POMONA, Calif. (Dec. 29) -- Freshman forward Michelle Beaumont came off the bench for 15 points and Kerie Hughes hit the decisive three free throws in the final 31 seconds as No. 8-ranked Seattle Pacific University edged Cal State L.A. 63-60 in the second round of the CCAA/GNAC Challenge Saturday night at Kellogg Gymnasium.

Stephanie Urrutia (Jr., 5-9, Sunnyside, Wa.) added 11 points for the Falcons (9-2), who shot 54 percent from the field (14-26) in the second half and out-rebounded the Golden Eagles (2-7) 54-34. SPU was coming off a 76-71 loss to No. 3 Cal Poly Pomona Friday night.

Kelli Kobayashi of Cal State L.A. led all scorers with 21 and Jurate Orinaite pulled down 17 rebounds.

After Kobayashi's layup tied the score at 60, Hughes (Jr., Mount Vernon, Wa.) and converted both ends of a 1-and-1 for a 62-60 advantage with 31 seconds left. Cal State L.A. missed its next shot and Hughes was fouled on the rebound. She made the second foul shot with 13 seconds to go and the Golden Eagles' 3-point attempt fell short just before the final buzzer.

Beaumont (Fr., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) made 6 of 9 shots from the floor, including 2-3 treys. She hit back-to-back shots--a 20-footer and layup for a three-point play--midway through the first half to give SPU a an 11-9 lead. The Falcons never trailed thereafter and led by as much as 10 in the second half.

The Falcons' reserves out-scored their counterparts 32-3. Stacie Lukkes (Jr., 6-0, Kent, Wa./Kentwood) and Valerie Gustafson (So., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) had seven points apiece and collected 10 and six rebounds, respectively. Seattle Pacific committed 36 turnovers but Cal State L.A. shot just 34 percent and missed 16 of 29 free throws.

SPU resumes Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Thursday when it hosts Seattle University at 5:30.

SEATTLE PACIFIC--Faurholt 0, Poe 5, Berglund 9, Hughes 6, Urrutia 11, Hermanson 2, Beaumont 15, Lukkes 7, Cadotte 0, Duffin 1, Gustafson 7.

CAL STATE L.A.--Matsui 12, Nunez 11, Orinaite 9, Kobayashi 21, Tokoro 4, Simril 0, Sotelo 3, Sandoval 0, Paige 0.

Halftime--SPU 26, CSLA 21.