Box score, play-by-play (HTML)
 
SEATTLE – They've hung around the gym day in and day out – winter, spring, summer, and fall. They've persevered through injuries. Overcome adversity.
 
This year, in what will be their final season together, the six seniors on the Seattle Pacific women's basketball team have reached a magical moment:
 
20 wins.
 
Courtney Hollander posted a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds on Thursday night, leading the Falcons to that 20^th victory, 73-68 against Western Oregon in Brougham Pavilion.
 
The Falcons (20-6, 14-5 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) reached the 20-win mark for the first time since 2014-15, when they finished 22-7 and advanced to the NCAA West Region semifinals.
 
It is the 19^th time in the 43-year history of the program that SPU has tallied at least 20, and eighth time under the direction of head coach Julie Heisey, who is in her 13^th season at the helm.
 
"This has been a super hard-working group," Heisey said. "We have four seniors (Hollander, Jordan McPhee, Lindsay Lee, and Erica Pagano) who have no doubt been the biggest gym rats, from beginning to end, since I've coached here. Then with Rachel (Shim) and Julia (Haining) coming back from ACLs and a broken foot – for those six kids to finish strong is really important."
 




Hollander's double-double was her fourth of the season and 18^th of her career. Her most recent one also was against Western Oregon – 12 points and 12 boards in an 87-52 win on Dec. 2.
 
Seattle Pacific got 11 points apiece from Haining and McPhee.
 
Western Oregon (11-14, 7-12 GNAC) battled with the Falcons from start to finish, taking an early 9-2 lead, and going into the locker room at halftime with a 31-30 edge.
 
SPU finally went ahead for good with a 6-0 run midway through the third quarter, going from 38-36 down to 42-38 up.
 
The Falcons seemingly had control, up 70-58 with just 1:20 left in the game. But the Wolves forced three turnovers with some full-court defensive pressure and cut it all the way down to five at 71-66 with 17 seconds to go. Redshirt freshman guard Hailee Bennett ultimately clinched it with two free throws at the nine-second mark.
 
 "The second time through conference, except for (their games against) Simon Fraser and Western Washington, they've played everybody close," Heisey said of the Wolves. "They're kids who are capable and disciplined, and they don't give up a lot of second shots. Their defense is really solid, and they don't give up easy baskets. They didn't want to lose and didn't want their season to be over."
 
However, the combination of their loss and Simon Fraser's 77-74 victory against Montana State Billings did knock the Wolves out of contention for a berth in next week's GNAC Tournament.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-- The Falcons were actually down 1-0 before the opening tip. The LED lights behind one backboard were not working, resulting in an administrative technical foul. Sydney Azorr hit one of the two free throws.
-- SPU had three turnovers in the first 73 seconds, three in the last 38 -- and just three in between that, for a total of nine. That was the fourth time this season the turnover total was in the single digits..
-- The Falcons more than doubled their shooting percentage in the second half. They hit just 24.1 percent (7 of 29) through the first 20 minutes, then hit at a 54.2 percent clip (13 of 24) through the second 20 for a final mark of 37.7 percent (20 of 53).
-- Seattle Pacific made a season-high 28 free throws, on 33 attempts (84.8 percent). The previous high was 26 makes (on a season-high 34 attempts) on Jan. 18 against Alaska Fairbanks.
-- Senior guard Rachel Shim, who has missed the last four games because of an injury, played 20 minutes off the bench on Thursday, recording six points, two steals, and one rebound.
 
UP NEXT
Seattle Pacific winds up the regular season on Saturday against Concordia-Portland at 5:15 p.m. in Brougham Pavilion. The Falcons started GNAC play at Concordia on Nov. 30, dropping a 59-57 decision to the Cavaliers.

 
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.
 
Seattle Pacific 73, Western Oregon 68
 
WESTERN OREGON (11-14, 7-12 GNAC)
Savannah Heugly 4-10 2-2 10, Natalie DeLonge 2-6 1-3 5, Keyonna Jones 3-9 5-5 11, Shelby Snook 7-15 3-4 20, Sydney Azorr 0-8 4-6 4, Jasmine Miller 1-2 0-0 3, Ali Nelke 0-1 0-0 0, Kaylie Boschma 2-5 8-9 12, Taisha Thomas 1-2 1-1 3. Totals 20-58 24-30 68.
 
SEATTLE PACIFIC (20-6, 14-5 GNAC)
Julia Haining 3-5 5-6 11, Jaylee Albert 1-3 0-0 3, Jordan McPhee 2-8 7-8 11, Courtney Hollander 8-13 4-5 21, Lindsay Lee 2-6 0-0 6, Riley Evans 2-8 3-4 8, Rachel Shim 1-5 4-4 6, Hailee Bennett 0-0 2-2 2, Erica Pagano 1-2 3-4 5, Carly Rataushk 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 20-53 28-33 73.
 
Western Oregon    20           11            15           22           -- 68
Seattle Pacific       20           10           22           21           -- 73
 
3-point goals – WOU 4-18 (Heugly 0-1, Jones 0-3, Snook 3-9, Azorr 0-3, Miller 1-1, Boschma 0-1), SPU 5-20 (Albert 1-2, McPhee 0-1, Hollander 1-4, Lee 2-5, Evans 1-4, Shim 0-3, Pagano 0-1). Fouled out – SPU: McPhee Rebounds – WOU 37 (Heugly 7), SPU 34 (Hollander 10). Assists – WOU 7 (DeLonge 2, Miller 2), SPU 9 (McPhee 3). Turnovers – WOU 14, SPU 9. Total fouls – WOU 21, SPU 22. Technical fouls – SPU: Administrative (equipment malfunction). Attendance – 143.
 
 
Next game
Concordia-Portland at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, 5:15 p.m.
Brougham Pavilion