WALTHAM, Mass. – Following a stunning loss to Southern New Hampshire Wednesday in a game that the Falcons only trailed for 2.1 seconds, the Northeast-10 leading Bentley University women's basketball team will make a second attempt at reaching the 20-win plateau Saturday when it visits Assumption University. The 1:30 game from Laska Gym will be streamed over the NE10 NOW Digital Network.

It won't be easy as Assumption is just a game back of the Falcons in the Northeast-10 standings. The Greyhounds, who are the reigning NCAA Division II East Region champions, have won ten straight and are 18-3 overall, including 13-3 conference and 10-0 at home. Since last season, they've won 17 in a row on their home court.

Bentley, which had its 11-game win streak halted by SNHU, is 19-3 overall, 14-2 NE10 and 9-1 on the road this season. The Falcons were eighth in the latest WBCA Division II coaches poll, which also had Assumption at number 20.

When these two programs met in early January in Waltham, Bentley put up a 40-point first half and went on to win by ten, 78-68. Senior forward Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) scored 20, freshman guard Niya Morgen (Swampscott/St. Mary's HS) provided 19 off the bench and graduate guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) added 15.

Bentley, number two in the conference in both scoring offense (65.6) and fewest points allowed (52.8), leads the NE10 in three-pointers made (7.7), three-point percentage (.378), free throw percentage (.767) and fewest turnovers (12.5). On the other hand, Assumption is the NE10 standard-bearer in scoring (68.0), field goal percentage (.462) and free throws made and attempted.

Junior forward Kylie DuCharme (Wilmington/Wilmington HS) has been the Falcons' top scorer in the last two games with 20 at Adelphi and 19 against Southern New Hampshire. She's had at least ten rebounds in four straight games and her season averages are up to 11.0 points and a team-best 8.5 boards.

Whitmore, at 13.2, and Thompson, at 11.0, are Bentley's top two scorers. Whitmore has scored in doubles in six straight games and Thompson is the conference leader in three-pointers (51). With 1,155 career points, she's moved into the top 25 on the program's all-time scoring list. Thompson is also just seven assists away from becoming only the third Falcon with 200 career threes and 300 career assists.

Three-pointers, both at the offensive end and in defending, are a strength for the Falcons as they've outscored the opponents by 288 points from beyond the arc. Morgan, Whitmore and senior guard Brooke Obar (No. Yarmouth, Maine/Greely HS) are all shooting at least .400 from deep.

Assumption features senior guard Molly Stokes and junior forward Marina Callahan, who average 16.0 and 13.8 points, respectively. Stokes, second to Thompson in threes with 48, has scored at least 20 five times in her last eight games and has a shooting line of .529/.444/.891. Callahan is also shooting over 52 percent and she has recorded 30 steals and 24 blocks.

Six-foot junior Kaijhe Hall is the third member of the Greyhound starting five shooting at least .500 from the field. She's built a 10.6 scoring average on her .574 accuracy rate.

Bentley is 79-12 all-time against Assumption, but has come up short on its last two trips to Worcester, including 62-47 last March in the NCAA Division II East Regional semifinals.

After facing the Hounds, the Falcons will return home to take on St. Michael's on Tuesday.