GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – The Bentley University women's basketball team avenged its only loss of the season and posted its sixth wire-to-wire victory this month, 72-45 against Adelphi University Tuesday night in the Northeast-10 Conference action at the Center for Recreation and Sport.
 
It was the 15^th straight win for the nation's fourth-ranked Division II program. Bentley improved to 19-1 overall and 11-1 in the NE10, with the Falcons maintaining a two-and-a-half game lead at the top of the conference standings. Adelphi dropped to 9-11 overall and 5-8 NE10.
 
Four Falcons scored in doubles with graduate forward Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) at the top of the list with 13 points and seven rebounds. Seniors Kylie DuCharme (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington HS) and Amanda Kabantu (Portland, Maine/Portland HS) each scored a dozen with DuCharme adding nine rebounds, and junior forward Ciara Norman (Roebling, N.J./Life Center Academy) had an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double off the bench.
 
The first half was all Bentley with the Falcons shooting 62 percent and dominating the boards, 25-6, to open a commanding 44-19 lead. Seven players had multiple baskets with Whitmore leading the way with ten points.
 
Coach C White's team jumped out to an 11-2 lead and scored the final eight points of the opening quarter to make it a 23-9 game. The Falcons made ten of 15 shots in the first with Whitmore at the top of the list with eight.
 
Bentley opened the second with three consecutive long balls to boost the advantage to 23, 32-9. Junior guard Cassidy Yeomans (Marion, Mass./Tabor Academy) connected from the left wing, sophomore guard Niya Morgen (Swampscott, Mass./St. Mary's HS) hit from the left corner and Kabantu made one from the right corner.  
 
Later in the second, another 9-0 burst produced the biggest advantage of the half, 41-14. The Falcons were wide open on the first three baskets with lay-ups from Whitmore and Norman followed by a three-ball from graduate captain Brooke Obar (North Yarmouth, Maine/Greely HS).
 
Bentley remained comfortably in front throughout the second half with the Falcon advantage ranging from 20 to 30 points.
 
As expected, the Falcons had significant advantages in most of the team statistics. Field goal percentage was 53-34 percent, three-pointers were 10-5, rebounds finished at 46-18, and assists were 18-11.
 
Bentley is also on the road Saturday for a 1:30 pm contest at New Haven.