The Falcons Online -- Seattle Pacific University Athletics

Falcons Women Steady at No. 2 in Nation, No. 1 in West
January 22, 2003

SEATTLE (Jan. 22) -- For the third time this season the Seattle Pacific University women's basketball team will go to Bellingham for a bout with another nationally-ranked foe.

The unbeaten Falcons (5-0, 14-0), ranked No. 2 among NCAA Division II teams for the fourth week in a row, face No. 16 Western Washington (4-0, 11-2) Thursday night at 7 in Carver Gymnasium. The winner will take over sole possession of first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

SPU continues to trail South Dakota State (16-0) in the coaches poll conducted by USA Today/ESPN. California (Pa.) and Washburn (Ks.), the nation's only other unbeaten teams, are ranked Nos. 3 and 4.

The Falcons defeated nationally-ranked North Dakota State and Cal Poly Pomona during early season tournaments held in Bellingham.

SPU remained No. 1 in the NCAA West Region rankings which determine postseason tournament bids and seeding. Seattle Pacific is followed by Cal State Bakersfield, Montana State Billings and Western Washington.

In the men's regional rankings, SPU moved from No. 10 to No. 8. the Falcons (4-1, 8-6) play at Western Oregon Thursday and then face Humboldt State, the No. 2 team in the nation and No. 1 in the West, Saturday night in Arcata, Calif.

NCAA Regional Rankings
Women: 1. Seattle Pacific (14-0); 2. Cal State Bakersfield (12-1); 3.

Montana State-Billings (12-3); 4. Western Washington (11-2); 5. Sonoma State (10-3); 6. Alaska Anchorage (7-5); 7. Northwest Nazarene (9-4); 8. Cal State Chico (7-5); 9. UC Davis (8-5); 10. Cal State Stanislaus (7-6).
Men: 1. Humboldt State (13-1); 2. Cal State San Bernardino (9-4); 3. Hawaii-Hilo (12-5); 4. Cal Poly Pomona (10-3); 5. Brigham Young-Hawaii (9-2); 6. Cal State Bakersfield (10-3); 7. Western Washington (9-5); 8. Seattle Pacific (8-6); 9. Hawaii Pacific (12-4); 10. Alaska Fairbanks (11-4).

USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll

Rank	School	Record	Total Points	Last Week
1.	South Dakota State University - Brookings (24)	624	16-0	1
2.	Seattle Pacific University	593	14-0	2
3.	California University Of PA (1)	580	16-0	3
4.	Washburn University - Topeka	553	15-0	4
5.	University Of North Dakota - Grand Forks	506	15-2	7
6.	Bentley College - Waltham	474	16-2	8
7.	Grand Valley State University - Allendale	451	16-1	9
8.	North Dakota State University - Fargo	440	15-3	5
9.	Arkansas Tech University - Russellville	404	13-2	10
10.	University Of Central Arkansas - Conway	397	14-2	6
11.	California State University - Bakersfield	380	12-1	11
12.	Glenville State College - Glenville	326	11-1	13
13.	Angelo State University - San Angelo	301	13-1	15
14.	University Of South Dakota - Vermillion	299	14-2	12
15.	Missouri Western State - Saint Joseph	282	11-3	14
16.	Western Washington University - Bellingham	242	11-2	16
17.	Delta State University - Cleveland	188	10-2	21
18.	Shaw University - Raleigh	150	13-2	24
19.	Drury University - Springfield	140	16-3	18
20.	Northern Kentucky University - Highland Heights	138	12-3	22
21.	University Of Indianapolis - Indianapolis	131	13-2	19
22.	Hillsdale College - Hillsdale	102	14-2	NR
23.	Fort Valley State University - Fort Valley	84	13-3	17
24.	University Of Minnesota - Duluth	60	13-2	NR
25.	Bellarmine University - Louisville	57	12-4	20