PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Senior center Monica Viapiano (Holden, Mass./Holy Name HS) scored 18 points and sophomore guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wisc./Appleton North HS) followed with 17 as Bentley University won for the ninth time in ten games, 74-61 over Pace University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Saturday afternoon at the Goldstein Fitness Center.

Bentley, ranked 19th and 24th in this week's Division II polls, bounced back from a Tuesday loss to New Haven to improve to 13-4 overall and remain in sole possession of first place in the NE10 Northeast Division with an 8-1 conference record. Pace fell to 13-5 overall and 6-3 conference.

The Falcons dominated the first half, shooting a sizzling 61 percent from the field to claim a 25-9 lead. Two jumpers by Brekke and a runner from junior guard Katie Meriggioli (Waunakee, Wisc./ Edgewood HS) produced a quick 6-0 lead.

Bentley's five-for-five start from the floor also included a Meriggioli triple and the first of Viapiano's eight field goals. The Falcon advantage hit ten for the first time, 15-5, with 4:42 left in the stanza on a jumper just inside the stripe from freshman guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind,/Center Grove HS).

Viapiano single-handedly outscored the Setters in the opening quarter, 12-9, and had 14 points about a minute before Pace reached that level with 6:55 left in the second.

At the half, Bentley owned a commanding 48-25 lead on the strength of 19-of-32 shooting (59 percent).

Bentley remained comfortably in front throughout the third and began the fourth up 23 at 60-37. Pace staged a fourth-quarter rally, drawing within eight with 1:16 left before graduate forward Megan Lewis (Sevenoaks, England) stuck a three from the left corner with 50 seconds remaining.

Viapiano, in limited action, finished 8 of 15 from the floor and also had seven rebounds and a block. Brekke made seven of her dozen shots and came up with a pair of steals.

Bentley also received a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double from Lewis and 11 points and five assists from Thompson. Meriggioli followed with nine points and junior center Erin Nolan (Binghamton, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley HS) helped out with seven points off the bench.

Junior forward Lauren Schetter (Beacon, N.Y.) led Pace with 16 points, including 8-of-8 free throws, and two blocks.

Bentley's shooting cooled off in the second half but the Falcons still outshot the Setters 48-39 percent. Rebounds favored the visitors, 36-22, and coach Barbara Stevens' team committed only eight turnovers, six less than the Setters.

On Wednesday, Bentley will host Saint Rose at 5:30 pm.