WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior forward Krista Ferrentino (East Longmeadow) put up an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double and junior guard Brianna Bishop (Suffield, Conn.) matched her in the scoring column as American International College registered a 65-53 win over Bentley University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Saturday afternoon at the Dana Center.

Bentley was led by sophomore forward Jen Gemma (Milton/Fontbonne Academy), who finished with 19 points and nine rebounds.

The Falcons went into the break down five following an opening half in which it shot just 29 percent and gave up 14 second-chance points, as well as seven off turns. A fast-break lay-up by Gemma produced an 11-9 lead with 8:40 remaining but AIC countered with a 9-2 run to grab its first five-point lead of the afternoon, 18-13.

Scoring droughts plagued the Falcons throughout the first 20 minutes with Bentley going without a field goal for nine minutes at one stretch and the final 2:25.

AIC also struggled putting the ball in the basket during the opening half, but found the touch to start the second. The Yellow Jackets (9-9, 4-6 NE-10) made six of their first seven when play resumed, mostly on mid-range jumpers. That resulted in a 12-2 run that opening a 38-23 lead with 15:43 to play, and the differential remained in double figures the rest of the way.

Ferrentino, who also had two steals and two assists, and Bishop combined to make 15 of 26 shots while their teammates were only 12 of 42 overall. Ferrentino made 7 of 12 while Bishop connected on 8 of 14, including a couple threes.

Gemma also had a strong shooting game, hitting 7 of 11 overall. Senior guard Kelsey Mattice (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero North Syracuse HS) followed with ten and freshman guard Lauren Green (Damascus, Md./Damascus HS) helped with nine points as the trio accounted for 38 of the Falcons' 53 points.

Both teams shot just a shade under 40 percent but AIC finished with 17 more attempts from the field due to 18 offensive rebounds and nine fewer turnovers (the Falcons lost the ball 19 points). Points off turns favored the visitors, 16-4, and second chance points were 16-6 Yellow Jackets.

Bentley, 7-10 overall and 2-9 NE-10 after dropping its fifth straight contest, will host New Haven Wednesday at 5:30 pm.