Box score, play-by-play
 
SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific Falcons didn't want to look too far ahead. But at least now, they can allow themselves a quick peek.
 
Aubree Callen pumped in 25 points – just one short of her career high – and Suzanna Ohlsen scored the team's last eight points on Saturday afternoon as SPU clinched a spot in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament by beating Montana State Billings in Brougham Pavilion, 76-71.
 
The Falcons (15-9, 9-7 GNAC) climbed into a tie with Billings (15-9, 9-7 GNAC) for fifth place. Both trail fourth-place Alaska Anchorage (16-9, 10-7 GNAC) by half a game.
 
Junior guard Callen (Jerome, Idaho) also had six rebounds, four assists, and hit 8 of 11 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. Junior forward Katie Benson (Snohomish, Wash. / Snohomish HS) tallied 20 points, grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and dished three assists. Sophomore guard Ohlsen (Monroe, Wash. / Monroe HS) had five boards and three assists.
 
The GNAC tourney, which will determine the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division II West Regionals, is set for March 6, 8 and 9 at Saint Martin's in Lacey. But before they get there, the Falcons finish the regular season with two road games next week, visiting Central Washington on Thursday at 5:15 p.m., then going to Idaho to face Northwest Nazarene next Saturday at 4:15 p.m. PST.
 
“Obviously, we're thrilled to be in the tournament. Right now, that's an opportunity to get to the next tournament,” SPU coach Julie Heisey said. “That was one of our goals, obviously. It's a new season, and that's the advantage.”
 




In a Senior Day game that featured six ties, 10 lead changes and neither side leading by more than eight, the Falcons were clinging to a 68-66 edge over Montana State Billings just inside the three-minute mark. Ohlsen launched a 3-pointer from the right side the banked off the board and went straight down to make it 71-66 with 2:25 left.
 
MSUB's Bobbi Knudsen drained a pair of free throws, cutting it to 71-68 at 2:15. It stayed there until Ohlsen pumped in another trey, this one with 57.7 seconds showing, for a 74-68 advantage.
 
Quinn Peoples answered with a 3-pointer for the Yellowjackets, making it 74-71 at 43.6 seconds. The Falcons turned it over on a shot clock violation with 12.1 to go, but a Knudsen 3-pointer bounced off the rim, was pulled down by Ohlsen, and she was fouled with 1.3 seconds left. She swished both free throws to seal it.
 
“It was a needed win. We beat a very good team tonight,” Heisey said. “We had a great week of practice. Sometimes, you come out and you want something so bad that you don't let things come to you. But we had a great effort from everyone – things you don't always see on the stat sheet. And every one of our subs added something.”
 
Knudsen finished with 22 points for Billings, getting 18 of those after halftime. Kayleen Goggins added 18.
 
Benson's 20 points moved her up two places on the all-time SPU scoring list with 1,060. On Saturday, she passed No. 18 Debbie Miller (1,041 from 1995-98) and No. 17 Daesha Henderson (1,051 from 2007-10).
 
Led by Benson's nine, Seattle Pacific dominated the boards, 41-23 – its third-largest margin of the year.
 
The Falcons shot a solid 51.9 percent from the field (27 of 52), their third-highest game of the year and fourth above 50 percent. That included 6 of 12 from downtown. They also hit 84.2 percent from the foul line (84.2 percent), pushing their Division II-leading mark to 79.8 percent.
                                                       
After Billings raced to an 8-2 lead, the Falcons got going and took a six-point margin of their own at 28-22 late in the first half before settling for a 29-25 advantage at the break. Callen had 11 of her points and five of her rebounds during the first 20 minutes.

Seniors Rachel Murray (Eglington, Australia), Erin Stephens (Salem, Ore.) and Michelle Teng (Bellevue, Wash. / Bellevue Christian HS) were honored after the game for their accomplishments with the Falcons.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.
 
Seattle Pacific 76, Montana State Billings 71
 
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS (15-9, 9-7 GNAC)
Olson 2-6 0-0 5, Grimsrud 1-5 0-0 3, Goggins 7-13 3-4 18, Tolman 4-7 0-0 11, Knudsen 7-16 7-7 22, Hanser 0-2 0-0 0, Peoples 3-7 0-0 8, DePuydt 2-7 0-0 4. Totals 26-63 10-11 23.
 
SEATTLE PACIFIC (15-9, 9-7 GNAC)
Benson 8-13 3-4 20 Ohlsen 4-10 2-2 12, Callen 8-11 6-7 25, Murray 2-8 3-4 7, Barnes 0-1 2-2 2, Teng 0-1 0-0 0, Lasconia 0-0 0-0 0, Pflaumer 2-3 0-0 4, Stephens 1-3 0-0 2, Butler 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 27-52 16-19 76.
 
Montana State Billings       25           46           -- 71
Seattle Pacific                      29           47           -- 76
 
3-point goals – MSUB 9-29 (Olson 1-1, Grimsrud 1-3 Goggins 1-2, Tolman 3-6 , Knudsen 1-8, Hanser 0-2,. Peoples 2-6, DePuydt 0-1), SPU 6-12 (Benson 1-3, Ohlsen 2-2, Callen 3-6, Murray 0-1). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – MSUB 23 (DePuydt 7), SPU 41 (Benson 9). Assists – MSUB 11 (Knudsen 6), SPU 15 (Callen 4). Turnovers – MSUB 11, SPU 21. Total fouls – MSUB 15, SPU 14. Technical fouls – MSUB: Coach Woodin. Attendance – 317.
 
Next game – Seattle Pacific at Central Washington, Thursday, Feb. 28, 5:15 p.m.