WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior forward Shatasia Kearse (Framingham/Lincoln-Sudbury HS) scored 10 of her career-high 16 points during a 25-0 second-half explosion and All-Conference sophomore forward Lauren Battista (Easton/Oliver Ames HS) netted a game-high 17 as Bentley University led from start to finish en route to a 74-46 win over UMass-Lowell in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Wednesday night at the Dana Center.

Bentley, ranked second in Division II preseason, ran its record to 3-0 with the victory in its home and conference opener, with all three wins decided by at least 25 points. UMass-Lowell fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the NE-10.

As was the case in the first two games, the Falcons established control early in the contest, opening a 15-2 lead after nine minutes after the River Hawks scored on only one of their first 17 possessions (1-10 shooting, seven turnovers). Battista had five of the 15 and both senior guard Meghan Thomann (Andover/Andover HS) and junior guard Kelsey Roberson (Arlington/Arlington Catholic HS) connected from downtown.

Bentley emerged from a turnover-laden first half (31 combined, including 17 by UML) with a 29-17 lead, due largely to the efforts of Battista. She had 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting while the rest of the squad was just 5 of 17.

A little more than a minute into the second half, the Falcon lead had shriveled to seven points as the River Hawks scored the first five once play resumed. Sophomore forward Dominique Pagan (Bronx, N.Y.) converted a three-point play and senior forward Sha'Nay Bushner (Akron, Ohio) made two from the stripe.

Bentley responded by scoring the next five points, including three by Battista, to restore the lead to double figures, 34-22.

With the score at 40-28 with 14:35 left, Bentley ran off the next 25 points as the visitors remained stuck on 28 for the next seven minutes and 44 seconds. Kearse played a major role in the run, with 10 points, including eight of the first 10, with three of her baskets assisted by junior guard Chrystal Guarin (Aliso Viejo, Calif./ Troy HS). Grad student Elise Caira (Wakefield/Arlington Catholic HS) was also active in the decisive surge, with four rebounds, two points, an assist and a steal.

Battista finished six of nine from the floor, and also had four rebounds. Kearse came off the bench to hit seven of nine, and also filled the stat sheet with four rebounds, two blocks, two steals and two assists.

Guarin and Roberson each scored seven points, and provided seven and six assists, respectively. Guarin also came up with three of the Falcons' 17 steals, with senior guard Lauren Massie (Fairfax Station, Va./West Springfield HS) leading the team in that category with four. Bentley dominated the boards, 40-28, with sophomore forward Jacqui Brugliera (Fitchburg/Wachusett Reg. HS) grabbing eight and Caira six.

Bentley finished the game with a .521 field goal percentage, including .625 during a 45-point second half. The Falcons also had a huge advantage at the foul line, missing more than the River Hawks attempted. They were 22 of 35, including a 7-of-12 effort from Guarin, who took three more than Lowell (7-12) did as a team.

UMass-Lowell, which was limited to 31 percent shooting and forced into 29 turnovers, received 12 points from both Bushner and sophomore guard Danielle DePierro (Tewksbury).

Bentley's next game is Tuesday night at Merrimack College (5:30 pm).