WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior guard Julia Ford (Charlton/Noble and Greenough School) and six-foot graduate student Megan Lewis (Sevenoaks, England) will serve as captains of the 2019-20 Bentley University women's basketball team, head coach Barbara Stevens announced.

"Julia and Megan are outstanding leaders in their own right and combined, have set the bar very high for their teammates," said Stevens, the fourth winningest coach in NCAA women's basketball history. "They are highly respected by all due to their experience and their commanding presence on and off the court.  Our coaching staff feels very confident in the leadership they will provide this season."

Ford was a significant contributor off the bench for the 2018-19 Falcons, leading the team's non-starters in minutes and ranking fifth overall.  She averaged 5.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists while playing 21.4 minutes a game. About half of her scoring came from three-point land where she connected at a 43.5 percent success rate, making 27 of 62.

"The vocal leader of the team at guard, Julia has set a great tone for the team with her effort, energy and communication," praised Stevens. "She demands the best of herself and her teammates, and they are responding!"

Ford worked with the USA Women's Basketball Team during the summer of 2016 and with the USA U16 team this past summer.

Lewis, a team captain for the second straight season, enters this year with career totals that include 759 points, 422 rebounds, 208 assists and 108 steals. She has averaged 12 points and 5.5 rebounds in 17 career postseason games, with 13 of those wins for the Falcons.

Last year, Lewis saw action in 22 games, including 18 as a starter, and provided 9.9 points, five rebounds and 2.5 assists a game. Despite missing nine games due to injury midseason, she was recognized with honorable mention All-Northeast-10 honors.

"A fifth-year grad student whose understanding of our system is second to none, Megan is a coach on the floor, assisting her teammates with execution at both ends of the floor," said Stevens.

Bentley opens its season this weekend with the Northeast-10/CACC Challenge at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. The Falcons, coming off back-to-back 28-4 seasons, will face USciences Friday at 7 pm and Goldey-Beacom Saturday at noon.