Final GNAC tune-up. There's no rest for the scoreboard operators this week as the Seattle Pacific University women's basketball team plays its fourth game in eight days. The 20th-ranked Falcons (4-0), who have scored more than 100 points in three consecutive outings, return to action Tuesday night (Nov. 27) when they host Northwest College (2-2) at Brougham Pavilion. It is the final tune-up before Great Northwest Athletic Conference play begins Dec. 6. at Saint Martin's and it's the final home game prior to Jan. 3.

Broken record. The SPU offense caught fire last week, leaving in its fiery path three lopsided victories. The Falcons averaged 104 points, 55 percent field-goal shooting and a 50.3-point margin of victory in wins over Cascade College, Evergreen and San Francisco State. It marked the first time an SPU team has scored 100 or more points in three straight games in the program's 25-year history. The last time the Falcons had reached the century mark in back-to-back contests was in 1998.

Balanced attack. The depth and versatility the Falcons showcased in their three-game sweep last week could prove vital during the GNAC portion of the schedule. Against Cascade, SPU hurt the Thunderbirds with its vast offensive arsenal, led by forward Emily Faurholt (Fr., 5-11, Kennewick, Wa./Kennewick) who paced six players in double-figures with 17 points. One night later, in the road opener against the Geoducks, SPU's defense was stellar with 21 steals while center Kelley Berglund (Jr., 6-3, Port Angeles, Wa./Washington State) paced the team with a season-high 22 points. Guard Stephanie Urrutia (Jr., 5-9, Sunnyside, Wa./Sunnyside) helped the Falcons showcase their perimeter shooting expertise against the Gators on Saturday, with 21 points, including one of a season-high nine 3-point field goals. Berglund, who played the past two seasons at Washington State, leads five players in double-figure season scoring averages at 17.5.

Key reserves. With the starting five running their opponents off the court early in all three games, Coach Gordy Presnell has been able to develop his reserves. After missing the season opener with an ear infection, Valerie Gustafson (So., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) returned to the lineup to score 40 points, grab 19 rebounds and block five shots in 51 minutes last week. Michelle Beaumont (Fr., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) hit for 14 points against Cascade and San Francisco State, while reserve point guard Trisha Hermanson (Fr., 5-6, Buckley, Wa./White River) handed out 11 assists in 56 minutes. Quick-handed Ashley Cadotte (Fr., 6-0, Oregon City, Or./Oregon City) recorded seven steals in 40 minutes and Mackenzie Duffin (Fr., 6-2, Kent, Wa./Kent-Meridian) totaled five rebounds and a pair of blocked shots in eight minutes against Cascade.

Smith signs early. Presnell got the program off to a strong start in recruiting as Carli Smith, the state B level player of the year from Spokane's Valley Christian High School, signed a national letter of intent last week during the early signing period. Smith, a 5-foot-11 senior, averaged 20.4 points and 12.4 rebounds for the Panthers as a junior, leading them to a record of 26-2 and third place in the state tournament.

Put-backs. The 106 points against San Francisco State tied for the fifth-highest score in school history and its was the most since hitting 107 vs. Carroll College in 1997-98...The Falcons will take a nine-day break both before and after their first two GNAC games. After traveling to Central Washington Dec. 8 they head to Hawaii for the Coconut Coast Classic Dec. 17-18. A 10-day Christmas break ends Dec. 28 with a bout with defending NCAA champion Cal Poly Pomona. The next home game is Jan. 3 versus Seattle University...Point guard Kerie Hughes (Jr., 5-6, Mount Vernon, Wa./Mt. Vernon) recorded a career-high 12 assists against Cascade and 29 in the three games...Gustafson grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds against Cascade...As a team, the Falcons are rank first in the GNAC in scoring (99.3), margin of victory (+44.5), field-goal shooting (.536), rebounding margin (+14.5) and blocked shots (6.5)...Individually, Hughes is ranked first in assists (7.8), 3-point percentage (100.0, 3-3), and fourth in assist to turnover ratio (5.2). Faurholt is first in free-throw shooting (100.0, 8-8). Urrutia is second in blocks (1.75) and third in assist to turnover ratio (6.7). Kristin Poe (So., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw) is third in field-goal shooting (.677) and fourth in steals (3.5). Gustafson is third in blocks (1.67)...Transfer Jill Isaacson (Jr., 5-8, Wenatchee, Wa./Wenatchee-Central College) saw her first action of the season vs. SFSU after recovering from sinus surgery.

Opponents & series notes. SPU is 19-0 vs. Northwest College, including a pair of wins last season...A Seattle Pacific win would match the best start since the Falcons opened 12-0 in 1997-98.

Tickets please. General admission for all SPU home games are $5 with students, youth and senior citizens $3 with proper identification. Reserved tickets for doubleheaders are priced at $7 and $6. Teams or groups can quality for discount rates by calling (206) 281-2085 in advance.

SPU Coaches. Coach Gordy Presnell began the 2001-02 campaign needing just 15 wins to reach the 300-victory milestone. Presnell has never registered a losing season in 14 years at the helm of the Seattle Pacific University basketball program. He took a team that had not recorded a winning record in nine seasons or earned a trip to the postseason and transformed it into a Division II powerhouse. During his tenure, the Falcons have averaged more than 20 wins per season and qualified for the playoffs nine times, including an Elite Eight appearance in 1998. Lynne DeYoung is in her fifth season as an assistant coach under Presnell after recording a handful of three-point shooting records for the Falcons. Brett Hecko enters his first as an assistant coach this season.