WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley University Falcons, the Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball tournament champions in 2022 and 2023, are listed second in the NE10 preseason coaches poll, which was released today.

The voting was very tight among the top three as they were separated by just ten points. Assumption University, the defending NCAA Division II East Regional champions, topped the voting with eighth first-place votes and 117 points. Bentley followed with three and 108, and Southern New Hampshire was third with one and 107.

Southern Connecticut (84) and Pace University (69) rounded out the top five.

Last year, Assumption and former conference member Le Moyne College were regular season co-champions, each finishing 16-4.

Bentley coach C White, whose team finished with a 22-10 record a year ago, returns six of last year's top seven scorers. That includes All-Conference honorees Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) and Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS).

The six-foot Whitmore, a senior, produced nearly 13 points and seven rebounds a game while finishing sixth nationally in free throw accuracy (.916). Thompson, who returned this season as a grad student, followed with a 10.8 average and sank 53 three-pointers.

Bentley, which made a trip to Greece in early August, opens the season at the Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks Classic Nov. 10-11.

2023-24 NE10 Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll

1. Assumption – 117 (8)
2. Bentley – 108 (3)
3. Southern New Hampshire – 107 (1)
4. Southern Connecticut – 84
5. Pace – 69
6. American International – 62
7. Adelphi – 60
8. New Haven – 58
9. Saint Anselm – 50
10. Franklin Pierce – 37
11. Saint Rose – 26
12. Saint Michael's - 14