POMONA, Calif. (Mar. 6) -- While the trend in postseason games is for deliberate pace and lower scoring, Seattle Pacific University expects just the opposite when the 9th-ranked women's basketball begins play Thursday night here in the NCAA Division II West Regional.

The Falcons (22-5) take a six-game win streak into their first-round game with Cal State Bakersfield (22-5), matchup which features two of the nation's highest-scoring teams, both averaging more than 79 points per game.

Seattle Pacific's balanced attack revolves around all-conference center Kelley Berglund while the roadrunners feature not one, but two of the top six scorers in the NCAA. Forward Heather Garay leads Div. II at 24.8 points per game while 5-7 guard Diane Dittburner averages 21.6 and has hit 94 three-pointers.

"They present problems with two such strong performers," said SPU Coach Gordy Presnell. "On the other hand, we have pretty good balance. I expect an up-tempo, high-scoring game."

The winner moves on to Friday night's semifinal game and meets top seed, No. 2-ranked and defending national champion Cal Poly Pomona (23-4). SPU fell to the Broncos in last year's regional championship game, 63-62.