THE SCHEDULE: Wednesday, Feb. 17: SPU at MSU Billings, 6 p.m. PST
Alterowitz Gymnasium/Billings, Mont.
Live Webcast and live stats on this link.
Saturday, Feb. 20: Western Washington at SPU, 7 p.m.
Brougham Pavilion (2,650)/Seattle, Wash.
Live Webcast and live stats on this link.
Weekly release, with complete stats and opponent starters (PDF)
SEATTLE -- It's that time again: time for Western Washington.
But not before it's time for a Montana road trip.
Eager for a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball rematch with their rivals from Bellingham, the Seattle Pacific first must turn their focus to Billings. That's where they're headed for a Wednesday night game at 6 against the Yellowjackets.
Then, the Falcons will have an extra day to give their undivided attention to GNAC-leading Western, which comes to Brougham Pavilion for a 7 p.m. Pink Zone Night game on Saturday. The two teams already have squared off once, with the Vikings scoring a 54-40 victory in Bellingham on Jan. 23.
If SPU wins on Wednesday in Billings, Saturday's showdown will be for sole possession of first place in the GNAC. Western Washington, which has a bye on Thursday, will bring an 11-1 conference record (20-3 overall) to Brougham, having been dealt its first conference loss of the season last Thursday, 71-69 at Alaska Anchorage.
Seattle Pacific, coming off its second and final bye of the season last Thursday, enjoyed a hot shooting game on Saturday against Western Oregon, hitting nearly 51 percent from the field in a 64-44 homecourt romp.
After this week, the Falcons play three of their final four GNAC games on the road. They close out their home schedule next Saturday, Feb. 27, against Central Washington at 7 p.m.
THINK PINK
Saturday's game against Western Washington will be SPU's annual Pink Zone night in support of the fight against breast cancer. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game.
SPEAKING OF THE FALCONS
It's a long way from November to March. But now, March is almost upon coach Julie van Beek's team.
“Today was the beginning of a seven-game season, and we came out tonight 1-0,” van Beek said after last Saturday's victory against Western Oregon. “You can't take anything for granted, and that's where we're challenging our kids.”
Van Beek is plenty aware of the challenges awaiting SPU this week.
“Billings is a great offensive team, they have a lot of shooters,” she said. “They run a lot of sets that cause problems and do a lot of screening. We have to be really sharp and take care of the things we can control.”
Same goes for Saturday's game against Western Washington.
“They're good at both ends of the floor,” van Beek said. “They put up a lot of points, and they play very good defense. I'm sure they've improved, and I know we've improved since (the Jan. 23 game), too.”
Senior guard Daesha Henderson agreed.
“We're so much better from top to bottom. Everyone has been jelling,” she said. “Obviously, we're pumped about Western, but we have another game beforehand. It's hard to play at Billings -- they're a very good team. But every day is an opportunity.”
SCOUTING MONTANA STATE BILLINGS (10-11, 3-7 GNAC)
All-time series: SPU leads, 16-14. Current series streak: SPU won 9. Last time: SPU 68, Billings 52 (Jan. 21, 2010 at Seattle). Montana State Billings on the Web.
Yellowjackets in a nutshell: When the teams met in Seattle last month, Montana State Billings had gotten off to a solid start, winning two of it first three games in GNAC play and posting a 9-5 overall record despite the early-season loss of all-around guard Shantell Marquis. But the Jackets have hit tough times since then, losing six of their last seven. Billings definitely has players who can fill up the hoop, with three starters in double figures. Leading the way is 6-foot-1 junior forward Kayla Ryan. She is tied for the conference rebounding lead at 8.8 per game and is eighth in scoring at 14.1, although the Falcons kept her in check with eight points and four boards last month at Seattle. Ryan is coming off a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds in last Saturday's 73-56 loss at Saint Martin's. Junior guard Sarah McNamee chips in 11.7 points per game, and sophomore forward Callie Kautzmann adds 11.0 points and 6.0 rebounds.
