WALTHAM, Mass. – Playing its first game as the number one ranked team in Division II, the Bentley University Falcons used a dominating start and a late 15-3 game-clinching run to remain undefeated, 75-66 over St. Michael's College in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at the Dana Center Wednesday night.

Bentley, which ascended to the top spot for the first time ever on Tuesday, improved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 NE-10.  It was the fourth time this season that the Falcons have maintained the lead throughout after scoring the game's opening points.

The Falcons spread the offense around with four of five starters scoring in doubles.  Sophomore forward Lauren Battista (North Easton/Oliver Ames HS) led the way with 14 points, six-foot classmate Jacqui Brugliera (Fitchburg/Wachusett Reg. HS) posted her first double-double of the season (13 points, 11 rebounds), and junior guards Kelsey Roberson (Arlington/Arlington Catholic HS) and Courtney Finn (Winthrop/Winthrop HS) followed with 12 and 10, respectively.

It looked like the Falcons would be able to coast to the victory after using a 26-7 explosion to grab a commanding 38-14 lead with a little less than six minutes left in the first half.

The spurt began with Bentley scoring 10 straight to extend a five-point lead to 15, 22-7 with 11:04 left. Senior forward Shatasia Kearse (Framingham/Lincoln-Sudbury Reg. HS) scored the first four, Battista netted the next three and Finn buried a three-ball.

After St. Michael's junior forward Nicole Adach (Schenectady, N.Y.) interrupted the run with a lay-up, Bentley answered by scoring the next nine points. Finn had the first five, and junior forward Caleigh Crowell (Harwich/Worcester Academy), playing her first game as a Falcon after missing 38 due to injury, followed with a quick four points.

A three-pointer by Roberson with 5:53 left on the first half clock made it a 24-point bulge and elevated the Falcon shooting percentage to 71 percent.

Bentley would hit only two more baskets the rest of the half and by the time the two teams went into the break, the lead was down to 15 following a 16-7 Purple Knight run.

The Falcons, despite struggling offensively, were still in front by 13 with 14:54 left in the game following a three-ball buried by senior guard Katherine Goodwin (Goffstown, N.H./Manchester Central HS).  The next nine points went up on the St. Michael's side of the scoreboard, and by the time the clock hit 12 minutes, Bentley's lead had shrunk to five, 55-50.

Later in the half, six straight points by the visitors, including four from sophomore forward Alexa Long (Waterford, Conn.), made it a two-point game, 60-58 with 7:23 remaining.

Bentley came alive at that point, using a 15-3 spurt to lock up the win. Battista scored the first five and senior guard Meghan Thomann (Andover/Andover HS) connected on a three from the right wing to restore the lead to double figures, 68-58.

After a St. Michael's three, the Falcons put the game away by scoring the next seven points, including a three-point play on a driving lay-up by Roberson.  St. Michael's, after drawing within two, came up empty on nine of its next ten possessions (1 for 7, 3 turnovers), before Long connected from outside the arc with 68 seconds left, after the lead had hit 14.

Battista shot six of nine from the field, the fifth time in six games she's made at least two-thirds of her shots, and also had six rebounds, two steals and a block. Roberson had a solid performance, making four of six from the field (including two treys) and also delivering five assists.

Long led all scorers, finishing with 20 points, six rebounds and three blocks for St. Michael's (4-4, 1-3 NE-10).

Bentley had the edge in most statistical categories, including field goal percentage (48-43 percent), rebounds (36-32), turnovers (14-18), steals (12-4) and points off turnovers (29-11).

The Falcons play their final home game before January on Saturday, hosting once-beaten Southern New Hampshire at 1:30 pm.