WALTHAM, Mass. – Junior forward Caleigh Crowell (Harwich/Worcester Academy) scored 14 points and four teammates joined her in double figures as the Bentley University women's basketball team remained in a tie for first place in the Northeast-10 Conference with a 68-51 win over Merrimack College Tuesday night at the Dana Center.

The NE-10 co-leaders, ranked ninth in Division II this week, rebounded from Saturday's loss to Southern Connecticut to improve to 18-3 overall and 14-2 conference.

Bentley, after falling behind 14-8 as the visiting Warriors had the hot hand early (6-for-6 to start), did most of its damage during three major runs.  A 21-2 spurt midway through the first made it 29-16, 11 unanswered surrounding halftime extended the lead to 42-26 with 18:27 left, and the Falcons locked up the victory by outscoring Merrimack 11-4 over the final 6:20.

Three-pointers were integral during the 21-2 explosion that erased the early Merrimack advantage and put Bentley in front to stay. Crowell hit two, and the Falcons also received one apiece from junior guard Courtney Finn (Winthrop/Winthrop HS), senior guard Katherine Goodwin (Goffstown, N.H./Governors Academy) and junior guard Kelsey Roberson (Arlington/Arlington Catholic HS).

After Merrimack (3-17, 2-14 NE-10) pulled to within five, Goodwin scored the final four points before intermission to send the Falcons into the break up nine, 35-26. The surge continued when play resumed with a lay-up by sophomore forward Lauren Battista (North Easton/Oliver Ames HS), a Goodwin three-ball and a Crowell 15-footer quickly putting the Falcons up 16.

The Warriors showed signs of getting back into the contest a couple times the rest of the way, but each time, the Falcons were able to regain control.  Following five straight by Merrimack midway through the second, two free throws by Finn and two baskets by Battista stretched an eight-point lead to 14, 55-41.

The visitors got it down to 10 with 6:22 left, but once again Bentley had an answer.  Consecutive lay-ups from Crowell and Roberson again made it a 14-point game and the Falcon lead eventually peaked at 17 with a couple minutes left.

Crowell was six-of-ten with two three-pointers, and also had five rebounds and three assists. Battista and Finn followed with 13 points apiece, Goodwin netted a dozen and Roberson added 10 off the bench.

Sophomore guard Christiana Bakolas (Manchester, N.H./Central HS) only scored two, but she helped out in other ways, including four steals and a career-best seven rebounds.

Senior guard Gennifer Roy (Granby) led Merrimack with 15 points and six rebounds.

Bentley had a slight edge in field goal percentage (43-42 percent) and its six three-pointers doubled Merrimack's total. The Falcons also had a huge advantage at the foul line, making 16 of 18 as compared to the visitor's 2 of 6.

Bentley is back in action Saturday with a 1:30 home game against Saint Anselm.