SCOUTING WESTERN WASHINGTON (20-3, 11-1 GNAC)
All-time series: WWU leads, 50-24. Current series streak: WWU won 2. Last time: WWU 54, SPU 40 (Jan. 23, 2010 at Bellingham). Western Washington on the Web.
Vikings in a nutshell: After falling two points short of Alaska Anchorage last Thursday night, the Vikings went into Fairbanks and beat the host Nanooks by 50 just two nights later. No other team in the conference boasts a starting lineup with all five players shooting 50 percent or better, with forward Willow Cabe ranking No. 3 overall (.513), guard Amanda Dunbar No. 4 (.512) and forward Jessica Summers No. 5 (.500). And Western's best shooter usually comes off the bench in the person of Megan Pinske, who hits at a .530 rate and averages 7.2 points per game. The Falcons are well acquainted with Pinske, who tallied a team-leading 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting in a reserve role to spark Western's 54-40 victory against SPU in January. Dunbar is the conference's leading scorer at 17.5 points per game. The Vikings come in as the GNAC leader in points (76.7), assists (18.0), blocks (4.5) and field goal shooting (.488). SPU is the toughest team in the conference to shoot against (.337), and in last month's game kept Western 23 points below its scoring average and 10 points below its shooting average. But the Falcons hit just 31.3 percent and were kept below 50 points for the first time -- and only time -- this season.
MOST RECENT SPU STARTERS
Feb. 13 vs. Western Oregon, W 64-44
Totals vs. Western Oregon/Season averages or totals
FG is previous game/season percentage
Player Pts. Reb. Ast. Stl. Blk. FG
F Megan Hoisington 14/10.7 5/8.2 1/1.6 2/31 0/32 6-11/.410
C Melissa Reich 8/6.6 8/6.3 2/1.5 6/33 1/16 3-5/.500
G Jordan Harazin 0/6.1 3/3.0 1/2.7 0/20 0/0 0-1/.410
G Daesha Henderson 13/12.5 8/3.9 2/2.7 1/57 0/7 6-12/.446
G Maddie Maloney 4/5.3 3/2.8 1/3.0 3/38 0/6 2-7/.325
SEATTLE PACIFIC 64/68.2 35/41.4 18/17.9 17/261 1/80 28-55/.422
HOW DO THEY COMPARE?
(GNAC ranking in parentheses)
Points SPU 68.2 (4) MSB 64.4 (6) WWU 76.7 (1)
Points allowed SPU 54.5 (2) MSB 65.6 (6) WWU 56.2 (3)
Rebounds SPU 41.4 (1) MSB 38.0 (4) WWU 36.3 (7)
Assists SPU 17.9 (2) MSB 15.6 (4) WWU 18.0 (1)
Steals SPU 12.4 (2) MSB 7.8 (T6) WWU 9.1 (5)
Blocks SPU 3.8 (2) MSB 2.8 (T4) WWU 4.5 (1)
Turnovers SPU 20.2 (7) MSB 18.9 (4) WWU 17.7 (2
FG pct. SPU .422 (3) MSB .382 (7) WWU .488 (1)
3-point pct. SPU .317 (7) MSB .311 (8) WWU .423 (2)
FT pct. SPU .670 (9) MSB .765 (4) WWU .767 (3)
POLLING PLACE
Seattle Pacific climbed to No. 18 in this week's USA Today/ESPN Division II coaches poll, which was released on Feb. 16. SPU received 223 points. Western Washington dropped one spot to No. 21 with 153 points, and Alaska Anchorage moved up to three places to No. 14 with 286 points.
Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire is still No. 1, receiving 22 of the 26 first-place votes and 645 points. West Region rival UC San Diego (20-2), which dropped a 77-67 decision at Chico State last week, slipped four positions to No. 11 with 394 points.
In the West Region rankings, which were released last Wednesday, Seattle Pacific remained No. 3 behind UC San Diego and Western Washington, which has been the order all season. UCSD and Western (71-69 at Anchorage last Thursday) both lost once last week. The regional rankings ultimately determine the qualifiers for the NCAA tournament. The next rankings are out Wednesday, Feb. 17.
