WALTHAM, Mass. – A run of 19 unanswered points to finish the second quarter powered Bentley University to a 73-62 Senior Night win over Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Tuesday night at the Dana Center.

With the win in the regular season finale, Bentley (15-8, 13-6 NE10) earned the number two seed in the upcoming conference championships. The Falcons will host a first-round game against the University of New Haven, the seventh seed out of the Southeast Division, Friday at 6 pm.

A quartet of double-figure scorers for Bentley was headed by graduate forward Autumn Ceppi (Bedford/Dana Hall School), who finished with a career-best 26 points, 11 rebounds and two steals.

For Saint Anselm (14-12, 10-8 NE10), senior guard Peyton Steinman (Pittsfield) scored more than half her team's points, finishing with 32 along with a dozen rebounds.

Bentley was looking at a nine-point deficit when the Hawks scored the first five points of the second quarter. But, they wouldn't find the basket again until after the halftime break.

Bentley's run began with a mid-range jumper by freshman guard Amanda Kabantu (Portland, Maine/Portland HS). Junior guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) sank a three from the left corner, Ceppi scored an inside basket and Thompson drained another triple, this time from the right wing, for a 27-26 lead.

Continuing the run were Ceppi with a hook shot, freshman forward Kylie DuCharme (Wilmington/Wilmington HS) with a similar shot, Thompson with a 17-footer and Thompson again, this time on a three-ball from the top of the key.

After Saint Anselm drew within five, Bentley finished the third with a 9-2 surge to go up a dozen, 55-43. That began with a corner three from sophomore guard Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) and concluded with four points from Ceppi.

The Hawks got back within five twice in the final 3:10, but their comeback bid was denied when Bentley scored the game's final six points, including four by Ceppi.

Ceppi made 11 of her 20 shots and was perfect on her four free throws. She was followed in the scoring column by Whitmore (12), Thompson (11) and senior guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North HS) with 10.

Bentley shot 55 percent overall and was five of 11 from deep. Saint Anselm finished at .411 overall and was 7 of 20 from outside the arc. The Falcons only turned it over nine times, as compared to 15 for the Hawks, and had a 14-4 advantage in points off.