WALTHAM, Mass. – A little more than eight months after the two longtime rivals met in the 2018 Northeast-10 Conference Women's Basketball Championship game, the Bentley University Falcons and the Stonehill College Skyhawks will stage an early season meeting Wednesday night when they open the conference schedule against each other at Stonehill's Merkert Gym.

Tip-off is at 5:30 pm with a free webcast available on www.NE10NOW.tv.

Last March, Bentley overcame a 14-point third-quarter deficit to best the Skyhawks in overtime, 73-72, and earn their record 20th conference tournament title. Coach Barbara Stevens' squad closed regulation with seven unanswered points and received a game-winning three from Macchi Smith with 3.8 seconds left in the extra period.

Eight of the 11 players who played at least 20 minutes in that game are no longer with their respective teams but the expectations remain high for both. Each is ranked nationally preseason, Bentley was tabbed as the NE10's Northeast Division favorite and Stonehill was picked third in the NE10 preseason.

Bentley, in the midst of four straight games away from Waltham to start the season, will take a 2-0 record down to Stonehill. The Falcons averaged 95.5 points during the Merrimack Conference Challenge while defeating Concordia (N.Y.) by 38 points and Georgian Court by 34.

Senior center Victoria Lux (Arundel, Maine/Thornton Academy) has been the team's top scorer with 32 points in only 30 minutes. Sophomore guard Katie Meriggioli (Waunakee, Wis./Edgewood HS)  has knocked down five of eight from three-point land and will take averages of 14 points, eight rebounds and two steals into Wednesday's game.

Also averaging in doubles early on are senior guard Megan Lewis (Sevenoaks, England) and junior forward Monica Viapiano (Holden/Wachusett Reg. HS), at 11.5 and 10.0, respectively. Each is shooting at least 56 percent from the floor.

Bentley is making 11.5 three-pointers a game, has outrebounded their first two opponents by an average of 21.5 a game, and has outscored the opponents 54-13 at the free throw stripe.

Stonehill will bring a 2-0 record into its home opener after victories over Wilmington, 92-39, and Holy Family, 63-44. The Skyhawks limited their first two opponents to a .268 field goal percentage and like Bentley, dominated the boards with a +24.5 rebound margin.

Junior guard Grace Carter, the team's top returning scorer at 6.4 a game, netted 20 points against Wilmington but has missed Stonehill's last five quarters. Forward Kayla Raymond, one of two freshman starters for coach Trisha Brown, is off to a solid start to her collegiate career, averaging 18.5 points while making 15 of 24 shot attempts.

Before making its Dana Center debut next Tuesday against Assumption, Bentley will also make a weekend trip to Queens College.