WALTHAM, Mass. – A dominant 26-13 third quarter, fueled largely by the press, created separation and propelled Bentley University, the fourth-ranked team in Division II, to a 69-53 win over Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Wednesday night on Barbara Stevens Court.
 
Sophomore guard Niya Morgen (Swampscott/St. Mary's HS) led the scoring with 16, including 11 without missing a shot in the third, and junior forward Julia Elie (Rockland/Rockland HS), in her first start of the season, added 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting. The Falcons (23-1, 15-1 NE10) also received an 11-point, 16-rebound double-double from senior forward Kylie DuCharme (Wilmington/Wilmongton HS) with her rebound total a career-best.
 
With the win, coach C White's team assured itself of at least a tie for the regular season conference title. The Falcons' first opportunity to wrap up the NE10 title outright will come on Saturday at Saint Anselm.
 
It was a closely contested opening half, which ended at 29-25 Bentley, despite the Falcons having the lead for 96 percent of the time. The biggest differential came at 22-15 following a 7-0 run by the home team. DuCharme converted a three-point play, senior guard Amanda Kabantu (Portland, Maine/Portland HS) made two free throws and junior guard Cassidy Yeomans (Marion/Tabor Academy) drained a second-chance three-pointer.
 
The third quarter saw Bentley make 10 of 14 shots, including three of four from downtown, and turn a half-dozen Raven turnovers into nine points. Elie, DuCharme and Morgen each had a steal in the stanza.
 
After Franklin Pierce scored the opening basket of the third to make it a two-point game, Bentley embarked on a 11-2 spurt to take a 40-29 advantage. Morgen scored five, Elie had two inside baskets and DuCharme scored on a put-back.
 
It was 55-38 after three following a trio of Bentley three-pointers in the final three minutes. Yeomans hit one and Morgen, the NCAA Division II leader in three-point accuracy, sank a pair from distance.
 
Bentley remained comfortably in front throughout the fourth with the lead ranging from 13 to 20 points.
 
In addition to the three in doubles, Yeomans added nine, all via the three-ball, and Kabantu finished with six.
 
Six-four graduate student Colette Mulderig (Scranton, Pa.) led Franklin Pierce (8-15, 5-12 NE10) with 19 points, including eight in the fourth, and seven rebounds.
 
Bentley had the advantage in field goal percentage (.436-.391), three-pointers (8-6), rebounds (32-23), assists (19-14), turnovers (12-15), points off turns (18-6) and paint points (30-14).