THE SCHEDULE:        Saturday, Dec. 12: Concordia-Portland at SPU, 7 p.m.
                                      Brougham Pavilion (2,650)/Seattle, Wash.
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SEATTLE -- First, it's finals. But then it's back to the court for another nonconference women's basketball test.

Coming off a split of their two GNAC-Pac West Classic games last weekend in Nampa, Idaho, the Seattle Pacific Falcons will take a break from competition this week to focus on the end of the academic quarter. When they do return to action, it won't be far, as they play host to Concordia of Portland on Saturday night at 7 in Brougham Pavilion.

That will be the final preseason home game for the 19th-ranked Falcons (4-1). They have five more out-of-town nonconference contests on their docket, starting with a two-game trip to Western Washington University in Bellingham on Dec. 20-21 for the GNAC-CCAA Challenge. But they won't be back in Brougham until their Great Northwest Athletic Conference home opener on Thursday, Jan. 14, against Saint Martin's.

Seattle Pacific had its sights set on a sweep of West Regional rivals Grand Canyon and Dixie State last Friday and Saturday in Nampa. But some cold shooting on the first night against Grand Canyon derailed those plans, as the Antelopes scored a 69-55 victory.

The Falcons bounced back nicely the next day against Dixie State as they beat the Red Storm, 59-46, and gave Julie van Beek her 100th SPU victory.

FALCON MILESTONE FOR VAN BEEK
With last Saturday's 59-46 victory against Dixie State, Julie van Beek hit the century mark for coaching victories at Seattle Pacific. Only van Beek and her longtime predecessor, Gordy Presnell, have pulled off that feat with the Falcons.

At the final buzzer, though, van Beek was more interested in what it meant to the team than in what it meant to her.

“It was important because we just had a loss, and you don't want to lose two in a row,” said van Beek, who picked up that 100th win on the same Northwest Nazarene University campus where she played her college basketball from 1985-89 and still ranks No. 7 on the school's all-time rebounding list (777) and No. 9 on the all-time field goals list (487). “It was just important to get a win.”

Presnell picked up his 100th Falcon win in his 141st game, which came early in the sixth of his 18 years on the Falcons bench. Van Beek is at the outset of her fifth season in charge of the SPU program, and got to No. 100 in her 122nd game.

“I came into a program that was very established and was coming off a run to the national championship game,” van Beek said. “We've been very blessed. We've been consistent, and I think that's a big deal.

“You can be a great coach, but you need great players” she added. “We've had players who know how to win and they do the right things in the offseason, and they play together”

Presnell, now the head coach at Boise State, went 396-127 (.757) from 1988-2005 at Seattle Pacific. Van Beek is 100-22 here (.820) here, and is 262-141 (.650) overall, which includes nine seasons at Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville, Tenn.

SPEAKING OF THE FALCONS
As was the case last season, coach Julie van Beek's players took some lessons from a loss and got back on track in the very next game.

“You have to learn from your struggles,” she said. “The best thing about last week was we played against a very good Grand Canyon team, and at times, we did very, very well. But at times, we turned the ball over and made some mental mistakes.

'There were things from the first night that we saw we could work on, like improving our passing, and working on our halfcourt offense and just realizing again that every possession counts,” van Beek said. “On Saturday (against Dixie State), we did a lot better job of rebounding and defense and in transition. I was pleased that the kids bounced back, and I thought we did some good things.”

SCOUTING CONCORDIA-PORTLAND
All-time series: SPU leads, 4-0. Current series streak: SPU won 4. Last time: SPU 74, Concordia-Portland 57 (Jan. 4, 2000, at Portland). Concordia-Portland on the Web.
Cavaliers in a nutshell: Concordia is coming off a 29-4 season that included the Cascade Collegiate Conference's regular-season and tournament titles. The Cavaliers advanced to the second round of the NAIA Division national tournament before falling to Dickinson State, 58-55. Concordia graduated top scorer and third-team NAIA All-American guard Rebecca Gimeno. But back on the court for her junior season is forward Danielle Clauson, who averaged 11.9 points and 5.0 rebounds last year, and was the top shooter in the CCC at 51.8 percent. Ann Snodderly, a 6-4 senior center, also returns with her averages of 10.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.48 blocks per game. She was the CCC's No. 2 field goal shooter last year at .512. The Cavaliers are 6-3 so far, including 72-63 victory against GNAC member Western Oregon in nonconference play. They already have started their CCC schedule, and are 1-1.

