WALTHAM, Mass. – Graduate forward Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) provided Bentley University with 15 points, five assists and two blocks as the Falcons posted their second straight wire-to-wire win, 57-46 over the University of New Haven in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball on Barbara Stevens Court Sunday afternoon.
 
Bentley, number four in the WBCA Division II coaches poll, improved to 13-1 overall, including 5-1 NE10, and moved into a tie for first in the conference after extending its winning streak to nine games. New Haven, following its third straight blemish, dropped to 9-4 overall and 4-3 NE10.
 
A trio from Maine accounted for the first eight points of the game on a turnaround jumper by Whitmore, two free throws and an elbow jumper from senior guard Amanda Kabantu (Portland, Maine/Portland HS) and a reverse lay-up from graduate guard Brooke Obar (North Yarmouth, Maine/Greely HS).
 
After New Haven made their only field goal of the quarter midway through the stanza, the Falcons closed the first with a 9-2 spurt to go up 17-5. Kabantu had six points in the first while New Haven was one-for-nine with seven turnovers.
 
Bentley finished the first half with a 9-3 spurt and took a 31-18 advantage into intermission. Whitmore had 11 by the break and the Falcons had a 15-2 advantage in points off turnovers. Meanwhile, the visitors were held to 22 percent and forced into nine giveaways.
 
With several of Bentley's post players in foul trouble, the Chargers closed the third with a 12-2 spurt over the final five-and-a-half minutes, cutting the Falcon advantage to six points, 39-33.
 
Coach C White's team rallied to start the fourth, with a 10-2 surge pushing the advantage back to double figures, 49-35. That run featured two three-pointers from sophomore guard Niya Morgen (Swampscott/St. Mary's HS), one of Division II's most accurate shooters from downtown.
 
Whitmore was joined in double figures by Kabantu, who finished with 11 points and two blocks. Morgen finished with nine points and six rebounds, and Obar scored eight. Whitmore's five assists was matched by junior guard Cassidy Yeomans (Marion/Tabor Academy).
 
Junior forward Aniya McDonald-Perry (Middletown, Conn.) led New Haven with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
 
Bentley outshot the Chargers 41-27 percent, had a 6-4 advantage on three-pointers and blocked seven shots. New Haven spent more time at the line, attempting 20 and making five more, 14-9.
 
The Falcons will be back at home on Wednesday for a 5:30 pm meeting with St. Michael's College.