RINDGE, N.H. – The trio of senior guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS), junior forward Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) and freshman post Ciara Norman (Roebling, N.J./Life Center Academy) combined for 51 points on 67 percent shooting as Bentley University pulled away in the second half for a 70-43 win over Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Saturday afternoon at the FPU Field House.

Thompson finished with five three-pointers and a season-high 19 points, Whitmore followed with 17 and Norman netted 15 in her first career start.

Bentley, with its fourth win in five games, improved to 16-9 overall and 13-6 NE10 with one regular season contest left. Franklin Pierce fell to 8-18 overall (4-15 conference) after being held to 14 second-half points.

Thompson had a big first half for the Falcons as she drained four of five from outside the arc and went into the break with 16 points.

Her team took the lead with a 13-2 first quarter burst that put the visiting Falcons up eight, 16-8. The Falcons and Ravens essentially traded baskets over the final 13 minutes of the half, which ended with Bentley up seven, 36-27.

The Falcons had a shooting advantage of 59-42 percent but Franklin Pierce offset that with 10 second-chance points.

Bentley opened the game up by outscoring the home team 19-9 in the third and limited the Ravens to only five points and 14 percent shooting in the fourth. Whitmore singlehandedly outscored Franklin Pierce in the final stanza, 7-5.

Thompson, who has 31 points and nine three-pointers in 12 attempts in her last three halves, shot six of nine overall and five of seven from downtown. Whitmore was also six of nine and she added five rebounds. Norman made four of six from the flooe and seven of eight from the charity stripe.

Bentley also received seven points and a career-best seven rebounds from freshman guard Cassidy Yeomans (Marion, Mass./Tabor Academy).

For Franklin Pierce, freshman Kenzie Sirowich (Seymour, Conn.) scored 15 points while playing all 40 minutes.

Bentley shot 52 percent overall, made seven of 15 from deep and buried 15 of 16 free throws while owning the boards, 34-20 overall and 21-9 after intermission.

Franklin Pierce became the 11^th team this season to score less than 50 against the Falcon defense. The Ravens were limited to 35 percent shooting, including just 4 of 17 from outside the arc.

Bentley will close out the regular season Tuesday with a 5:30 pm home game against American International.