WALTHAM, Mass. – Freshman post Ciara Norman (Roebling, N.J./Life Center Academy) came off the bench to contribute 16 points and nine rebounds, both career-bests, and three teammates also scored in doubles as Bentley University took down Assumption University in convincing fashion, 76-48, in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball on Barbara Stevens Court Wednesday night.

Bentley, with its fifth straight win and fourth consecutive by at least 20 points, moved from a three-way tie for first in the conference to a two-way tie after improving to 8-1 NE10 and 11-4 overall. Assumption, which had not allowed more than 59 points in regulation all season, dropped to 7-2 NE10 and 13-2 overall. The Hounds came into the contest ranked 18^th in this week's WBCA Division II coaches poll.

Following a couple early lead changes, Bentley put together a 15-4 run to take a 19-10 lead with two minutes remaining in the opening quarter. Norman got it started with a three-point play and graduate guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North HS) scored the final five.

After the visitors closed to within two at 24-22, Bentley finished the half with a 15-5 spurt to take a 39-27 lead into the break. The charge was bookended by three-pointers from junior forward Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) and included two more inside baskets by Norman.

Forcing turnovers played a big key in Bentley's first-half success as the Falcons forced 16. As a result, they had a dozen more field goal attempts as well as three more free throws. That more than offset their 36 percent first-half shooting and being outrebounded.

It was an 18-6 Falcon run over the final seven minutes of the third, which ended with Bentley owning a commanding 21-point advantage, 60-39. Senior guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) was responsible for eight during that span with a pair of three-balls and a driving lay-up.

Bentley continued to build on the lead in the fourth with the differential peaking at 30 when sophomore forward Kylie DuCharme (Wilmington/Wilmington HS) drained a three with just over a minute to play.

Norman, in 19:19 off the bench, made five of nine shots and all six of her free throws to record her highest scoring performance as a collegian. In addition to coming within one rebound of a double-double, she also made recorded four of Bentley's dozen steals.

Norman was followed in the scoring column by Whitmore with 14, Brekke with 13 and DuCharme with ten, matching her career-high. Whitmore also amassed five rebounds, five assists and four steals, and DuCharme had eight rebounds in her 15 minutes of playing time.

The only Assumption player to reach doubles in points graduate guard Ja'Lyn Armstrong (Baltimore, Md.) with 11 points.

Bentley limited the Hounds to 28 percent shooting in the second half and for the game, outshot the visitors 39-34 percent. Coach C White's team took very good care of the ball with only seven turns while forcing three times as many.

The next game will be Saturday afternoon at St. Michael's College.