ELLENSBURG, WA. (Jan. 26) -- Emily Faurholt (Fr., 5-11, Kennewick, Wa./Kennewick) and Trisha Hermanson (Fr., 5-11, Buckley, Wa./White River) each recorded career-high scoring totals of 26 and 17, respectively, as the Seattle Pacific University women's basketball team fell in overtime to Central Washington University 84-82 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference matchup Saturday at Nicholson Pavilion in Ellensburg.

The Falcons (6-3, 14-4), who were tied with the Wildcats (7-2, 13-4) for second place in the conference heading into Saturday's contest, now fall to the third position in the GNAC. SPU is currently ranked No. 8 in the NCAA Division II ESPN/USA Today national poll and No. 4 in the West Region.

SPU jumped out to an early 11-8 lead at the 13:08 mark in the first half on a tip-in by Faurholt. The Wildcats responded with a 6-0 run to retake the lead with 11 minutes remaining in the half. A jumper and a lay-in by Kelley Berglund (Jr., 6-3, Port Angeles, Wa./Washington State) gave the Falcons a pair of single-point leads with under 10 minutes to go before CWU finished the half on a 20-14 run to take a five-point lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Wildcats came out in the second period geared to put the Falcons away early by going on a 9-0 run to take a 14-point lead at 15:46. The lead reached its climax at 23 with 8:57 to play before SPU mounted a monster comeback in the last eight minutes of the game.

The Falcons erased the Wildcats lead with tough rebounding and five three-pointers in the final five minutes of play. The final three-pointer in regulation by Kerie Hughes (Jr., 5-6, Mt. Vernon, Wa./Mt. Vernon) with :12 remaining capped a 32-9 run by the Falcons to finish the second half and send the game into overtime knotted up at 74 apiece.

Neither team led by more than a basket during the five-minute overtime period. The Falcons held a 82-81 lead with :08 remaining in overtime when Dawnita LiaBraaten nailed a three-pointer for the Wildcats to give CWU an 84-82 lead.

An SPU timeout stopped the clock and gave the Falcons the ball and chance to tie or win the game in the remaining seconds of overtime. Hughes drove the lane and converted a lay-in as the final buzzer sounded that was called off following a conference by the officiating crew.

Hermanson finished the game with five three-pointers on nine attempts while Faurholt hit three-of-four. Hughes and Kristin Poe (So., 5-6, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw) joined Hermanson and Faurholt in double-figures with 10 points apiece. Poe was the Falcons high-rebounder with eight boards. Hughes and Stephanie Urrutia (Jr., 5-9, Sunnyside, Wa./Sunnyside) handed out a game-high four assists each while Urrutia also led the Falcons in steals with three.

Rose Shaw paced the Wildcats with 26 points and 14 rebounds.

The Falcons return home next Thursday, Jan. 31, to face Northwest Nazarene at Brougham Pavilion. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m..

SPU -- Faurholt 26, Hughes 10, Urrutia 6, Poe 10, Berglund 8, Hermanson 17, Beaumont 4, Lukkes 0, Cadotte 1, Gustafson 0.

CWU -- Jensen 12, Kautzky 18, Sargent 2, Martin 14, Shaw 26, LiaBraaten 10, Ellis 0, Dixon 2, Vincent 0.

Halftime -- SPU 31, CWU 36; Regulation -- SPU 74, CWU 74