FALCON REPLAY
-- Daesha Henderson scored 13 points and collected a career-high eight rebounds, and Megan Hoisington led the way with 14 points, powering Seattle Pacific to a 64-44 GNAC victory against Western Oregon in Brougham Pavilion last Saturday.
Senior guard Henderson (Snohomish, Wash./Snohomish HS) also had two assists, one steal and no turnovers in 25 minutes of action. Senior forward Hoisington (Bremerton, Wash./Central Kitsap HS) grabbed five rebounds on Saturday as the Falcons (18-3, 9-1 GNAC) easily won the boards, 35-27.
Seattle Pacific also had one of its best shooting days of the season, hitting 50.9 percent (28 of 55).
BARGING THE BOARDS FROM BACKCOURT
For the second straight week, a Seattle Pacific guard snagged a career high for rebounds. This time, it was senior Daesha Henderson, who pulled down eight in last Saturday's 64-44 victory against Western Oregon. That beat her previous high of seven, which she had set three times, most recently at Central Washington on Feb. 4. On Feb. 6, junior Maddie Maloney (Issaquah, Wash./Skyline HS) collected 10 in a 63-62 win against Northwest Nazarene in Brougham. That beat her previous high of six.
FINDING THE HANDLE
Turnovers have been a trouble spot for much of the season, but the Falcons have improved considerably in that department during the past few weeks. Last Saturday against Western Oregon, they committed 18, their fifth straight game and six in the last seven with fewer than 20.
CAN'T BUY A BASKET
In this week's national statistical rankings, released on Feb. 16, SPU is now the ninth-toughest team to shoot against in all of NCAA Division II, allowing its opponents a success rate of just 33.7 percent. The Falcons, who were 10th nationally last week, have kept their last six opponents below 40 percent shooting, including three straight below 30 percent. The toughest team to shoot against in Division II is Colorado Mines at .327.
CAN'T BUY A BASKET -- PART 2
Naturally, low shooting percentages mean low scoring. In the past five games, four of Seattle Pacific's opponents haven't even gotten to 20 points by halftime. In this season's 21 games, the Falcons have kept nine opponents to fewer than 20 points during the opening 20 minutes. Lowest of the bunch? Alaska Anchorage (Jan. 28) and Central Washington (Feb. 4), both with just 15.
YOU GOT SWATTED
Senior forward Megan Hoisington has joined the GNAC's top 25 for career blocked shots. Hoisington has 55 blocks, putting her in a tie for 25th with current Western Washington senior Jessica Summers. Currently in No. 20, nine blocks in front of Hoisington and Summers, is WWU senior Willow Cabe with 64.
STELLAR STEALER
Senior guard Daesha Henderson has six games remaining to join Seattle Pacific's all-time top five for steals. Henderson had just one against Western Oregon last Saturday, giving her 208 for her career. She needs 17 more to join the SPU all-time top five. The No. 5 spot on the Falcon list currently belongs to Becky Wiersrma (1986-90) with 225. Henderson recently became just the ninth player in GNAC history to reach the 200-steal mark, and now is all the way up to No. 6 on the conference list.
TOUGH BREAK
Senior forward Sydney Benson saw her season come to an unexpected early end when she suffered a major knee injury during practice on Friday, Feb. 5. Benson was injured during a rebounding drill, tearing both the MCL and the ACL in her left knee. The 6-foot-2 Benson had developed into an impact player off the bench for coach Julie van Beek. Prior to her injury, Benson had played in all 19 games for the Falcons, averaging 8.7 points and 4.1 rebounds. She was coming off a career-high 22 points against Alaska Fairbanks on Jan. 30, just two days after she hit a career-high three shots from 3-point range against Alaska Anchorage, helping SPU win both games. Those performances earned Benson a share of the GNAC Player of the Week honor.
ON THE HONOR ROLL
-- Senior forward Megan Hoisington, who tied her career scoring high and set a career high for blocked shots to help Seattle Pacific beat Northwest Nazarene on Feb. 6, has been named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball Player of the Week for Feb. 3-6.
