Stopped short. They may have been stopped this time, but be forewarned: Seattle Pacific University could come back better than ever next season. The Falcons, who were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament earlier this month, are planning to bring back all five starters from the squad which went 22-6 and was ranked 19th in the final national poll. SPU had qualified for the playoffs for the sixth year in a row and none of the 12 players on the roster are seniors.

20-20-20 vision. For the first time in the 27-year existence of women's varsity basketball on the SPU campus, the Falcons have won 20 or more games for three consecutive seasons. Although they were riding the momentum of a six-game win streak going into the playoffs, they fell victim to Cal State Bakersfield, 96-84, in the opening round of the West Regional. The 1-2 punch of Diane Dittburner and Heather Garay combined for 39 of the Roadrunners' 59 second-half points. Cal Poly Pomona wound-up prevailing as the regional champion and went on to successfully defend its NCAA title. The Broncos won each of their three Elite Eight contests by comfortable margins, including the 74-62 victory over Southeast Oklahoma State in the nationally-televised championship game Mar. 23 in Rochester, Minn.

Take five. A year ago, Seattle Pacific came within one point and one second of defeating Cal Poly and earlier this season it held a late second-half lead over the Broncos. Perhaps when the Falcons are another year older and wiser they will seal the deal and make another trip to the Elite Eight. Five starters will return next fall with that in mind. Center Kelley Berglund (Jr., 6-3, Port Angeles, Wa./Washington State) was the Great Northwest Athletic Conference newcomer of the year after leading the team in scoring (16.0) and establishing a new school record for field-goal percentage (.569). In fact, on the strength of her 23-point, nine-rebound performance against Bakersfield, Berglund was voted to the all-West Regional team. Also returning are forwards Kristin Poe (So., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw)­another all-conference pick and the top rebounder (8.1)­and Valerie Gustafson (So., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills), plus two-year starters Stephanie Urrutia (Jr., 5-9, Sunnyside, Wa./Sunnyside) and Kerie Hughes (Jr., 5-6, Mount Vernon, Wa./Mt. Vernon) in the backcourt.

Not standing pat. The Falcons don't figure to stand pat, however. Besides some reserves with the potential to start, there will also be at least two new recruits. Carli Smith, the two-time state B level player of the year from Spokane's Valley Christian High School, signed a national letter of intent last fall. Smith, a 5-foot-11 forward, is one of only 21 players in state history to score over 2000 career points. She led her team to a record of 24-5 and fifth place in the state tournament. At least one more recruit will come aboard after the spring signing period begins Apr. 10.

Late push. There was a time in mid-February when it appeared SPU might be on the outside looking in come March Madness. Going into the final month of the regular season the Falcons could ill-afford a single setback, so they reeled off six straight wins and clinched a playoff berth and a share of second place in the GNAC by beating Central Washington. That win capped a perfect (13-0) season at home, including an 87-74 triumph over eventual conference champion and regional runner-up Western Washington, and it extended the home winning streak to a record 20 games, dating back to Jan. 18, 2001. SPU has won 77 of the last 82 games played at the pavilion.

Wake up, Gordy. Coach Gordy Presnell will live the college coach' s dream this June when he attends commencement exercises without watching a single player on his team walk across the stage. It is the first time in 20 years that the Falcons cannot claim a single senior. Presnell considers next season's team to have among the best combination of experience, skill and talent he has had in his 15 seasons at SPU and expects the Falcons to make a run at the Elite Eight for the second time in program history. There should be five seniors next season.

Just for the record. In addition to Berglund's field-goal percentage mark and the home win streak, Hughes set a new record for season free-throw percentage at .867 (104-120). She surpassed Leanne Bajema who shot .849 in 1990-91. Hughes enters her final season as the career leader as well at .818 (189-231). Berglund barely bettered Tosca Lindberg, who shot .568 in 1991-92. She also set a new single game efficiency standard, hitting all 14 of her shots from the floor Jan. 10 at Anchorage. That also matched the best performance in Div. II this year. Poe's 22 rebounds vs. Saint Martin's Feb. 2 was No. 2 all-time for SPU and the highest single-game total in the GNAC this season.

Attention campers. The Falcons will offer basketball day camps for girls in grades 4-10 at the pavilion this summer. Sessions are June 24-28 and July 22-26, the cost is $150 and includes a ball and t-shirt. Registration forms are available by call (206) 281-2085 or at The Falcons Online.

Put-backs.

• Presnell is putting the final touches on the non-conference schedule for next season. The Falcons will face North Dakota State in the opener of a tip-off tourney in Bellingham. That field includes Colorado Christian. The GNAC/CCAA Challenge is also in Bellingham and features bouts with Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State L.A. just after Christmas
• As a team, the Falcons finished the season ranked first in the GNAC in scoring (80.6), scoring margin (15.8), free-throw percentage (.745) and rebounding margin (+9.0). The Falcons were second nationally in scoring margin, sixth in scoring and ninth in field-goal percentage and rebounding margin
• Berglund led the GNAC in field-goal accuracy, finished third in scoring and seventh in rebounding (7.9). Hughes was the conference leader and No. 12 nationally in free throw percentage and second in assists (5.22). Urrutia finished sixth in assists (3.48), blocked shots (0.78) and three-point percentage (.356). Poe was sixth in rebounding (8.1) and eighth in steals (2.3)
• Urrutia was the first guard to lead the team in blocked shots since that became an official statistic in 1984
• Berglund and Poe each finished with eight double-doubles. Urrutia and Hughes had one apiece
• Presnell got excellent efforts out of his freshman class. Trisha Hermanson (Fr., 5-6, Buckley, Wa./White River) and Emily Faurholt (Fr., 5-11, Kennewick, Wa.) both played in every game. Faurholt finished second in scoring (11.1) and averaged 5.6 boards. Hermanson hit 22 three-pointers. Michelle Beaumont (Fr., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) averaged 8.5 points in 16.4 minutes per game and scored 15 points in the postseason loss
• Cal State Bakersfield was one of only three teams to shoot 45 percent or better vs. the Falcons, who lost for the first time when shooting over 50 percent. Garay, who finished with 31 points, and Dittburner (26) ranked Nos. 1 and 5 in NCAA scoring this season. The Roadrunners forced 27 turnovers and came up with an opponent season-high 15 steals.