WALTHAM, Mass. – A day after moving to number three in the WBCA Division II coaches poll, the Bentley University women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season Wednesday night on Barbara Stevens Court.
 
The Falcons never had a lead as they fell to Adelphi University, 59-55, in Northeast-10 Conference action. The Panthers gained the victory in their conference opener, Bentley dropped to 1-1 in NE10 play and both teams left the court with 4-1 records.
 
Bentley, which was held to about 20 points below its season norm, was led by senior forward Kylie DuCharme (Wilmington/Wilmington HS), with 15 points and seven rebounds.
 
Leading the way for the visitors was senior guard Kaitlyn O'Connell (Essex), who finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and four steals in her return to her home state. She played all 40 minutes and made eight of 11 shots, including three triples.
 
The inability to stop Adelphi in the paint, particularly in the first half, was one of the keys to the loss. The Panthers scored 22 of their 27 first-half points inside and finished with a 34-26 advantage in that category.
 
Bentley had trouble getting started in the first, falling behind 14-6 while misfiring on eight of ten shots.
 
Five different Falcons scored during an early 12-3 second quarter spurt that cut the Adelphi lead to one, 19-18.
 
Despite struggling to make baskets all night, the Falcons stayed within seven points the rest of the way but could never get over the top. The game was tied just once, at 31 apiece on a three by graduate guard Brooke Obar (North Yarmouth, Maine/Greely HS) with 7:13 left in the third quarter.
 
The Falcons were within three after a second-chance basket by sophomore guard Niya Morgen (Swampscott/St. Mary's HS) with 1:53 remaining, but Adelphi was able to hold off the home team.
 
Following DuCharme on the Bentley scoring list were graduate forward Maggie Whitmore (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS), Ober and junior post Ciara Norman (Roebling, N.J./Life Center Academy). Whitmore had nine points, six rebounds and five assists, Obar scored eight and Norman finished with eight points and five boards off the bench.
 
Adelphi outshot Bentley 52-34 percent and had a 14-7 advantage in points off turnovers. Rebounds (35-25) and second chance points (14-3) favored the Falcons, but those numbers weren't enough to gain the win.
 
The Falcons' five-game homestand will continue Saturday afternoon against Post University.