SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior center Monica Viapiano (Holden/Holy Name HS) scored a career-high 29 points, on 11-for-18 shooting, in only 23:53 to power Bentley University to a 75-47 win over American International College in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Saturday afternoon at Butova Gym.

Bentley, ranked 20th in the latest D2SIDA media poll, improved to 15 overall and 10-1 conference while maintaining a one-game lead over Saint Anselm College in the Northeast Division. It was the Falcons' 11th win in the last 12 games and the sixth time this season, including third straight, that coach Barbara Stevens' squad has maintained the lead from the opening basket.

It was a dominating performance for Viapiano, who scored the game's first four points and had nine before the first-quarter clock reached six minutes. She singlehandedly outscored the Yellow Jackets in the opening stanza and finished the first half with 21 points, matching AIC's total as a team.

During the current three-game Bentley winning streak, Viapiano has scored 61 points in as many minutes.

Viapiano's fast start, along with seven points from sophomore guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wisc./Appleton North HS), gave Bentley a 20-9 lead after the first quarter. AIC misfired on 15 of its first 17 shots and finished the first just four of 20 from the field.

Bentley opened the second quarter with a 15-3 run and had a commanding 35-12 lead with 4:40 left. Six of Viapiano's points came during that surge and sophomore guard Hartlee Meier (Southington, Conn./Marianapolis HS) also contributed with a pair of three-pointers.

AIC, down 41-21 at the half and 54-36 after three, scored the first five points of the fourth to make it a 15-point difference, the closest the game had been since the eight minute mark of the second.

Two free throws and a 17-foot jumper by Viapiano quieted the Yellow Jackets and ignited a game-ending 19-6 run. The Falcon advantage peaked at 31, 75-44, when senior guard Julia Ford (Charlton/Noble and Greenough) knocked down a pair of free throws.

Brekke was the only other Falcon to score in doubles as she finished with 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting, five assists, three steals and a team-best plus-28. Meier scored nine points, establishing a new career-high for the second straight game, and both Ford and graduate forward Megan Lewis (Sevenoaks, England) scored seven points.

AIC (6-14, 3-8 NE10) was led by senior guard Rashana Siders (Waterbury, Conn.) with 14 points.

Bentley outshot the home team, 54-28 percent, with AIC's .284 the second lowest by a Falcon opponent this season. The Falcons also had the advantage in rebounds (40-34) and free throws (12-3). AIC forced 22 turnovers and finished with 15 steals. Despite that, points off turnovers favored Bentley, 32-14.

The Falcons will also be on the road Tuesday when they'll take on Le Moyne College in a rematch of the 2019 Northeast-10 Championship game.