WALTHAM, Mass. – Graduate forward Autumn Ceppi (Bedford/Dana Hall School) scored 23 points for the Bentley University women's basketball team, but it wasn't enough as the Falcons fell to Southern New Hampshire University, 81-69, in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Saturday afternoon at the Dana Center.

The outcome left the two teams deadlocked at the top of the NE10 Northeast Division standings, although if they remain even, SNHU would control the tiebreaker by virtue of sweeping the two-game season series. Both are 11-4 in conference with Bentley 13-6 overall and the Penmen 17-5.

Southern New Hampshire, which never trailed in the victory, was powered by graduate forward Meg Knollmeyer (Hampton, N.H.), whose 20 points were matched by teammate and graduate guard Karlee Ziliak (Evansville, Ind.). Knollmeyer also collected 18 rebounds, made three steals, blocked two shots and delivered two assists.

After two early ties, Ziliak buried a three from the left corner with 7:39 to play in the opening quarter and her team never gave up the advantage the rest of the way.

SNHU was in front 20-16 after one, 35-30 at the half and 58-47 through three. In the fourth, a three from junior guard Adriana Timberlake (Braintree, Mass.) finished a run of seven unanswered and extended the differential to 16, 67-51.

Bentley countered with a similar run and were within nine with 3:48 to play. The Penmen came back with three straight baskets and it was a 15-point advantage with 2:03 on the clock.

Ceppi, who scored 15 of her 23 in the second half, made 11 of 19 shots and also had eight rebounds, two steals and a block.

Bentley also received 14 points from junior guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) and a dozen from senior guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North HS). Brekke scored all her points from beyond the arc, and Thompson also had seven assists and five rebounds.

Knollmeyer made nine of her 11 shots from the field while coming within two boards of a 20-20.

SNHU outshot Bentley 47-38 percent and won the battle of the boards by 11, 46-35. The Penmen also had a 12-point advantage at the foul line as they were 21 of 24 and the Falcons just 9 of 17.

Bentley will wrap up a three-game homestand Monday at 5:30 pm against New Haven.