SEATTLE (Mar. 6) - Kelsey Hill scored 16 points to lead all players, as the second ranked Seattle Pacific University women's basketball team won their second consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference title, defeating Western Oregon University 68-39 Thursday night at Brougham Pavilion.
The Falcons (17-0 GNAC, 26-0 overall) made short work of the visiting Wolves (4-13 GNAC, 8-18 overall), despite falling behind 0-4 to start the game. A pair of Libby Magnuson free throws gave SPU the lead for good at 13:20, serving also as the catalyst for a 19-6 run over the next seven and a half minutes, essentially putting the game out of reach.
Jessie Christensen, who will be honored as one of four Falcon seniors playing in their final regular season home game Saturday night, scored the first seven SPU points in the second half, en route to her 11 total. SPU led by as many as 34 in the second half, and recorded nine of their game high 17 steals.
Joining Hill and Christensen in double-digits for the game, were Jackie Hollands with 12 and Magnuson with 11. Beth Christensen led all players with five assists, while Daesha Henderson came off the bench for five steals and five poins.
For the Wolves, Katie Torland had 11 points and five boards, while Sara Zahler recorded three steals.
SPU finished with a 19-10 assists advantage, and committed ten fewer turnovers (15-25). The Falcons also utilized their size mismatches, out stealing WOU 17-7.
With the win, SPU assures themselves the role of host for the upcoming NCAA DII West Region Tournament, set to commence Friday March 14th. Games will be played Friday, Saturday, and Monday, with the top eight teams in the west region facing off on the hardwood at Brougham Pavilion, on the corner of 3rd Ave W. and Nickerson St. on Queen Anne Hill.
Since the founding of the GNAC back in the 2001-02 season, SPU has won five titles, with Western Washington University championing the only other two; the inaugural and 2005-06 season.
Should SPU win over Saint Martin's University in their final regular season game this Saturday night at 7 p.m., the Falcons will finish conference play a perfect 18-0, a feat they have not accomplished since the 2003-04 season.
Between the '03 and '04 season, the Falcons went a perfect 36-0 in the regular season, which added to a six game GNAC win streak to close out the '01-'02 season brought their total to 42-0 against conference teams. Added to that, SPU won their first 11 GNAC games of the '04-'05 season to bring their total to an astounding 53-0, before falling to Saint Martin's on Feb.10th, 2005, 50-64.
Under former Head Coach Gordy Presnell, the Falcons rebounded; winning their final six GNAC games that season, and advanced to the NCAA DII Championship game, losing to Washburn 53-70 in Presnell's final season at SPU.
SPU's conference record of 59-1 over four seasons stands as the best in GNAC history. Under current head coach Julie van Beek, the Falcons have amassed a three-year conference record of 45-6, also the best in the GNAC over the past three years.
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