WALTHAM, Mass. – The Northeast-10 Conference announced its preseason coaches poll for women's basketball Wednesday with the Bentley University Falcons holding down the number four spot in the Northeast Division.

Coach Barbara Stevens' team, coming off an 11-16 campaign, received one first-place vote and a total of 72 points, finishing just two back of number three Assumption College. Stonehill College (8 firsts) nosed out Franklin Pierce (6 firsts) for the top spot, 95-94.

The Falcons return ten players from last year's squad, a group headed by junior forward and 2015 NE-10 scoring leader Jen Gemma (Milton/Fontbonne Academy). She scored 19.5 points a game and was the first Stevens-coached Bentley player to average a double-double.

The returnees also include sophomore guards Lauren Green (Damascus, Md./Damascus HS) and Macchi Smith (Los Angeles, Calif./Windward School). Green averaged 11 points while starting every game, and Smith was producing 10.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest when a knee injury ended her season in mid-December.

Bentley's roster has been bolstered by the addition of three freshmen: six-foot-one Victoria Lux (Arundel, Maine/Thornton Academy) and guards Megan Lewis (Sevenoaks, England) and Amy McConnell (South Windsor, Conn./South Windsor HS). Lux is the sister of former Falcon forward Vanessa Lux (2004-08).

In the Southwest Division, the voting was topped by defending champion Adelphi University. The Panthers received 11 of 15 first-place votes and a total of 86 points, 19 more than second-place American International.

Bentley opens its season with three straight on the road, beginning Nov. 14 at Holy Family. The Falcons will also play at Philadelphia and Merrimack before hosting Franklin Pierce in the Nov. 21 home opener.

Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Women's Basketball Poll

Northeast Division

Southwest Division