MOST RECENT SPU STARTERS
Dec. 5 vs. Dixie State, W 59-46
Totals vs. Dixie State/Season averages or totals
FG is previous game/season percentage
Player                                Pts.          Reb.       Ast.      Stl.       Blk.    FG
F Megan Hoisington       12/11.4   10/9.0     2/1.4    1/10     1/7      5-7/.415
C Melissa Reich              12/8.6       6/7.0     2/1.2    3/11     2/7      5-13/.514
G Jordan Harazin            10/6.6       6/5.0     2/3.2    1/12     0/0      3-5/.440
G Daesha Henderson   10/15.6     5/4.0     2/3.4     0/9       0/2     3-7/.560
G Maddie Maloney            7/6.4        2/4.0    1/3.0     1/12     0/1      2-8/.394
SEATTLE PACIFIC          59/70.8  38/44.0  13/18.0  10/79  4/18   21-51/.405

HOW DO THEY COMPARE?
Points                    SPU  70.8     CON 67.1
Points allowed    SPU  57.4     CON 62.0
Rebounds             SPU  44.0     CON 39.4
Assists                 SPU  18.0     CON 13.8
Steals                   SPU  15.8     CON 9.0
Blocks                  SPU   3.6       CON 3.0
Turnovers            SPU  20.0     CON 18.8
FG pct.                  SPU  .405      CON .417
3-point pct.          SPU  .340      CON .324
FT pct.                   SPU  .598      CON .661  

POLLING PLACE
Seattle Pacific dropped five spots to No. 19 in this week's USA Today/ESPN Division II coaches poll. The Falcons received 148 points in the voting, Michigan Tech remains No. 1 with 23 of the 26 first-place votes and 646 points. Alaska Anchorage climbed two spots to No. 4. West Region rival UC San Diego remained No. 13.

Northwest Nazarene, which beat both Dixie State and Grand Canyon in last week's GNAC-Pac West Classic, was among others receiving votes with 14, making the Crusaders the 34th team on the list.

The Falcons have been picked for a second-place finish in what is shaping up as a tight four-team-race in the GNAC.

Four of the conference's nine teams -- including SPU -- received at least two first-place votes in the preseason coaches poll. The numbers ultimately added up for Alaska Anchorage -- but not by much. The Seawolves, who shared the GNAC crown with SPU last winter at 14-2 and went 31-4 overall, picked up three of those first-place votes and a total of 72 points.

The Falcons (23-5 overall), coming off that co-championship and their second straight trip to the NCAA West Region title game, are right on Anchorage's heels with two first-place votes and 69 points.

There's not much breathing room behind SPU, either. Northwest Nazarene is third in the poll, also garnering a pair of first-place picks and a total of 65 points. Western Washington also picked up two firsts and came in with 64 points.

Those four schools all made it into the NCAA tourney last season. Seattle Pacific and Anchorage played for the conference crown. Western and NNU both went out in the first round.

This year's poll is in stark contrast to last season's when Anchorage received all but one first-place vote and totaled 86 points.

FALCON REPLAY
Senior forward Megan Hoisington (Bremerton, Wash./Central Kitsap HS) posted her second double-double of the season, getting 12 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday afternoon as the Falcons downed Dixie State in their final game of the GNAC-Pac West Classic, 59-46.

Hoisington, who was named to the all-tournament team, was one of four players in double-figure scoring for the Falcons (4-1), who bounced back from Friday's 69-55 loss to Grand Canyon in opening game of the tournament hosted by Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho.

Junior center Melissa Reich (Bothell, Wash./Bellevue Christian HS) added 12 points and six rebounds, senior guard Daesha Henderson (Snohomish, Wash./Snohomish HS) had 10 points, five rebounds and two assists, and sophomore guard Jordan Harazin (Colfax, Wash./Colfax HS) had 10 points and six boards.

Seattle Pacific scored the first seven points of the game and never trailed against the Red Storm (2-4). 

In the tournament opener last Friday, the Falcons couldn't find their offensive flow or the bottom of the basket. Henderson had 17 points, and Hoisington put up 12 points and nine rebounds, but Seattle Pacific shot just 29 percent from the field and dropped a 69-55 decision to Grand Canyon.

The Falcons (3-1) hit just 17 of 58 from the floor (29.3 percent), and were only 7 of 27 (26 percent) during the second half. Grand Canyon (4-1) hit 25 of 60 (41.7 percent).

ON THE HONOR ROLL
-- Senior forward Megan Hoisington was named to the all-tournament team at the GNAC-Pac West Classic on the weekend of Dec. 4-5 in Nampa, Idaho. Hoisington averaged 12 point and 9.9 rebounds in Seattle Pacific's two games, and had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds in a 59-46 victory against Dixie State on the final day of the tournament, her second double-double of the season.

