No. 2 Falcons Top Lewis-Clark State Using Balanced Attack
January 4, 2003

SEATTLE (Jan. 4) -- Stephanie Urrutia (Sr., 5-9, Sunnyside, Wa./ Sunnyside) scored 15 points to lead six teammates in double-figures as the Seattle Pacific University women's basketball team topped Lewis-Clark State, 83-58, in a non-conference game Saturday night at Brougham Pavilion.

The Falcons are currently ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division II national poll and Lewis-Clark State is No. 20 among NAIA schools.

The Falcons (2-0, 11-0) began the second half on a 24-9 run over the Warriors (10-5) to build their largest lead of the game at 27 points and break the game open with just under ten minutes remaining. Seattle Pacific recovered from a poor first half of shooting at 41 percent to convert 15-of-28 attempts for 54 percent in the second stanza.

Valerie Gustafson (Jr., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) led the Falcons in the post with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double. She added two blocked shots which came in the opening minutes of the contest.

Trisha Hermanson (So., 5-6, Buckley, Wa./White River) handed out a team-best seven assists in just her third game back since re-joining the roster.

The Falcon defense held the Warriors to just 27 percent shooting in the game, including a 7-for-32 ratio in the first half. Lewis-Clark attempted 26 three-pointers and converted on just six for 23 percent. A swarming Seattle Pacific defense blocked six shots in the first half and forced ten steals overall.

Seattle Pacific began the contest on a 7-0 run and held the Warriors scoreless until the 15:27 mark and without a field-goal through five minutes of play. The Falcon lead reached 17 points with fewer than three minutes remaining in the first period before the Warriors rattled off eight unanswered points to come within striking distance at the half.

Seattle Pacific resumes its conference schedule next Thursday, Jan. 9, with a matchup against Northwest Nazarene at Brougham Pavilion. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

SEATTLE PACIFIC -- Beaumont 4, Gustafson 10, Berglund 11, Hughes 14, Urrutia 15, Smith 12, Wood 11, Hermanson 0, Lukkes 4, Kroon 2.

LEWIS-CLARK STATE -- Coleman 9, Harris 9, West 10, Foot 15, Hazlett 0, Valle 0, Brandt 3, Sim 8, Kalbfleisch 0, Flaig 4.

Halftime -- SPU 42, LCSC 30