WALTHAM, Mass. – Graduate guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North HS) matched her career-high with six three-pointers and finished with 20 points in only 22:26 as Bentley University pulled away in the second half for an 86-50 win over Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball New Year's Day in the Dana Center.

An 11-2 advantage in three-pointers and 30-9 bulge in points off turnovers enabled Bentley (8-4, 5-1 NE10) to move into a three-way tie for first place in the NE10. Franklin Pierce slipped to 5-8 overall, including 2-5 conference.

Bentley led by five at the half, 40-35, despite the Ravens' 56 percent shooting over the opening two quarters. The Falcons countered that hot shooting by making seven of 14 from deep, including three of five by Brekke and two of four off the bench from junior guard Brooke Obar (No. Yarmouth, Maine/Greely HS).

Bentley picked up the defensive effort in the third quarter, outscoring the visitors 26-8 to break the game open. While FPU was held to eight points on 27 percent shooting and forced into eight turnovers, the Falcons shot 65 percent with their 11 of 17 performance including perfection on four attempts from deep. Three of those were from Brekke, who didn't see any time in the fourth.

The third featured a 15-0 run over a span of four-plus minutes that included all three of the captain's treys and a pair of layups from junior forward Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS).

The Falcons put together a 16-2 run in the final stanza and limited Franklin Pierce to seven points on three of 12 accuracy.

All told, Bentley outscored the Ravens 46-15 in the second half and shot a sizzling 67 percent, 18 of 27.

Brekke, who needed only eight attempts to make her six triples, was followed in the scoring column by Whitmore, with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists in 20 minutes of play. Senior guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) added nine points and six assists.

The nine points was matched by non-starters Obar and Ciara Norman (Roebling, N.J./Life Center Academy). Obar also had three steals and Norman claimed nine rebounds, including five offensive, in 14 minutes.

The top scorer and rebounder for Franklin Pierce was junior guard Anna Badosa Soler (Girona, Spain) with 12 points and five boards.

Overall, Bentley outshot FPU 54-42 percent and made 11 of 20 three-pointers, as compared to two of 14. The Falcons were a plus-seven in rebounds, 32-25, and forced 22 turnovers.

After playing at home for only the third time this season, Bentley will be back on the road twice this coming week, beginning Wednesday at Saint Rose.