SEATTLE (Jan. 23) -- Kerie Hughes (Sr., 5-6, Mount Vernon, Wa./Mount Vernon) scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Seattle Pacific University women's basketball team past Western Washington 78-62 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game Thursday night at Sam Carver Gym.

The Falcons (6-0, 15-0) are currently ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division II national poll and first in the West Region, while Western (4-1, 11-3) is ranked No. 16. Seattle Pacific extended its record-breaking winning streak to 15 games, snapped Western's win streak at seven games and gained sole possession of the conference lead.

Seattle Pacific snatched the lead from Western for good with 9:46 remaining in the first half, after which the Falcons went on a 23-8 run over a six-minute stretch. The Falcons held a 61-49 edge with 11 minutes left in the game. The Vikings went on a 13-3 run to close to within four, 64-60, with 5:24 to play, but could get no closer as they failed to make a shot from the field after that point.

Hughes' 10 points and six assists led the Falcons offensive onslaught that gained the game's momentum in the first half. She converted three-of-six three- point attempts and handed out a game-high seven assists.

Carli Smith (Fr., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) led the Falcons on the boards with 12 rebounds and added 10 points to complete the double-double.

Kelley Berglund (Sr., 6-3, Port Angeles, Wa./Port Angeles) and Valerie Gustafson (Jr., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) rounded out the Falcons in double-figures with 15 and 12 points, respectively.

Seattle Pacific faces crosstown rival Seattle University on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 5 p.m.

SEATTLE PACIFIC -- Urrutia 8, Gustafson 12, Berglund 15, Hughes 18, Beaumont 9, Smith 10, Hermanson 4, Wood 2, Lukkes 0, Kroon 0.

WESTERN WASHINGTON -- DeBoer 9, Miller 12, Rodgers 10, Quarterman 6, Eggen 0, Dressel 0, Hubbard 0, Donahue 8, McGillivray 15, Gerald 2.

Halftime -- SPU 44, WWU 35