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Macchi Smith
Macchi Smith

No. 11 Bentley Hosts LIU Post Sunday, Looking for 5th Straight Win

WALTHAM, Mass. – Riding a four-game winning streak, the Bentley University women's basketball team will launch a four-game homestand Sunday afternoon with the Falcons hosting LIU Post at 1:30 pm (www.bentleyfalcons.tv).

The 9-2 Falcons, who are ranked 11th in this week's WBCA Division II coaches poll and 19th in the D2SIDA media poll after a 56-49 win at Stonehill last Saturday, will also face Molloy College (New Year's Eve afternoon), Holy Family University (New Year's Day) and the University of New Haven (Jan. 7) during the string of games at the Dana Center.

During the current streak, Bentley's second longest of the season, coach Barbara Stevens' club has limited the opposition to 55 points a game, a .369 field goal percentage and 23 percent accuracy from three.

Senior All-America forward Jen Gemma (Milton/Fontbonne Academy), the fourth most productive scorer and rebound in the program's distinguished history, has scored at least 20 three times during the current streak, including 26 against St. Michael's and 25 in the Stonehill game.

The reigning NE-10 Player of the Year has made 21 of 36 shots in the last two games while elevating her scoring average to 18.1 and her career point total to 1,757.

Bentley's other double-figure scorers are junior guards Lauren Green (Damascus, Md./ Damascus HS) and Macchi Smith (Los Angeles, Calif./Windward School). Green produces 12.7 points per game and Smith provides 10.5 while leading the Falcons in defensive rebounds (47), free throw percentage (.923), assists (39) and steals (20).

LIU Post will come into Sunday's contest with a 5-5 record. The Pioneers, who'll be playing just their second road game of the season, halted a two-game slide on Wednesday with a 78-64 win at Mercy College.

Deirdre Moore's team has a different look this season with the top four scorers all in their first season playing for the Pioneers. Freshman forward Mikalya Moore is coming off a 23-point effort against Mercy that raised her team-leading average to 15.3. She also contributes nearly seven rebounds a game and is the team's top shot blocker (15).

Senior guard Kylie Garrett follows at 10 points a game, sophomore forward Sasha Patterson provides 7.5 points and 7.9 rebounds on average, and senior guard Kristen Olsen owns a 7.4 scoring average.

Rebounding is a strength for LIU Post as the Pioneers average 20 offensive boards a game and have a plus 7.7 margin for the season.