WALTHAM, Mass. – As a polar vortex approaches, the race first place in the Northeast 10 is heating up. The No. 22 Bentley women's basketball team heads to Franklin Pierce Saturday, Feb. 7, for a conference game at 1:30 p.m.
 
NE10 landscape
Bentley (15-3, 11-1 NE10) and Southern Connecticut (16-4, 11-1 NE10) are tied for first in the NE10. American International (15-6, 9-4 NE10) sits in third place, and Assumption (15-5, 8-5 NE10) is fourth.
 
Julia's gem
Julia Elie had her career-best game during Bentley's 64-54 home win over Saint Anselm (Feb. 4). The senior totaled 17 points and 14 rebounds, both of which are career highs. It was he third double-double of the season, and her fourth game of the year with 10+ rebounds.
 
Morgen's double-digit streak
Junior captain Niya Morgen has scored in double figures in each of her last 10 games. During that stretch she is averaging 15.4 points
 
The Midas touch
Bentley's shooting touch has been golden the season. The team's 44.3 field-goal percentage leads the NE10, while no other team is shooting better than 42.5-percent. Julia Elie's 51.2 field-goal percentage ranks fourth in the NE10. Kayana Armbrister (48.4-percent) ranks seventh in the NE10, Niya Morgen (45.0-percent) ranks ninth, and Cherish Bryant (44.9-percent) is 10^th.
 
The second flight
Saturday marks the season's second meeting between the Falcons and Ravens. Bentley previously beat Franklin Pierce, 72-43, in Waltham (Jan. 10). Niya Morgen scored a game-high 18 points, and Kaya Armbrister finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.

Scouting Franklin Pierce (2-18, 1-11 NE10)
The Ravens' lone conference win this season is against Pace, 54-46 (Jan. 31). Franklin Pierce has the lowest scoring offense (49.5) in the NE10, and it allows the most post (66.2). Emily Mennillo is the team's leading scorer with 9.7 points per game.