ALBANY, N.Y.. – Sophomore guard Janessa Gonzalez (Meriden, Conn./St. Pail Catholic HS) came off the bench for a career-best 14 points and classmate Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) followed with 12 points as Bentley University went wire-to-wire for a 60-40 win over The College of Saint Rose in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Wednesday night at the Daniel Nolan Gymnasium.

Bentley remained in second in the NE10's Northeast Division with their 8-4 overall record including 6-2 conference. Saint Rose, held to a season-low point total while playing for the first time in a month, dropped to 3-7 overall and 3-4 NE10.

A run of 12 unanswered points in the opening quarter produced an 18-5 lead a little more than seven minutes into the contest. That early burst included both a three-pointer and two free throws from Gonzalez, and was launched by a three-point play by graduate forward Autumn Ceppi (Bedford, Mass./Dana Hall School).

The Falcon advantage stood at 31-15 at the half as Bentley shot 52 percent from the floor and limited the Golden Knights to 21 percent. Leading the balanced scoring attack for the visitors was another sophomore, guard Brooke Obar (North Yarmouth, Maine/ Greely HS), with seven points.

Bentley had another 12-0 run in the third quarter, which boosted the advantage to 43-19 midway through the stanza. That surge included four points from freshman guard Amanda Kabantu (Portland, Maine/Portland HS).

Coach C White's squad was on top 50-25 after three and saw the lead peak at 27 when Whitmore scored the opening basket of the fourth.

Gonzalez, who played 29 minutes off the bench, made four of five shots overall, both her three-point attempts and all four of her free throws. In addition, she provided five rebounds and two assists.

Whitmore made six of her nine shots and led the Falcons in rebounds with eight, one more than Ceppi. Freshman forward Kylie DuCharme (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington HS) scored nine off the bench, both Ceppi and Kabantu netted eight points, and Obar chipped in with seven in her first career start.

The only Saint Rose player with more than five points was junior guard Becca Townes (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) with 12 points.

Bentley outshot the home team 48-31 percent and had a major rebounding advantage, 40-23. Turnovers were a problem for the Falcons as the Golden Knights scored half their points off 21 tuns. Bentley's 11 steals included three apiece from Ceppi and Whitmore.

Bentley will play its next two games at home, American International Saturday and Pace next Wednesday.