SEATTLE. (Jan 4.) -- Kelley Berglund (Fr., Port Angeles, Wa./Washington State) scored a career-high 26 points to lead the Seattle Pacific University women's basketball past Western Washington University 87-74 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference matchup Saturday at Brougham Pavilion.

SPU is ranked No. 8 in the NCAA Division II ESPN/USA Today national poll while WWU stands at No. 19.

An energetic home court crowd and a three-point play by Berglund helped the Falcons (3-1, 11-2) earn an early 5-0 lead against the Vikings (3-1, 9-3). That is the largest lead SPU would see until halftime as WWU matched their intensity at both ends of the floor.

The first half was a classic seesaw battle with 12 lead changes and three ties after the opening tip. The Falcons broke a 35-35 stalemate to go on a 9-1 run to end the first half with a six-point lead.

The Falcons did not lose their intensity in the second half and extended their first period run to 19-1 during a stretch saw the Vikings go without a field-goal for almost ten minutes. SPU's lead reached its pinnacle at 17 with 15:23 remaining in the second half.

Back-to-back three-point baskets by Megan Quarterman and Julie Walker ended the Vikings scoring drought and began a comeback attempt that brought WWU within striking distance at 75-68 with 3:26 remaining. The Falcons hit 10 of 12 free throws in the final five minutes to hold off the Vikings and seal the victory.

The Falcons shot 50 percent (31-62) for the game, the first time since Nov. 24 they achieved the mark. SPU also shot a season-best 85 percent from the free-throw line, finishing 23 for 27 at the line.

Kristin Poe (So., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw), Kerie Hughes (Jr., 5-6, Mount Vernon, Wa./Mount Vernon) and Emily Faurholt (Fr., 5-11, Kennewick, Wa./Kennewick) joined Berglund in double-figures for the Falcons. Poe notched her first double-double of the season with 16 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. She also led the Falcons in assists with five.

Hughes shot a career-high 14 free-throws and converted 13 for all of her 13 points. Her 13 for 14 free-throw performance ties the Brougham Pavilion record for most free-throws in a game and best free-throw percentage set in 1989 and 1995.

Quarterman paced the Vikings with 17 points.

The Falcons travel to Alaska to play Alaska Fairbanks next Thursday, Jan. 10. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.

SPU -- Faurholt 10, Hughes 13, Urrutia 6, Poe 16, Berglund 26, Hermanson 3, Beaumont 0, Lukkes 2, Cadotte 0, Gustafson 11.

WWU -- Walker 14, Kazcor 4, Miller 14, McGilliveray 10, Rodgers 7, Deboer 0, Quarterman 17, Gerald 6, Toth 2.

Halftime -- SPU 41, WWU 36