WALTHAM, Mass. – After moving up to a tie for 16 in this week's WBCA Division II coaches poll, the Bentley University women's basketball team will look to continue its strong start this weekend when it competes in the Valdosta State University Thanksgiving Classic.

The Falcons, who headed to Georgia with a 3-0 record, will take on Eckerd College Friday at 2 pm and the host Blazers Saturday at noon. Eckerd won its only game to date while Valdosta  is 2-1 with a number 23 ranking. Both games can be viewed at https://vsu-football.flywheelsites.com/.

Bentley, coming off a 62-51 win over Stonehill College in a game the preseason nationally-ranked Skyhawks were limited to a .292 field goal percentage, has contained the first three opponents of the C White era. They've allowed only 47.3 points per game with the opponents shooting only .326 overall and .200 from downtown.

Senior guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North HS) sits atop the Bentley scoring list despite being limited to six points at Stonehill Tuesday. She averages 16 points, has made 70 percent of her shot attempts and only has two turnovers in 88 minutes.

Bucknell graduate Autumn Ceppi (Bedford/Dana Hall School) follows at 13 points with a .548 field goal percentage, and junior guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) is the third double-figure scorer, at 11 a game.

Senior Kolleen Bouchard (Houlton, Maine/Houlton HS) has been a key contributor off the bench, averaging 8.3 points and two blocks while shooting 64 percent from the floor,

Eckerd, in its opener last Saturday and first game since before the pandemic, limited Lynn University to just .135 shooting in a 42-29 win. After the two teams were tied at 25 through three, the Tritons dominated the fourth quarter, 17-4.

Sophomore Lauryn Vieira led the way with ten points, seven rebounds and six assists. It was her first game for Eckerd after earning Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019-20.

Valdosta State, which will play Columbus State Friday before taking on the Falcons, has limited each of their first three opponents to less than 60 points a game with a cumulative field goal percentage of .333.

 Sophomore guard Tamiya Francis has been impressive in her first three games for Valdosta, averaging 16 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.3 steals while playing 37 minutes a game. She's also the team's top three-point threat with eight.

After returning from Georgia, Bentley will have a pair of home games next week, Assumption on Wednesday and Franklin Pierce Dec. 4.