MANCHESTER, N.H. – A dominating first 16 minutes and a closing 15-2 run were the difference as Bentley University went wire-to-wire for a 70-55 win over Southern New Hampshire in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Thursday night at the Stan Spirou Field House.
 
It was the eighth straight win for the Falcons, who moved up to number four in this week's WBCA Division II coaches poll. Coach C White's team improved to12-1 overall, including 4-1 NE10, while SNHU dropped to 6-5 overall and 2-3 conference.
 
Senior forward Kylie DuCharme (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington HS) and graduate forward Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) each scored 15 points for Bentley with DuCharme adding 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals.
 
The first 16 minutes were all Bentley as the visitors drained eight from long distance to open a 22-point advantage, 41-19. The lead shriveled to 10 by intermission, 41-31, as the Penmen closed the first half with 12 unanswered points.
 
Bentley, playing for the first time in 12 days, showed no signs of rust from the start as a 10-2 start forced SNHU coach Karen Pinkos to take a timeout 100 seconds into the game. The opening burst included three-balls from graduate guard Brooke Obar (North Yarmouth, Maine/Greely HS) and DuCharme.
 
The Falcons shot 58 percent and buried six of ten three-pointers in the opening quarter, which saw Bentley lead by as many as 17.
 
SNHU was held to three points in the first six minutes of the second, with Bentley building a 41-19 advantage.
 
DuCharme had a big first half with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
 
Southern New Hampshire continued to battle throughout the third and cut the spread to one twice in the opening minutes of the fourth.
 
A put-back basket from junior forward Ciara Norman (Roebling, N.J./Life Center Academy) with 6:29 left in the fourth pushed the Falcon advantage to four and began a run of 13 straight that secured the victory.
 
DuCharme (5 for 6) and Whitmore (6 of 12) were joined in doubles by sophomore guard Niya Morgen (Swampscott, Mass./St. Mary's HS). She came off the bench to hit three of five from distance and finished with 11 points and two steals.
 
Bentley also received nine points apiece from Norman and senior guard Amanda Kabantu (Portland, Maine/Portland HS).
 
Junior forward Meghan Gordon (Attleboro, Mass.) led SNHU with 15 points. She was 7 of 12 from the field while her teammates were limited to 32 percent.
 
Overall, Bentley had the shooting edge, .466-.373, and made 11 of 32 from three-point land. Meanwhile, the Penmen connected on only 4 of 19 from distance.
 
Following five consecutive road wins, Bentley will return to Barbara Stevens Court for a Sunday encounter with New Haven (1:30 pm).