It's rivalry week. With three significant school records now in the books, No. 2-ranked Seattle Pacific University lowers its collective head and adjusts its focus on a pair of historic rivalries this week. The unbeaten Falcons (5-0, 14-0), riding a 14-game winning streak, remain on the road but stay close to home for a couple of Great Northwest Athletic Conference contests. Sole possession of first place in the GNAC will be at stake Thursday (Jan. 23) when SPU visits defending conference champion and 16th-ranked Western Washington (4-0, 11-2). Saturday (Jan. 25) marks the annual crosstown trip to Seattle University (2-4, 7-7). Homecoming week brings the Alaska schools to the pavilion.

Broken record. Another week, another record. Or so it seems in this extraordinary season to date. First it was highest national ranking, then it was then it was a GNAC-record 35 points by Michelle Beaumont (So., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome), followed by the program's best-ever start. Last week the Falcons erased still another standard, defeating a determined Central Washington squad, 63-60, to win their record 14th game in a row. The old record of 13 consecutive wins was set in 1996-97. SPU has won 20 straight regular season games, dating back to Feb. 7, 2002, and a defeat at Western.

Close call. The Falcons' trip to Ellensburg was fraught with substantial nailbiting and sweaty palms. It was not so much a triumph as a survival course. Nicholson Pavilion held true to its reputation for being a particularly unfriendly building where the SPU had dropped three of its previous four games. Despite shooting 41 percent and 22 turnovers, Seattle Pacific nursed a small lead for the final 24 minutes. A pair of clutch free-throws by Kerie Hughes (Sr., 5-6, Mount Vernon, Wa./Mount Vernon) with 1 second remaining finally put Central on ice. It was the first close call since the season-opening, 70-67 victory over North Dakota State. Of the 14 wins, 12 have been by 14 points or more and the average margin is 25.5 points.

A battle in Bellingham. SPU will arrive in Bellingham familiar with both their foe and the court. The Falcons have played four times in Carver Gym during tournaments this season, including wins over nationally-ranked North Dakota State and Cal Poly Pomona. It was also the site of Beaumont's breakout performance Dec. 28 vs. Cal State L.A. A consequence of playing in three common tournaments, including one in Seattle, is that Seattle Pacific and Western have seen a lot of each other this season and there figures to be no surprises when they take the court. The two teams have split their last 20 meetings, with 14 of those games having been decided by eight points or less.

Opportunity knocks. When Coach Gordy Presnell asks Carli Smith (Fr., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) to check into the game, usually about six-to-eight minutes after tipoff, her heart does not skip a beat. Instead, she goes right to work, making the most of her time on the floor. Smith has reached double-figures in each of the last four games, averaging 13.5 points and 10.0 rebounds in 17.0 minutes per contest. Last Saturday, Smith was the only Falcon post to be effective in the paint, leading her team with 14 points and seven rebounds. Although a non-starter, she ranks fifth in GNAC field-goal accuracy (.560) and eighth in rebounding (7.1) and is averaging 9.4 points.

On the outside looking in. Apart from Smith, it was the perimeter players who largely carried the day at Central. Hughes, Beaumont and Stephanie Urrutia (Sr., 5-9, Sunnyside, Wa.) totaled 34 points while Urrutia also had six boards and five assists. For the first time, posts Kelley Berglund (Sr., 6-3, Port Angeles, Wa./Washington State) and Valerie Gustafson (Jr., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) both struggled offensively, finishing with seven and six points, respectively. Berglund did make four steals and Gustafson blocked two shots. They will face a tall order at Bellingham. Six-foot-6 center Susan Rodgers and sidekick Stacey Miller combine to average over 32 points and 12 rebounds.

Put-backs. SPU retained its No. 2 ranking for the third straight week in the poll released on Jan. 15. Top-ranked South Dakota State won both games last week. Other West Region teams among the top 25 are Cal State Bakersfield at No. 11 and WWU...Kristin Poe (Jr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa.), continues to rehabilitate the torn MCL in her left knee and is expected to return by early February...Offensively, the Falcons lead the GNAC in seven categories, including scoring (84.6), scoring defense (59.1), free-throw percentage (.754), rebounding (+11.7), steals (13.9) and three-point accuracy (.395). They are second to Western in field-goal percentage (.485). Individually, Mandy Wood (Fr., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) is first in three-point percentage (.677). Beaumont is No. 2 in three-point percentage (.541) and third in free throw percentage (.839). Gustafson is No. 2 in field-goal percentage (.611). Berglund is fourth in rebounding (8.5) and field-goal shooting (.567) and blocked shots (0.93). Hughes is fifth in assists (4.8). Brittney Kroon (Fr., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak./Wasilla) is fourth in blocks (1.00).

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.