HARTFORD, Conn. - The Trinity College Bantams suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Bates College Bobcats, 57-55, in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Women's Basketball Semifinals this afternoon on Ogrodnik Court in Oosting Gymnasium.  Trinity, seeded No.1 in the tournament, falls to 17-6 on the season, and awaits a potential at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.  Bates, the No. 5 seed in the tournament, plays the winner of this afternoon's Amherst v. Tufts game in the NESCAC Women's Basketball Championship Finals tomorrow at noon.  Sophomore center Reilly Campbell (Wallingford, Conn.) finished with 18 points and nine rebounds for the Bantams, while senior tri-captain guard Bailey Hyland (Broad, Brook, Conn.) adding nine points and three assists.

The Bantams started off the first quarter hot, shooting 53% from the field in the opening frame.  Campbell made four of six from the floor with nine points in the quarter.  With a solid start on the offensive end, Trinity still only held a slim 16-15 lead after one.  The Bobcats started the second quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 20-16 lead three minutes in.  The Bobcat defense was relentless with pressure all quarter, forcing 12 turnovers.  Bates Sophomore Morgan Kennedy (Oklahoma City, Okla.) shot a perfect 4-4 in the quarter, finishing the half with 10 points to propel the Bobcats to a 34-26 halftime lead.  Campbell finished the half with 12 points and two blocks for the Bantams, while rookie guard Indianna DelRocco (Branford, Conn.) added eight points off the bench.

In a back-and-forth battle to start the second half, the Bantams went on a 10-0 run halfway through the third quarter to take the lead back, going up, 42-40, with 1:42 left in the quarter.  Trinity had a great defensive quarter, forcing three turnovers and holding the Bobcats to only nine points in the third. Three late free throws gave Bates the lead back entering the fourth, 43-42.  The fourth quarter started off hot for both teams, as they traded buckets for the first four minutes to make it, 51-48, in Bates' favor with six minutes to go.  A hook in the post from junior center Samantha Gallo (Northford, Conn.) brought the Bantams within one at 53-52 with 3:30 left in the contest. Gallo again hit a clutch layup to tie the game at 55-all with 1:25 left.  Bates made a pair of free-throws with 1:03 left to take a two point lead, 57-55.  DelRocco drove the length of the floor to try and tie it as time wound down but her layup was off the mark.  Graff paced Bates with 20 points and four assists.