RINDGE, N.H. (2/7/26) – The Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team played a competitive first half but ultimately fell to a red-hot Bentley squad, 73–48, in Northeast 10 action Saturday afternoon inside The Fieldhouse.

Score: Bentley 73, Franklin Pierce 48
Records: Franklin Pierce 2–20 (1–12 NE10), Bentley 16–3 (12–1 NE10)
Location: The Fieldhouse (Rindge, N.H.)
Date: February 7, 2026

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Franklin Pierce opened the game with energy on the defensive end, holding Bentley to just 13 first-quarter points and keeping the margin within one possession after 10 minutes (13–10).
• The Ravens knocked down a pair of threes in the opening frame and battled on the boards behind Laia Llorente (Madrid, Spain), who tallied two early rebounds and a three-pointer.
• Bentley used a surge midway through the second quarter to stretch its advantage to 36–28 at halftime. Franklin Pierce shot 46.2% in the period and connected on three three-pointers, including makes from Liv Murray (Salem, N.H.) and Emily Mennillo (Orange, Conn.). But the Falcons capitalized on nine second-chance points and 12 points in the paint before the break. 
• The game shifted decisively in the third quarter, where Bentley exploded for 30 points on 64.7% shooting from the floor—including 4-for-10 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Franklin Pierce was held to 5-for-15 shooting in the period as the Falcons extended the lead to 66–39 entering the fourth. 
• The Ravens continued to compete down the stretch, highlighted by baskets from Murray, Mennillo, and Llorente, but Bentley maintained control to close out the 73–48 final.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS

• Emily Mennillo led FPU with 8 points, adding 6 assists and 3 steals.
• Franklin Pierce forced 9 turnovers in the first half and limited Bentley to just 7 fourth-quarter points.

UP NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: The Franklin Pierce women's basketball team takes to the road for a mid-week matchup at Saint Michael's, Tuesday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. in Colchester, Vermont.