RINDGE, N.H. – A 34-5 explosion surrounding halftime, a run that included the first 17 points of the third quarter, propelled the Bentley University Falcons to their third straight win, 79-60 over Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Saturday afternoon at the FPU Field House.

Bentley placed four in double figures with senior center Monica Viapiano (Holden, Mass./ Holy Name HS) and sophomore guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wisc./Appleton North HS) leading the way with 20 apiece.

Coach Barbara Stevens' team used 50 percent shooting, ten three-pointers and a dozen steals to improve to 7-3 overall and 3-0 NE10. Franklin Pierce dropped to 3-5 overall, including 0-4 conference.

Bentley was on top by nine at the half, 43-34, after closing out both quarters with 11-3 runs. The first quarter burst, which included four points by sophomore guard Kolleen Bouchard (Houlton, Maine/ Houlton HS), made it a 19-14 game. After the Ravens used hot shooting to pull within one, a pair of three-pointers by Brekke fueled the second-quarter run.

The triumvirate of Bouchard, Brekke and Viapiano combined for 33 points in the half on 13 of 17 shooting. Bouchard provided a spark off the bench with 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting, Viapiano followed with 11 and Brekke drained three triples during a 10-point half.

The momentum from the closing run carried over into the third with Franklin Pierce scoreless for nearly the first seven minutes. Bentley's 17 unanswered included ten by Brekke, four by Viapiano and three free throws from graduate forward Megan Lewis (Seven Oaks, England).

Bentley's lead eventually peaked at 30, 66-36, on back-to-back triples from Lewis and senior forward Maddy Springfield (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant HS).

Brekke's second straight game with at least 20 saw her make five of nine from downtown and also contribute three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Viapiano made 9 of 14 shots and also contribute six rebounds and two steals.

Lewis and Bouchard each pitched in with 12 points. Lewis made four of five shots, collected eight rebounds and dished four assists. Bouchard shot five of seven overall and picked up four of her five rebounds at the offensive end. Freshman guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) added five points and five assists in a turnover-free performance.

Junior guard Sophia Holmes (Oakland, Maine) and sophomore forward Izzy Lipinski (Farmington, Conn.) led Franklin Pierce with 15 and 14 points, respectively.

 Bentley outshot the Ravens 50-44 percent, finished with a 10-4 advantage in three-pointers and finished a plus-13 on the boards, 38-25. The Falcons also had the edge in paint points (34-25), second-chance points (13-5) and fast break points (13-4).

The next game for the Falcons is next Sunday at home against Holy Family.