WALTHAM, Mass. – In the first meeting of the two teams since the 2023 NCAA Division II East Regional women's basketball semifinals and Bentley University's 2024 debut, the Falcons will take on visiting Assumption University Wednesday at 5:30 pm on Barbara Stevens Court.  As always, the game will be streamed over the NE10 NOW Digital Network.

Both teams are off to 8-2 starts this season. Bentley, ranked 22nd in this week's WBCA Division II coaches poll, will be looking to bounce back from a 53-43 loss to Holy Family in its final game before a two-plus week holiday break. Assumption, which debuted at number 24 this week, ended its holiday break on Saturday with a 74-58 home win over American International.

Coach C White's Falcons are 4-1 in Northeast-10 action, good for a four-way tie for first place, and Assumption, with a 3-2 conference record, is tied for fifth place.

Bentley, which hasn't had its full complement of players available since opening night, leads the NE10 in three-pointers made and accuracy, and is fourth in scoring defense. The Falcons have held their opponents to 53.7 points a game and have limited the last four to an average of 48.5 on 33.2 percent shooting. They are ninth in D2 in defending the three and 12^th in fewest points allowed.

The Bentley offense has been led by senior forward Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) and graduate guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS), with averages of 11.9 and 11.7 points, respectively.

Junior forward Kylie DuCharme (Wilmington/Wilmington HS) was Bentley's top scorer and rebounder during the team's four December games. She averaged 12.8 points and 10 rebounds with 15 of her 40 boards coming at the offensive end.

There have been three constants in White's starting five with Thompson, junior guard Amanda Kabantu (Portland, Maine/Portland HS) and sophomore guard Cassidy Yeomans (Marion/Tabor Academy) all having started all ten. Whitmore missed two games due to injury and DuCharme has started the last five.

Assumption, which has a four-game winning streak, has been unbeaten at home (5-0) and 3-2 on the road so far this season. Defense has been a forte with the Greyhounds number two in Division II in field goal percentage defense (.313), fifth in fewest points allowed (51.4) and tenth in defending the three (.233).

Assumption, which captured its first NCAA regional title last March, is led at the offensive end by junior forward Marina Callahan and senior guard Molly Stokes. Callahan averages 15.8 points and 6.9 rebounds, and also has 15 steals and 13 blocks. Stokes follows with a 14.4 average and has three 20-point games this season.

The Greyhounds' top three scorers, a list that also includes junior forward Kaijhe Hall, are shooting a combined .549 from the field.

Last year, Bentley won the regular season meeting in convincing fashion, 76-48, but the rematch in the regional semifinals was all Assumption, 62-47. In that one, the Falcons were limited to only 25 points in the first three quarters as the Hounds halted an eight-game winning streak for the NE10 champions.

All-time, Bentley is 78-12 against Assumption. The two NE10 original members have split the last four meetings after the Falcons won nine straight from 2016-20.

Bentley will also be home Saturday, taking on another strong defensive team. Saint Rose is off to a 9-1 start and leads Division II in scoring defense, three-point percentage defense and rebound margin.