ARCATA, CA. (Dec. 5) -- Kerie Hughes (Sr., 5-6, Mount Vernon, Wa./Mount Vernon) finished a perfect seven-for-seven from the field and scored a season-high 19 points to lead the Seattle Pacific University women's basketball team past Humboldt State 98-76 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener at the East Gym in Arcata, Calif. The Falcons, currently ranked No. 6 in the WBCA/USA Today national poll, tied the program record for best start at 6-0.

The Falcons (1-0, 6-0) built a 17-point cushion on the Jacks (0-1, 2-3) in the first half with a 60 percent shooting percentage and six three-point conversions. SPU also shined at the charity stripe on 20-for-23 shooting for 87 percent. A 40-33 rebounding edge also helped the Falcons dominate the Jacks.

Valerie Gustafson (Jr., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) had her second-straight double-digit outing with 16 points on eight-for-nine shooting. Stephanie Urrutia (Sr., 5-8, Sunnyside, Wa./Sunnyside) and Carli Smith (Fr., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) also reached double-figuring scoring totals for the Falcons with 17 and 13 points, respectively. Smith also led the Falcons on the glass with eight rebounds.

The Falcons continue their Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule this Saturday at Western Oregon.

SEATTLE PACIFIC -- Poe 6, Gustafson 16, Berglund 3, Hughes 19, Urrutia 17, Smith 13, Wood 6, Garis 2, Casimir 2, Beaumont 0, Lukkes 8, Kroon 6

HUMBOLDT STATE -- Vaefaga 9, Murphy 5, Lynch 21, Earhart 2, Kolesar 15, Johnson 12, Berreth 5, Richelieu 0, Steel 0, Watson 3, Stewart 0

Halftime -- SPU 54, HSU 37