Defending high ground. Unbeaten and No. 2-ranked Seattle Pacific University resumes Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball play this week with an eye on making some history. The Falcons (2-0, 11-0) have a shot at matching their best-ever win streak and surpassing the program's best start if they can extend their run of 24 consecutive home wins. It won't be easy though as GNAC contender Northwest Nazarene (1-0, 7-2) arrives Thursday night (Jan. 9), followed by Saint Martin's (0-1, 4-6) Saturday (Jan. 11). After that, SPU goes on the road for its next three games, beginning Jan. 18 at conference co-leader Central Washington.

History majors. The Falcons have shown little mercy this season, either to opponents or the record book. The No. 2 ranking among NCAA Division II teams is higher than ever and with a victory on Thursday, they can match the 1997-98 team that began 12-0. That squad is considered Coach Gordy Presnell's best ever, finishing 27-3 and earning a trip to the Elite Eight. By going a step further and winning on Saturday, SPU would equal the program's longest win streak of 13 games, set in 1996-97. The 24 straight wins in Brougham Pavilion is already a record and dates back Jan. 18, 2001.

Keep on truckin'. At first glance, onlookers would say Seattle Pacific has enjoyed smooth sailing so far. But Presnell would take issue with that stance. He has yet to have his full compliment of players available, his team has faced four nationally-ranked opponents and eight of the first 11 games have been played on the road. That road is littered with road kill, however, with the Falcons steamrolling over foes by an average of 26.6 points per game. More than talent, Presnell said his team has exhibited unselfishness and character. Most recently it was point guard Kerie Hughes (Sr., 5-6, Mount Vernon, Wa.) who provided proof. After getting two teeth knocked out, she returned to the Cal Poly Pomona game Dec. 27 and, despite suffering a sprained MCL, stayed in the contest until an 87-73 defeat of the two-time defending national champions was assured.

Game of the decade. While Hughes refused to back down, others have stepped forward. Since replacing the injured Kristin Poe (Jr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw) in the starting lineup, Michelle Beaumont (So., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa/Sehome) is going gangbusters. Beaumont has averaged 16.5 points in her four starts, including a GNAC-record 35 points vs. Cal State L.A. to earn conference co-player of the week. It was the best single-game scoring performance by an SPU player in three years and tied for No. 8 all-time. Teammate Kelley Berglund (Sr., 6-3, Port Angeles, Wa./Washington State) owned the old GNAC record of 33 points, set last season. Beaumont finished the game 11-for-17 from the floor, including 4-7 from behind the three-point arc, and converted 9-10 attempts at the foul line. Since becoming a starter she is shooting 54 percent from the field, including 7-13 from three-point range.

Our gal Val. It's darn near impossible to replace Poe's tenacity on defense and nose for getting to loose balls but Valerie Gustafson (Jr., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) is giving it her all. Over the past two weeks as the perimeter shooters open up the lane, Gustafson has reached double-digits and averaged 6.5 rebounds in the last four games, while adding seven assists and 10 steals. Last week she posted her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Lewis-Clark State. Gustafson has stepped it up defensively as well, ranking second on the team in steals with 2.18 per game. Since the loss of Poe, Gustafson has averaged 12.5 points, sinking 69 percent of her shots from the field.

We need a Urrutia. Actually it's been Stephanie Urrutia (Sr., 5-9, Sunnyside, Wa.) who has been moved into Poe's wing spot, enabling Presnell to pair Beaumont and Hughes in the backcourt. Urrutia joined Beaumont on the CCAA/GNAC Challenge all-tournament team following a season-high 19 points in the win over Pomona. Since sliding over to the small forward position, Urrutia is averaging 11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds, but more importantly has racked up 24 assists and eight steals. Poe, who suffered a torn MCL in her left knee during practice the Dec. 12, is planning to return to action by the end of the month.

Put-backs. Top-ranked South Dakota State plays at No. 4 North Dakota State Friday night and at St. Cloud State (Mn.) Saturday...For the first time this season, six Falcons reached double-figures in scoring against L-C State. For the season, eight players are averaging between 7.0-13.4 points...Urrutia handed out a career-high nine assists against Cal State L.A...Berglund recorded her fourth double-digit rebounding performance against L.A. with 11 boards...Hughes, who finished with 11 points and eight assists vs. Pomona, missed the CSLA game with the knee sprain but returned vs. L-C State to score 14 points and snare seven rebounds...Trisha Hermanson (So., 5-6, Buckley, Wa./White River) started in place of Hughes...The Falcons lead the conference in scoring (85.1), free-throw percentage (.758) and steals (14.1). They are second in scoring defense (58.5), field-goal percentage (.485), three-point field-goal percentage (.415), rebounding margin (+10.1), blocked shots (4.3) and field-goal percentage defense (.368). Individually, Gustafson and Mandy Wood (Fr., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa./Port Angeles) rank first in field-goal percentage (.615). Wood also ranks first in three-point percentage (.760). Berglund is sixth in field-goal shooting (.557) and fifth in rebounding (8.4). Hughes is fifth in assists (4.9) and ranks third in assists-to-turnovers ratio (1.9). Brittney Kroon (Fr., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.) is sixth in blocks (0.82). Urrutia is sixth in assists (4.5), fifth in free throw accuracy (.815) and ninth in blocked shots (0.73). Carli Smith (Fr., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) is ninth in field-goal percentage (.540).

Tickets, please. General admission tickets for all SPU home games are priced at $5 with youth, students and senior citizens $3 with proper identification. Reserved seating for doubleheaders including men's games are $7 and $6. Groups or teams can qualify or discounts by calling (206) 281-2085 in advance.

SPU Coaches. Coach Gordy Presnell reached the 300-victory milestone last season and has never registered a losing season in 15 years at the helm of the Seattle Pacific University basketball program. He took a team that had not recorded a winning record in nine seasons or earned a trip to the postseason and transformed it into a Division II powerhouse. During his tenure, the Falcons have averaged more than 20 wins per season and qualified for the playoffs 11 times, including an Elite Eight appearance in 1998. Joining Presnell's staff this season are two former University of Oregon players. Lindsey Dion served as a volunteer graduate assistant last season when the Ducks won the WNIT title. She played on Oregon's Pac-10 championship team in 2000 and was co-captain of another NCAA tournament team in 2001. Jamie Craighead completed her career last season as Oregon's leader in three-pointers and started all 35 games, averaging 7.9 points.

Missing links. For the latest and best information on Seattle Pacific University athletics, stay where you're at -- on The Falcons Online. For updated standings and statistics, see the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web site.