BELLINGHAM, WA. (Nov. 22) -- Center Kelley Berglund (Sr., 6-3, Port Angeles, Wa./Washington State) registered 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Seattle Pacific University women's basketball team past North Dakota State 70-67 in the first game of the 6th annual WWU/Lynda Goodrich Classic at Sam Carver Gymnasium. The Falcons and Bison are currently ranked No. 15 and 18, respectively, in the USA Today/WBCA national poll.

NDSU (3-1) led 58-57 with under six minutes left before the Falcons (1-0) went on a 9-2 run to take a 66-60 lead on a lay-in by Stephanie Urrutia (Sr., 5-9, Sunnyside, Wa./Sunnyside) with 3:08 to go. The Falcons never allowed the Bison to within more three points before sealing the victory.

Urrutia was the only other Falcon in double-figures with 14 points. She converted two-of-three three-point attempts and finished 5-of-12 from the floor. Berglund finished 10-of-16 from the floor, but was just four-of-nine from the charity stripe. The Bison shot 45 percent from the floor compared to 38 percent for the Falcons who managed to overcome the edge by outrebounding NDSU 45-to-34. NDSU converted just five of 15 free-throw attempts.

Valerie Gustafson (So., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) picked up a team-high four steals for the Falcons, while Kristin Poe (Jr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw) and Kerie Hughes (Sr., 5-6, Mt. Vernon, Wa./Mt. Vernon) each handed out five assists to lead SPU.

SPU plays its second game of the tournament tomorrow at 5 p.m. versus Colorado Christian.

Halftime -- SPU 33, North Dakota State 35