WALTHAM, Mass. – Second-half runs of 10-2 and 11-0 propelled Bentley University to a 63-52 quarterfinal win over Franklin Pierce University and a record 36^th trip to the Northeast-10 Conference semifinals in women's college basketball Monday night at the Dana Center.

The Falcons, who improved to 16-8 overall, were led by sophomore guard Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS), who had a career-game. She established new highs in both points (16) and rebounds (12) with her first career double-double.

There were five ties in the first half, including 18-all after the opening quarter and 31-all at intermission. The latter resulted from Bentley closing with seven unanswered points, including from senior guard Kolleen Bouchard (Houlton, Maine/Houlton HS).

After the sixth-seeded Ravens (12-15) scored the opening bucket of the third, Bentley took the lead for good on a 10-2 run that included four points apiece from Whitmore and graduate guard Autumn Ceppi (Bedford/Dana Hall School).

Franklin Pierce scored the first basket of the fourth to get within four, 50-46, but Bentley didn't give up another point for the next six minutes. By then, Bentley was riding an 11-0 run and had a 15-point lead, 61-46. Six of those were scored by Whitmore with a free throw, a lay-up and a three-pointer.

Bentley did not shoot well (only 35 percent) but dominated the boards, 47-30 overall and 16-2 at the offensive end. That produced a 17-4 advantage in second chance points. The Falcons also outscored FPU 12-2 from the foul stripe.

Whitmore, 7 of 13 overall, was followed in the scoring column by senior guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North HS) with 12 points, along with seven rebounds.

Ceppi provided 11 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two blocks, and freshman guard Amanda Kabantu (Portland, Maine/Portland HS) had an 11-point, five-rebound game. Seven of Ceppi's rebounds came at the offensive end.

Senior forward Emma Carter (Bristol, Vt.) led Franklin Pierce with 14 points and eight rebounds.

The win earned the second-seeded Falcons a trip to Syracuse, N.Y. for a Thursday night game against Le Moyne College, the NE10's Southwest Division champion. The Dolphins prevailed in the regular season meeting, 53-50, in Waltham.