MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior center Monica Viapiano (Holden, Mass./Holy Name HS) scored 16 of her game-high 22 points in the first half and graduate forward Megan Lewis (Sevenoaks, England) had 10 fourth-quarter points as Bentley University defeated Southern New Hampshire University, 76-67, in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Saturday afternoon at Stan Spirou Field House.

Bentley, which never trailed in a game that was tied only once, improved to 17-7 overall (12-4 NE10) and moved into a second-place tie in the conference's Northeast Division after completing the season series sweep of the Penmen. SNHU dropped to 14-11 overall and 7-10 conference.

After Viapiano scored the game's first basket 13 seconds after the opening jump, Bentley held the lead for all but 27 seconds late in the third. Two free throws by Penmen sophomore guard Jenna Roche (Braintree, Mass.) with 36 seconds created the game's only tie at 53-all and capped a 24-10 SNHU comeback from 14 points down.

Bentley regained the advantage with two free throws from freshman guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) with nine seconds left in the third and reclaimed control with a 14-5 run over the opening four-and-a-half minutes of the final stanza.

Lewis opened the fourth quarter scoring with a top-of-the-key three and also scored on a driving lay-up and two free throws as Bentley went back up 11 at 69-58.

The Penmen drew as close as seven before Thompson knocked down two of four free throws in the final 80 seconds.

Viapiano had the hot hand early, all from inside, as she scored eight points in the first 3:30 and finished the opening quarter with 10, good for a 19-13 Falcon lead.

After SNHU scored the first five of the second to make it a one-point game, Viapiano added six points to her total during an 8-0 Falcon run that made it 27-18 with 2:41 left until the break.

Bentley had another 8-0 run early in third, this one included two more inside baskets from the six-footer. That resulted in Bentley's biggest advantage of the night, 43-29 with 6:39 left in the third.

SNHU, after being limited to 29 points in the first 23:30, put 24 on the scoreboard over the next 5:40 to draw even. During that span, the Penmen made 10 of their 12 field goal attempts.

Viapiano, after missing the Falcons' last game, returned to made 9 of 17 shots and also contributed a game-high eight rebounds and a pair of steals.

Lewis scored 14 points on five-of-seven shooting and also finished with five rebounds, two assists and a steal. Thompson followed with 13 points and six rebounds, and sophomore guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wisc./Appleton North HS) drained three of four three-pointers for nine points.

Senior forward Victoria Dean (Plymouth, Mass.) led Southern New Hampshire with 15 of her 18 points coming before intermission.

Most of the team stats favored Bentley, including field goal percentage (46-40 percent), three-pointers (7-6), free throws (15-11), rebounds (41-31), assists (14-8) and steals (6-3).

Bentley will play the final two home games of the regular season this week, Wednesday against Assumption and Saturday versus Franklin Pierce.