EASTON, Mass. – Senior forward Gabrielle Reuter (Plymouth) led four double-figure scorers with a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double as Stonehill College outscored Bentley University 40-29 in the second half for a 65-55 win in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Wednesday night at Merkert Gymnasium.

Bentley, with its third straight loss, dropped to 15-7 overall and 10-4 in the conference, falling to third place in the Northeast Division. Stonehill took over second place, improving to 11-3 NE10 and 15-5 overall.

Free throws were a large part of the difference as Bentley finished with three more baskets and had a 6-5 advantage In three-pointers. Stonehill went to the line 24 times and made 20, including five in the final 40 seconds after the visitors were forced to foul, and the Falcons were only three of four from the charity stripe.

After leading for almost the entire first half, Bentley up just one at the break after the Skyhawks closed with a 7-0 run, including a top-of-the-key three from senior guard Grace Carter (Arlington).

An early 16-4 run, fueled by the defense, propelled the Falcons to their biggest lead of the opening 20 minutes, 16-7 with 2:33 left in the first quarter. Six different players contributed points with freshman guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./ Center Grove HS) leading the way with five. Graduate forward Megan Lewis (Sevenoaks, England) came up with several key defensive plays, including two blocks and a steal.

Bentley, up 18-11 after one, was limited to only eight points in the second with senior center Monica Viapiano (Holden/Holy Name HS) accounting for all three Falcon field goals in the quarter.

The Falcon scoring drought, which began with about 3:50 left in the second, carried into the third with Bentley scoreless for the first 1:45. By that time, the Stonehill run was 12-0 and the Skyhawks were up 30-26.

Stonehill outscored the Falcons 10-0 from the line in the third and took a 50-44 lead into the fourth.

In the fourth, Bentley was within five a couple times before Stonehill finished the game with an 8-3 burst, a run ignited by a three-point play from sophomore guard Emily Bramanti (Chelmsford).

Viapiano led Bentley with 13 points and six rebounds. Sophomore guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wisc./Appleton North HS) followed with 12 and senior guard Julia Ford (Charlton/Noble and Greenough) added nine points off the bench. Lewis struggled offensively, only scoring five, but amassed six rebounds, four assists, three steals and two rejections.

For Stonehill, Bramanti matched Reuter in the scoring column and sophomore forward Kayla Raymond (Easton) scored 11, despite a 2-for-17 shooting performance.

Neither team shot well with Bentley holding a 34-31 percent advantage. Stonehill had the rebounding edge, 51-42, and came up with 16 offensive, including seven from Reuter.

Bentley will look to bounce back Saturday when it hosts St. Michael's on Alumni Day.