Box score, play-by-play (HTML)
 
SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific Falcons hit the big 4-0 on Thursday night.
 
No, not that big 4-0. The big 4-0 on the game clock.
 
Riley Evans scored 25 points – her third straight game in the 20s – and Cici West recorded her third double-double of the season as SPU opened its Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball schedule with a 75-64 victory against Concordia-Portland in Brougham Pavilion.
 
The Falcons (2-4, 1-0 GNAC), who lost their first four games of the season, now have won two in a row.
 
Under the direction of first-year head coach Mike Simonson, Seattle Pacific has adopted a fast-paced, transitional style of game – and it definitely has had its moments.
 
On this night, Simonson saw those moments from opening tip to final buzzer, as the Falcons never trailed and were tied just once (18-18 in the second quarter).
 
"Our identity is tough-nosed defense, getting in the passing lanes, rebounding, and running. We've seen stretches of it," he said. "I felt like tonight is the first night where we did it consistently for 40 minutes."

 

Senior forward Evans hit 8 of 11 from the field, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range, and drained all four of her free throws. Thursday's 25-point output came on the heels of a then-career high 27 in an 83-72 loss to UC San Diego on Nov. 17, and a new career high 29 in an 84-73 victory against Holy Names on Nov. 20.
 
"Riley is really coming into her own as a player," Simonson said. "Our system fits her strength. It's such a luxury knowing that Riley will come in, hit open shots, and defend very hard."
 
Redshirt senior forward West scored 10 points and collected 10 rebounds, with four of those boards at the offensive end.
 
"Cici played a very efficient game. She knows her biggest strength is rebounding and physical play," Simonson said. "She brought it every possession tonight, and she was locked in."




Seattle Pacific closed the first half on a 10-3 run to take a 37-28 lead at the break . It was still a nine-point margin at 42-33 midway through the third quarter when the Falcons rang up 14 straight points in a span of 3½ minutes: a 3-pointer by Jaylee Albert, two free throws from Natalie Hoff, back-to-back treys by Evans and Hailee Bennett, and two free throws by Madi Hingston.
 
"When those players are making their shots, we're such a good-shooting team that it's contagious," Simonson said.
 
That pushed SPU's lead to 56-33 with 2:46 left in the third. Concordia (4-2, 0-1 GNAC) gradually whittled it down in the closing minutes, but never got any closer than the final 11-point margin.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-- Hailee Bennett, who missed the last two weeks with an injury and whose first practice since then was just a walk-through on Wednesday, finished with 10 points and four assists off the bench.
-- Seattle Pacific is now 16-2 all-time in GNAC openers, including 8-0 at home.
-- After shooting 50 percent from behind the arc (12 of 24) in last Tuesday's victory against Holy Names, the Falcons were even better on Thursday at 57.9 percent (11 of 19).
-- SPU collected a season-high 44 rebounds, and limited Concordia to 31. The plus-13 was its widest margin of the year.
-- The Falcons forced just 15 Concordia turnovers, but converted those into 26 points.
-- Senior center Carly Rataushk had three rebounds, including the 100^th of her career. She now has 102.
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UP NEXT
The Falcons will play host to Western Oregon on Saturday at 5:15 p.m. in Brougham Pavilion. The Wolves (2-3 overall) opened their GNAC schedule on Thursday with a 66-56 victory at Saint Martin's

 
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.
 
Seattle Pacific 75, Concordia-Portland 64
 
CONCORDIA-PORTLAND (4-2, 0-1 GNAC)
Sarman 7-13 5-8 19, Paaluhi-Caulk 4-6 5-6 13, Zhang 3-4 2-2 11, Higbie 2-6 4-5 8, Maltezo 1-12 2-2 5, Juez 2-6 0-2 4, Aplaca 1-3 0-0 2, Taylor 1-2 0-0 2 LeSure 0-0 0-0 0, Etherly 0-0 0-0 0, Vezaldenos 0-4 0-0 0, Williams 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 21-60 18-25 64.
 
SEATTLE PACIFC (2-4, 1-0 GNAC)
Evans 8-11 4-4 25, West 4-9 2-4 10, Bennett 4-10 0-0 10, Hingston 3-10 1-1 8, Boston 2-4 1-2 6, Albert 2-5 0-0 5, Skidmore 2-4 0-0 4, Alter 1-1 0-0 3, Rataushk 1-3 0-0 2, Hoff 0-0 2-2 2, Cravens 0-0 0-4 0, Berg 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-57 10-17 75.
 
Concordia-Portland            14           14           12           24           -- 64
Seattle Pacific                     18           19           21           17           -- 75
 
3-point goals – CU 4-20 (Zang 3-4, Maltezo 1-8, Aplaca 0-1, Vazaldenos 0-3, Williams 0-2, Paaluhi-Caulk 0-1, Sarman 0-1), SPU 11-19 (Evans 5-8, Bennett 2-4, Hingston 1-4, Alter 1-1, Albert 1-1, Boston 1-1). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – CU 31 (Saran 7), SPU 44 (West 11). Assists – CU 12 (Sarman 3), SPU 16 (Albert 4, Bennett 4). Turnovers – CU 15, SPU 19. Total fouls – CU 21, SPU 24. Technical fouls – SPU: Bench (incorrect number in scorebook). Attendance – 128.
 
 
Next game
Western Oregon at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Dec. 1     5:15 p.m.
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.