WALTHAM, Mass. – After coming up short in two of the last three games, the Bentley University women's basketball team will look to close out the regular season strong, beginning Saturday at Franklin Pierce University. Tip off is at 1:30 pm and it can be seen on the NE10 NOW digital network.

The two recent losses have dropped Bentley to second place in the Northeast-10's Northeast Division, sandwiched in between first place Southern New Hampshire and third-place Stonehill. SNHU is 13-4 in conference, Bentley 12-5 and Stonehill 11-6.

The Falcons, 14-7 overall, are coming off a 68-62 loss to Assumption on Wednesday in what was their fourth game in seven days. They erupted for 28 points in the third quarter but were limited to just two in the final nine-plus minutes of the fourth.

Junior guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS), Bentley's top scorer at Assumption with 14 points, is the team's leader in that category for the season as well. Her 13.6 norm is a tenth-of-a-point better than graduate forward Autumn Ceppi (Bedford/Dana Hall School).

Senior guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North HS) is having a strong shooting season. The 10.9 point per game scorer is one of four NE10 players making at least 50 percent of her field goal attempts and is the conference leader in three-point accuracy (.455). In February, she's buried 17 of 32 three-pointers, a success rate of .531.

Rounding out coach C White's starting five, which includes a representative of each class, are sophomore guard Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) and freshman guard Amanda Kabantu (Portland, Maine/Portland HS). Whitmore, over the last nine games, has produced averages of 10.8 points and 5.2 rebounds with a .500 field goal percentage.

Despite the fourth quarter woes last time out, Bentley leads the conference in both offensive efficiency and field goal percentage (.438). The Falcons are 10-1 when they put up at least 70 points and are unbeaten in the 13 games in which they've shot at least 40 percent.

Franklin Pierce, 10-12 overall and 6-10 NE10, has dropped four in a row and six of its last seven. It's been a very busy stretch with Saturday's game their third in four days and seventh in 12. The highlight of their season thus far was back-to-back wins against Pace and Le Moyne, the top two teams in the NE10 Southwest, in late January.

Senior forward Emma Carter is having a standout season, with her 18.8 average third best in the conference. She's buried 41 three-pointers, is shooting 91 percent from the line and is one of five Ravens with at least 25 steals.

Rylee Skinner, who is generally used off the bench, and Lisa Sulejmani are next on the scoring list for the Ravens with each scoring about 12 a game.

Ceppi was a force in the first meeting of the season between the two teams as she put up 23 points, 18 rebounds and five assists in a 78-65 win. That was the ninth straight win for Bentley in the series.

The Falcons will close out the season on Tuesday against Saint Anselm, with Senior Night activities preceding the contest. The expanded conference playoffs (all teams will quality) will start next Friday, Feb. 25.