WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior center Monica Viapiano (Holden/Holy Name HS) scored 21 points in about 21 minutes and freshman guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) added 14 off the bench as Bentley University cruised to a 75-52 Senior Day win over Franklin Pierce in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball on Barbara Stevens Court Saturday afternoon.

Bentley, with its fourth straight victory, moved to within one win of the program's 34th 20-win season in the last 37 years, improving to 19-7 overall and 14-4 NE10. Franklin Pierce dropped to 10-15 overall and 4-14 conference.

The Falcons, who led from the game's opening basket for the seventh time this season, dominated the first quarter, jumping out to a 28-5 before the Ravens scored the final three points. Bentley shot a blistering 65 percent in the stanza and limited the visitors to only three field goals in 17 attempts.

Senior forward Maddy Springfield (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant HS) scored the first four points, Viapiano had five of the next seven as the lead grew to 11-2 and Thompson fueled a 17-0 explosion with eight points, including a pair of three-pointers.

Bentley continued to pull away during the first five minutes of the second with a 12-5 run pushing the lead to 27, 40-13. That flurry included four apiece from Viapiano and Thompson.

The lead hit 28, 70-42, midway through the fourth following a 14-4 run that included four points apiece from Viapiano and graduate forward Megan Lewis (Sevenoaks, England).

Viapiano, now 22 points away from 1,000, made nine of 14 shots and also provided nine rebounds, two steals and a block. Thompson's afternoon included five of seven shooting with three triples, along with three assists.

Coach Barbara Stevens, who earned her 1,058th career win, also received 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Sophomore Kolleen Bouchard (Houlton, Maine/Houlton HS) was next on the scoring list as she finished with seven off the bench without missing a shot.

Sophomore forward Emma Carter (Bristol, Vt.) led Franklin Pierce with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Bentley outshot Franklin Pierce 51-31 percent, made eight more free throws (18-10) and forced 23 turnovers, which were converted into 28 points.

Second place in the NE10 Northeast Division will be up for grabs Tuesday when Bentley finishes the regular season at Saint Anselm. The winner will host a quarterfinal game next Sunday and the loser will have to travel to the Southwest Division's number two seed.