SEATTLE (June 15) -- For the first time in the 25-year existence of Seattle Pacific University women's basketball, the Falcons will find themselves in Hawaii during the 2001-02 season. Defending conference champion SPU plays in two December tournaments, beginning with the Coconut Coast Classic in Hilo, Dec. 17-18.

After Christmas, there's a rematch of last year's West Region championship game with defending national champion Cal Poly Pomona Dec. 28. It's one of seven games versus teams which qualified for the postseason a year ago.

Gordy Presnell's program, which has made five consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament, opens with a Nov. 8 exhibition at Portland, followed by another Division I bout, the regular season opener Nov. 10 at Gonzaga.

The first of 18 Great Northwest athletic Conference games is Dec. 6 at Saint Martin's. Longtime rival Western Washington visits Brougham Pavilion Jan. 5. Two other playoff teams from 2001, Alaska Fairbanks and Central Washington, come to town Feb. 14 and Mar. 2, respectively.

2001-02 Tentative Schedule
Nov. 8 at Portland (exhibition) 7:00
Nov. 10 at Gonzaga (exhibition) 7:00
Nov. 17 WESTERN BAPTIST 2:00
Nov. 20 CASCADE COLLEGE 7:00
Nov. 21 at Evergreen 7:30
Nov. 24 San Francisco State 2:00
Nov. 28 NORTHWEST COLLEGE 7:00
Dec. 6 at Saint Martin's* 7:00
Dec. 8 at Northwest Nazarene* 7:00
Dec. 17-18 Coconut Coast Classic (at Hilo, Hi.)
    Dec. 17 Stonehill, Kentucky Wesleyan
Dec. 28-29 Bronco Classic (at Pomona, Ca.)
    Dec. 28 at Cal Poly Pomona 7:00
    Dec. 29 Cal State Los Angeles 3:00
Jan. 3 SEATTLE UNIVERSITY* 5:30
Jan. 5 WESTERN WASHINGTON* 5:00
Jan. 10 at Alaska Anchorage* 8:00
Jan. 12 at Alaska Fairbanks* 8:00
Jan. 17 WESTERN OREGON* 5:30
Jan. 19 HUMBOLDT STATE* 5:00
Jan. 26 at Central Washington* 7:00
Jan. 31 NORTHWEST NAZARENE* 5:30
Feb. 2 SAINT MARTIN'S* 1:30
Feb. 7 at Western Washington* 7:00
Feb. 9 at Seattle University* 7:00
Feb. 14 ALASKA FAIRBANKS* 7:00
Feb. 16 ALASKA ANCHORAGE* 7:00
Feb. 21 at Humboldt State* 5:00
Feb. 23 at Western Oregon* 5:00
Mar. 2 CENTRAL WASHINGTON* 5:00
*Great Northwest Athletic Conference games
All times are Pacific