WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Despite 17 points and nine rebounds from senior center Monica Viapiano (Holden, Mass./Holy Name HS), the Bentley University women's basketball team saw its winning streak halted at eight as the University of New Haven Chargers prevailed, 53-40, in Northeast-10 Conference action at the Charger Gym Tuesday afternoon.

Bentley, ranked 19th in this week's D2SIDA media poll and 24th in the WBCA Division II coaches poll, struggled offensively all afternoon and dropped to 12-4 overall with its first loss in eight NE10 contests. New Haven, the stingiest team in the NE10, improved to 12-3 overall and 6-2 conference.

Coming off a school record shooting performance Saturday against Southern Connecticut State, Bentley could never get untracked in the first half and trailed the Chargers 16-5 after the opening quarter. The Falcons scored on only two of 16 possessions and shot just one of eight, all from beyond the three-point line.

It was 23-15 New Haven at the half with Viapiano accounting for four of Bentley's five first-half field goals. She was four of five from the floor and the rest of the Falcons were a combined one of 16.

Bentley came alive in the third and twice Viapiano gave her team a one-point lead. The first came at 26-25 following an 11-0 run that included threes from Viapiano, junior guard Katie Meriggioli (Waunakee, Wisc./Edgewood HS)  and graduate forward Megan Lewis (Sevenoaks, England), along with a Viapiano lay-up.

A foul line jumper by Viapiano with 4:13 to play in the third put Bentley in front for the final time, 30-29.

The rest of the contest belonged to the home team with New Haven connecting six times from deep during a 22-5 run that made it a 16-point game with 2:20 to play, 51-35. Sophomore guard Luzdali Ocasio (Davenport, Fla.) led the surge with three triples and 11 points.

Viapiano shot seven of nine overall and made two her three-point attempts. Next on the scoring list for Bentley were Meriggioli, Lewis and sophomore guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wisc./Appleton North HS), all with five points.

Senior forward Micah Womack (Cumberland, Md.) led New Haven with 16 points and Ocasio followed with 11.

New Haven outshot the Falcons 40-29 percent and both teams sank seven three-pointers, Bentley in 29 attempts and the Chargers a dozen fewer. New Haven had the rebound edge, 34-29, and a 23-12 advantage in points off turnovers.

Bentley will look to bounce back with a 3:30 pm game at Pace University on Saturday.