WALTHAM, Mass. – Niya Morgen scored a season-high 25 points to lead the No. 21 Bentley women's basketball team to a 72-61 win in the Falcons' home opener for the 2025-26 season Saturday afternoon.

It was Bentley's first home game since winning the NCAA DII Regional Championship in March 2025. Fittingly, Bentley hosted a pre-game ring ceremony to celebrate last year's team.

The Falcons (5-1, 2-0 NE10) opened the game with a 13-0 run. Brennan Doran knocked down a 3-pointer for the first women's basketball points in the newly renovated Dana Athletic Center gym. Kayana Armbrister accounted for seven points in the early run, including a three-point play when she was fouled while hitting a mid-range jumper.

However, just as quickly as Bentley built up a double-digit lead, the Purple Knights fought back. They went on a 10-0 run to cut the Falcons' lead to 15-13, but a layup by Cassidy Yeomans cooled the Purple Knights' run.

Bentley held a 20-14 lead after the first quarter, but the team knew it had a fight on its hands.

The Purple Knights again made it a one-possession game,  27-25, late in the second quarter. And again it was Cassidy Yeomans who provided the shot that kept Saint Michael's at arm's length. The halftime lead was 32-28 in favor of the Falcons.

Bentley reclaimed a double-digit lead, 43-33, when Ciara Norman scored in the paint at the 6:11 mark of the third quarter. Similarly to the first half, the Falcons never allowed Saint Michael's to so much as tied the score – despite the Purple Knights' best efforts.

Morgan shot 8-for-13 from the floor, and she made seven of her eight free-throw attempts. Julia Elie finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, and Armbrister reached double figures in scoring with 11 points.

Bentley can rest for a little over a week before traveling to Post Dec. 17.