-- Senior guard Daesha Henderson was named the Most Valuable Player of SPU's Sodexo Tip-Off Classic. Henderson had a 25-point, seven-assist game in a 90-53 victory against Colorado Christian, and averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds in the two games.
-- Hoisington and junior center Melissa Reich joined Henderson on the Sodexo all-tournament team. Hoisington had a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, and averaged 14.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in the two games. Reich had a 10-rebound game against Humboldt State after grabbing nine against Colorado Christian, and also averaged 9.5 points in the two games.
-- Henderson is an honorable mention pick on the Women's Division II Bulletin Preseason All-American list.
-- Henderson, who was among the GNAC's top five in five statistical categories, and now-graduated Kelsey Hill, the leading rebounder for the Falcons (7.1 per game), were All-GNAC first-team selections last season.
-- Jordan Harazin, who played in all 28 games for SPU and started several of them during the Falcons' 11-game winning streak, was named the conference's Freshman of the Year.

WELCOME ABOARD
A new group of basketball talent will be on its way to Seattle Pacific beginning next fall. The Falcons have announced the signing of guard Aubree Callen from Jerome, Idaho; center Riley Butler from Covington, Wash., and shooting guard Betsy Kingma of Bellevue, Wash.

The 5-foot-9 Callen hails from Jerome High School. As a junior last season, she averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists per game helping the Tigers take third place in the Class 4A state tournament.

Butler, who stands 6-2, averaged six points and eight rebounds for Kentlake in 2008-09, and is regarded as a solid rebounder with plenty of upside potential.

Kingma, at 5-11, was an All-Kingco Conference first-teamer for Newport High School last year. An all-around talent, she averaged 16.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 assists per game, helping the Knights earn at trip to Class 4A state.

FALCON FODDER
-- Through preseason play so far, Seattle Pacific ranks third among GNAC teams in defense (57.4 points allowed per game) and fourth in offense (70.8). Western Washington leads defensively at 46.4, and Alaska Anchorages leads on offense at 80.8.
-- The Falcons lead the way in offensive rebounds (17.8 per game) and are tied for first in steals (15.8). They are second in blocks (3.6 pet game).
-- Daesha Henderson is among the GNAC's top 10 in five different categories: scoring (fifth at 15.6), field goal shooting (second at .560), 3-point shooting (seventh at .480) assists (fifth at 3.4), and assist/turnover ratio (fifth at 1.9).

-- Megan Hoisington ranks No. 9 in overall rebounding (9.0), is third in offensive rebounding (3.4) and eighth in field goal shooting (.514). She is tied for second with Melissa Reich in blocked shots (1.4).
-- Reich is ninth in rebounding at 7.0.
-- Junior guard Maddie Maloney (Issaquah, Wash./Skyline HS) is No. 3 in assist/turnover ratio (1.9), is tied with teammate Jordan Harazin and with Central Washington's Sophie Russell for sixth in steals (2.4), and is tied for seventh in assists (3.0). Harazin ranks No. 6 in assists at 3.2.

Click on this link for a complete look at GNAC statistical leaders.

UP NEXT
The Falcons will be off for seven days after the Concordia game. They'll take the court again for a rare Sunday game when they face Sonoma State in the opener of the GNAC-CCAA Challenge at Western Washington University in Bellingham. That one tips off at 1 p.m. Seattle Pacific winds up the tournament the next day against Chico State at 1 p.m. Both are key games, in that they are West Region opponents.

TICKET TALK
Tickets for SPU's home games can be purchased at Brougham Pavilion (3414 3rd Ave. W.) on game day. Ticket windows open one hour prior to the listed start time for all home games.

Adult ticket prices are $8 for reserved seats at center court, $7 for reserved seats at the foul lines, and $6 for general admission. General admission for youths, students and senior citizens is $3.

SPU students, faculty and staff who present a valid current ID card are admitted free to all regular-season home events.

Organized groups or teams of 10 or more may qualify for special general admission rates. Group ticket prices are $3 for adults and $1 for youths, and apply to all group members. Any individuals attending the event who are not members of the group, including parents and siblings, can purchase regular-priced tickets in advance, but do not qualify for the group rate. Group tickets must be ordered and paid for at least 72 hours in advance of the event by calling the Athletics Office at (206) 281-2085.

AROUND THE GNAC
Click on this link for a look at news and notes from around the GNAC.

GNAC STANDINGS
                                            GNAC     Overall
Alaska Anchorage             0-0           6-0
Western Washington        0-0           5-0
Northwest Nazarene         0-0           5-1
Seattle Pacific                    0-0           4-1
Saint Martin's                     0-0           5-2
Montana State Billings     0-0           4-2
Western Oregon                0-0           4-4
Central Washington          0-0          1-4
Alaska Fairbanks               0-0          1-5