under Kielsmeier, the Wildcats have won 46 straight games at Rice Auditorium, going unbeaten at home the last three seasons, and earned the school’s first-ever #1 national ranking this season.

Ashley Arlen of Wayne State was named an All-American as selected by NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Coaches from across the country. It’s the second straight season that the 6-2 senior forward has captured All-American honors. Arlen was also named one of three finalists for the WBCA Division II Player of the Year award, joining Kari Daugherty of Ashland and Veronica Walker from Delta State.

Arlen was named Most Valuable Player of the Central Region Tournament after leading the Wildcats to its first ever Central Region title last week and trip to the Elite Eight in San Antonio, Texas. She led the NSIC in scoring (18.1) and ranked second in rebounding (9.3) while leading the Wildcats to a second straight NSIC regular season title and the NSIC Women’s Basketball conference title this season.

Wayne State, ranked #1 in the Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, takes a 32-2 record into the opening game of the Elite Eight in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. against #5 Bentley (Mass.), who is 30-3 on the season.

#1 Wayne State women’s basketball earned their first-ever trip to the Elite Eight with a 50-36 win over the Metro State Roadrunners Monday evening in the Central Regional Women’s Basketball Tournament final played at Rice Auditorium in front of a packed crowd. It was the 46th straight win at home for the Wildcats, who take a 32-2 record to the Elite Eight.

Senior Ashley Arlen led Wayne State in scoring with 12 points followed by Clare Duwelius with 11 and Ellen Hansen added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Arlen was named the Most Valuable Player of the Central Region Tournament.

Wayne State now advances to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in San Antonio, Texas where the Wildcats will face East Region champion Bentley (Mass.), who defeated Holy Family (Pa.) Monday evening 84-73. The Falcons are ranked fifth in the latest Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll and are 30-3 record heading into an Elite Eight matchup on Tuesday, March 20th at noon central time.