SEATTLE, Wa.-Gus Balogh scored 16 points and Stephanie Urrutia had 13 as 20th-ranked Seattle Pacific University beat Montana State Billings 71-53 in a rematch of last year's NCAA first-round playoff, in a Pacific West Conference women's basketball game Saturday night at Brougham Pavilion.

The Falcons (13-3, 18-3) are in first place in the PacWest and ranked second in the West Region. The top six region teams receive bids to the NCAA playoffs at season's end.

The Yellowjackets' Jessica Bachman opened the game with a three-pointer from the right corner at the 19:11 mark but a 10-2 Falcon run put the Seattle Pacific up 10-5 with 13:42 to play before intermission.

With :19 to go in the half Urrutia (So., Sunnyside, Wa.) connected on a short jumper to give SPU a seven point advantage going into the locker room.

The Falcons led the entire second half and with 6:31 to play, Brianne Prescott skipped the ball across the court to an open Balogh (Sr., Szombatheley, Hungary) who canned a trey to push Seattle Pacific's lead to 11. Balogh finished the night with six rebounds and four assists to go with her game high 16 points. The senior forward was three of four from beyond the arc.

A lay up by Billings' Kami Malnaa pulled the Yellowjackets within 10, 63-53 with 2:01 to play but Billings was forced to foul.

Urrutia canned seven of eight from line down the stretch, leading to the final margin.

Prescott and teammate Liz Guppy (Sr., Beaverton, Or./Westview) added a dozen points each to the Falcon offense. Prescott hit four of seven treys and Guppy pulled down a game high nine rebounds and a pair of blocks. Montana State Billings was paced by Kami Malnaa's 14 points.

Seattle Pacific out rebounded Montana State Billings 40-30, and shot 45.3 percent (24-53 attempts) in the game to the Yellowjackets' 35.7 percent (20-56 attempts).

The Falcons were picked to win the PacWest in a preseason coaches poll. SPU plays next Thursday and Saturday nights (Feb. 15 and 17) at Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage, respectively. Tip-off both nights are scheduled for 8:00 PST. SPU 71, MSUB 53.

SPU:
Holme 4, Balogh 16, Guppy 12, Prescott 12, Urrutia 13, Beard 3, Daniel 2, Lukkes 3, Gustafson 6.

MSUB:
Bachmann 9, Jacobs 13, Visger 4, Morrison 1, Langford 8, Banta, Malnaa 14, Zylawy, Hengiman 4.