SEATTLE. (Nov. 17) -- Kelley Berglund (Fr., Port Angeles, Wa./Washington State) recorded team highs of 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists to lead the Seattle Pacific University women's basketball in its home-opener victory over Western Baptist College 85-58 in a non-conference matchup Saturday at Brougham Pavilion. SPU is ranked first in the GNAC preseason coaches poll, second in the NCAA West Region poll and No. 20 in the NCAA Division II ESPN/USA Today national poll.

Both the Falcons (1-0) and Warriors (2-2) struggled to maintain possession in the early going, with WBC earning their first and only lead of the game at the 13:39 mark sparked by a 7-0 run. The Falcons answered by scoring nine straight unanswered points in under a minute to retake the lead for good.

Stephanie Urrutia (Jr., Sunnyside, Wa./Sunnyside) equaled the Falcons largest lead of the first period at 11 with six straight points just over the halfway point in the half.

A trio of three-point bombs helped the Warriors overcome 18 first half turnovers to pull within seven at 39-32 going into the half. The SPU defense built their lead on defense in the first half with nine steals and three blocks.

In a reversal from SPU's second half woes last Saturday at Gonzaga University, the Falcons broke the game wide open in the second half against WBC. The Falcons outscored the Warriors 16-6 to open the half and 46-26 overall. Five second-half three pointers contributed to the blowout, as did the same stiff defense that helped build the first-half advantage. SPU outrebounded WBC 41-26 for the game.

Urrutia and Emily Faurholt (Fr., Kennewick, Wa./Kennewick) joined Berglund in double-figures with 16 and 11 points, respectively. Kristin Poe (So., Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw) and Michelle Beaumont (Fr., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) paced the Falcon defense with four steals apiece. Faurholt equaled the team-high of eight rebounds and Beamont was not far behind with seven.

Tati Gallardo paced the Warriors with 18 points.

The Falcons host Cascade College this Tuesday, Nov. 20, in non-conference matchup at Brougham Pavilion. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m.

SPU -- Faurholt 11, Poe 9, Berglund 19, Hughes 6, Urrutia 16, Hermanson 8, Beaumont 7, Lukkes 2, Cadotte 5, Duffin 2.

WBC -- Dickham 2, Williams 2, Schmidgall 10, Gallardo 18, Born 8, Haws 3, Ward 4, Hinkle 5, Holmes 0, Schneider 0, Lundgren 2, Villwock 0, Llewellyn 4.

Halftime -- SPU 39, WBC 32