ELLENSBURG (Nov. 17) -- Kristin Poe scored 23 points and pulled down16 rebounds and Gus Balogh dropped in 21 points as the Seattle Pacific University opened its women's basketball season, downing Northwest College 100-77 at the Wildcats Tip-Off Classic in Ellensburg Friday night.

The Falcons hit 48 percent of their shots from the field. Poe (So., Enumclaw, Wa.) was 9 for 15 on the night and Balogh (Sr., Szombathy, Hungary) was 9 for 18.

Balogh and Stephanie Urritia (So., Sunnyside, Wa.) assisted on a game high five plays. Urritia connected on 5 of 11 shots for a career high 14 points and freshman Valerie Gustafson (Black Hills, Wa.) had a career high 14 points and 8 rebounds for SPU.

Nikki Hover's 19 points and 6 rebounds paced the Eagles.

Seattle Pacific out rebounded Northwest College 55-38 and tallied 21 assists to the Eagles' 9.

The Falcons (1-0) meet Pacific (of Oregon) in the second round of the tournament Saturday at 2. Seattle Pacific opens its season at home on Wednesday night with a contest against Southern Colorado. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00.

RESULTS: SPU 100, NWC 77.

SPU: Hughes 8, Urrutia 14, Poe 23, Holme 4, Balogh 21, Berberian, Beard 3, Daniel 7, Lukkes 6, Gustafson 14.

NWC: Pilgrin 5, Lockhard 16, Swedberg 10, Hover 19, Miller 2, Swedberg 9, Siekawich 10, Seymour 6, Nettleton, Smith 1, Hamar 6.