Box score, play-by-play (PDF)
 
SEATTLE – Ashlynn Burgess had that look in her eye. The look that told coach Mike Simonson that she was ready to go out and shine the glass on Saturday afternoon.
 
Shine it, she did.
 
Burgess recorded her fourth double-double of the season, this one with 12 points and 14 rebounds, and three teammates joined her in double-digit scoring as SPU took charge with an 11-0 first-quarter scoring run and cruised past Western Oregon in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball game, 73-51.
 
The Falcons (5-11, 3-5 GNAC) notched their second straight victory in Brougham Pavilion, And, after starting the week in a three-way tie at the bottom of the standings, they are now just one game out of the sixth and final spot into the GNAC Tournament, with 12 games left.

"If we continue to focus on the moment, we are proving to ourselves and to the community that we can handle that challenge," Simonson said. "It feels great to protect your homecourt. Especially in the first half, we were clicking on all cylinders. Now, we're starting to see that when we compete and focus on the little things, we're a pretty darn good basketball team."
 




Burgess most definitely was focused on the moment. The 14 rebounds was just one shy of her career high of 15, which she set as a freshman in 2018 at Wenatchee Valley College. Her previous SPU high was 11, a total she hit three times, most recently Jan. 4 at home against Alaska Fairbanks.
 
The double-double was Burgess' fourth in an SPU uniform.

 

"In the pre-game talk, I talked about rebounding, and I made eye-contact with her," Simonson said. "I saw this look in her eye that said, 'Yes, Coach, I am going to get rebounds tonight.'
 
"When she has that look in her eye, she's relentless – and typically, it's always there," he added.
 
Senior guard Madi Hingston matched Burgess with 12 points on Iron Coaching Court. Junior point guard Abril Rexach Roure and redshirt freshman guard Bayley Brennan chipped in 11 apiece.
 
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER FAST START
As was the case in Thursday's 63-44 victory against Concordia-Portland, Seattle Pacific was quick out of the blocks.
 
Tied at 7-7 with 3½ minutes left in the first quarter, the Falcons put 11 straight points on the board: two free throws by freshman post player Grace Sterk, back-to-back 3-pointers by Brennan, and a 3 by Rexach Roure, making it 18-7.
 
Western Oregon (5-10, 2-6 GNAC) got the last basket of the quarter, getting within 18-9. The Falcons then went on a 14-1 run through the first 7½ minutes of the second quarter, forcing the Wolves into 10 straight misses from the field during that stretch.
 
That expanded the lead to 32-10. Except for a brief stretch midway through the third quarter, it never dipped below 20 the rest of the night.
 
SPU's defense limited Western Oregon to just 31 percent shooting (19 of 61) and yielded just seven offensive rebounds.
 
"Defense is always first – that's what we always talk about," Simonson said. "Now, we're starting to see some success on the defensive end, and when you do, it's easier to work hard on defense – and you start to like it."
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-- Ashlynn Burgess' 12 points came on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor and 2 of 2 at the foul line.

 

-- Bayley Brennan's 11 points was a career high and her first collegiate double-digit scoring game. Her previous high was eight, on Jan. 2 against Alaska Anchorage.
-- While keeping Western Oregon to 31 percent from the field (and just 19 percent on 4 of 21 from downtown), the Falcons hit 44.1 percent (26 of 59), and 45 percent from behind the arc (10 of 22). That's the second time this season they've been in double figures from long range, having drained 12 against UC San Diego on Nov. 16.
-- After getting just two free throws on Thursday against Concordia-Portland (and hitting both), SPU went to the line 13 times on Saturday, draining 11 (84.6 percent). That included 2 for 2 by senior guard Hailee Bennett, stretching her streak to 23 in a row.
-- Madi Hingston continues to hit the hoop. She was 5 of 6 on Saturday and now has hit .500 or better in five of her last six games (a combined .588 on 30 of 51).
 
UP NEXT
The Falcons have a split week coming up. They are at home on Tuesday against Saint Martin's at 7:00 p.m. The first half of the GNAC schedule concludes on Thursday at Montana State Billings, with a tip-off at 4:15 p.m. Pacific time.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.
 
Seattle Pacific 73, Western Oregon 51
 
WESTERN OREGON (5-10, 2-6 GNAC)
Winkler 0-2 0-0 0, Green 3-10 0-0 7, Denton 2-11 2-4 6, Jones 5-8 5-6 15, McClave 3-10 0-0 8, Aragon 1-3 1-4 3, Rogers 1-5 0-0 2, McCarver 4-8 0-1 9, Wright 0-4 1-2 1. Totals 19-61 9-17 51.
 
SEATTLE PACIFIC (5-11, 3-5 GNAC)
Brundidge 2-6 1-2 5, Alter 3-9 0-0 7, Burgess 5-7 2-2 12, Bennett 2-8 2-2 8, HIngston 5-6 0-0 12, Berg 1-3 0-0 2, Rexach Roure 4-9 0-0 11, Brennan 3-5 3-3 11, Sterk 0-3 2-2 2, Hoff 1-3 1-2 3. Totals 26-59 11-13 73.
 
Western Oregon                 9            6          19          17          -- 51
Seattle Pacific                  18          19          20          16          -- 73
 
3-point goals – WOU 4-21 (Winkler 0-2,Green 1-5, Denton 0-3, Jones 0-1, McClave 2-6, Argon 0-1, Rogers 0-1, McCarver 1-2), SPU 10-22 (Alter 1-3, Burgess 0-1, Bennett 2-6, Hingston 2-2, Rexach Roure 3-4, Brennan 2-4, Sterk -2). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – WOU 30 (Green 5), SPU 47 (Burgess 14). Assists – WOU 7 (Jones 3), SPU 12 (Hoff 3). Turnovers – WOU 8, SPU 14. Total fouls – WOUI 13, SPU 19. Technical fouls – None. Attendance – 301.
 
 
Next game
Saint Martin's at Seattle Pacific
Tuesday, Jan. 21     7:00 p.m.
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.