-- While that was Hoisington's first Player of the Week award, she already has been named to three all-tournament teams this winter. She picked up those honors in the season-opening Sodexo Tip-Off Classic at SPU in November, in the GNAC-Pac West Classic in early December at Nampa, Idaho, and in the GNAC-CCAA Challenge in late December at Bellingham.
-- Senior forward Sydney Benson became the first Seattle Pacific player this season to be honored as a GNAC Athlete of the Week. Benson earned the Feb. 1 award for her performance at home against the Alaska schools on Jan. 28-30. She hit a career-high three shots from 3-point territory in a 57-42 win against Anchorage on Jan. 28, then broke loose for a career-high 22 points to lead SPU's 86-44 victory against Fairbanks on Jan. 30, coming off the bench both times.
-- Senior guard Daesha Henderson and junior center Melissa Reich were part of the all-tournament team at the GNAC-CCAA Challenge on Dec. 20-21 at Western Washington University in Bellingham.
-- Henderson was named the Most Valuable Player of SPU's Sodexo Tip-Off Classic. Henderson had a 25-point, 7-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.
-- Reich joined Henderson and Hoisington on the Sodexo all-tournament team. 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.
FUN WITH NUMBERS
-- In the latest set of GNAC statistics, Seattle Pacific remains the conference's best rebounding team at 41.4 per game.
-- The Falcons also are No. 1 in field goal defense, allowing just a 33.7 percent success rate.
-- SPU is second in the conference in four categories: points allowed (54.5), assists (17.9), steals (12.4) and blocked shots (3.8).
-- Seattle Pacific ranks No. 4 in scoring at 68.2 points per game.
-- Daesha Henderson moved up into a tie for 11th in scoring at 12.5 points per game. She is tied for second in steals at 2.7, tied for eighth in 3-pointers made at 1.7 (36 total), is tied for ninth in assists at 2.7, and is tied for 10th in assist/turnover ratio at 1.1.
-- Megan Hoisington is tied for second in GNAC blocked shots at 1.5 per game (32 total). She is fifth in overall rebounding (8.2) and is second on the defensive boards at 5.7 per game.
-- Center Melissa Reich (Bothell, Wash./Bellevue Christian HS) is eight in blocks in the GNAC (0.8 per game, 16 total), ninth in offensive rebounding (2.2) and 10th in overall rebounding (6.3).
-- Maddie Maloney ranks third in assist/turnover ration within the GNAC (1.6), is tied for fifth in assists at 3.0 and is ninth in steals at 1.8.
-- Sophomore guard Jordan Harazin ranks No. 8 in conference 3-point shooting (.381) and is tied for ninth in assists (with Henderson) at 2.7.
Click on this link for a complete look at GNAC statistics.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
-- Seattle Pacific is in the top 20 for Division II in four statistical categories, up from three last week, thanks to making a big jump in steals. In addition to its aforementioned field goal defense (No. 9 at .337), the Falcons made a big jump in fewest points allowed, climbing seven spots to No. 11 at 54.5. They remained No. 19 in assists per game (17.9) and moved up four places to No. 20 in steals (12.4).
-- Daesha Henderson is tied for 41st in D-2 at 2.7 steals per game.
Click on this link for a look at SPU's national statistical rankings. Click on this link to see how GNAC teams and players stack up nationally.
UP NEXT
The Falcons stay close to home next week. They have a short trip to Lacey on Thursday, Feb. 25, to take on Saint Martin's at 7 p.m. in Marcus Pavilion. Then they're back in Royal Brougham on Saturday, Feb. 27 for their regular-season home finale and Senior Night against Central Washington at 7.
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
Western Washington 11-1 20-3
Seattle Pacific 9-1 18-3
Alaska Anchorage 8-2 18-3
Northwest Nazarene 5-5 15-6
Western Oregon 5-6 10-15
Montana State Billings 3-7 10-11
Saint Martin's 3-8 9-13
Central Washington 3-8 6-15
Alaska Fairbanks 1-10 2-20
