WALTHAM, Mass. – A rematch of the 2024-25 NCAA DII Women's Basketball East Regional final is set for Sunday, Dec. 21, when Bentley hosts Holy Family at 1:30 p.m. The game is "Youth Day" for young local basketball players.
 
The rematch
In March 2025, Bentley and Holy Family went head-to-head in Waltham for the East Regional Championship. The Falcons prevailed, 72-63, to reach the NCAA DII Elite Eight for the 15^th time in program history. Niya Morgen scored 13 points off the bench in the regional final, and Cassidy Yeomans dished out a game-high six assists to go with her nine points.
 
Climbing the ranks
Bentley is ranked No. 18 in the most recent Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) national poll, up two spots from the No. 20 rank the Falcons held for multiple weeks.
 
Five straight
After starting the season with a close 64-61 loss against Mercy (Nov. 15), Bentley has rattled off five consecutive wins. Each of those victories have been decided by a double-digit margin, including a 28-point win (79-51) over Southern New Hampshire (Nov. 19). Overall this season, Bentley's +19.0 scoring margins leads the NE10 and ranks 13^th in the country.
 
Most efficient
Bentley is the only NE10 team shooting better than 43.0-percent from the field (45.2-percent). Three Falcons rank among the conference's top 10 players for field-goal percentage. Julia Elie ranks second (58.3-percent), Niya Morgen is fourth (51.4-percent), and Cherish Bryant is seventh (50.0-percent). Morgen's 45.7 3-point percentage ranks third in the conference, and her 87.5 free-throw percentage leads all NE10 players.
 
Scouting Holy Family (8-2)
One of the Tigers' two losses so far this season is against NE10 member Assumption. Holy Family came up just short against the Greyhounds, 58-54 (Nov. 22). The Tigers opened the season with a win over NE10 member Saint Michael's, 71-55 (Nov. 15). Holy Family is shooting just 26.8-percent from 3-point range, and 39.2-percent from the floor, but the defense has been outstanding thus far. Opponents average 52.5 points against the Tigers, while shooting a combined 35.0-percent from the floor. Taylor Hinkle is the only Tiger averaging double figures in scoring (11.5). She also averages 12.4 rebounds per game, which ranks fourth in the country.