SEATTLE (Jan. 25) -- Valerie Gustafson (Jr., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Seattle Pacific University women's basketball team past Seattle University 78-62 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game Saturday night at Connolly Center.

The Falcons (7-0, 16-0) are currently ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division II national poll and first in the West Region. First-place Seattle Pacific also extended its record-breaking winning streak to 16 games.

Seattle Pacific pulled away from Seattle University (2-6, 7-9) using an 18-3 run to start the second half, building a game-high 23-point edge. The Falcons scored 36 points off 29 Seattle U. turnovers.

A strong second half of shooting at 53 percent was key to the Falcons recovery of a 36 percent first frame that led to just a seven-point halftime edge.

Meanwhile, the Redhawks struggled in both halves at just 37 percent accuracy from the floor. The Redhawks out-rebounded the Falcons 42-to-33, reeling in mostly offensive boards at 19.

Gustafson converted 9-of-13 field-goal attempts. Stephanie Urrutia (Sr., 5-9, Sunnyside, Wa./Sunnyside) joined Gustafson to lead the Falcons offensive charge. Urrutia scored 18 points on six-of-nine shooting. Kelley Berglund (Sr., 6-3, Port Angeles, Wa./Port Angeles) hit 8-of-11 free-throw attempts for 12 points and added a team-high eight rebounds.

Point guard Kerie Hughes (Sr., 5-6, Mount Vernon, Wa./Mount Vernon) also reached double-figures with 11 points and added team-highs of six assists and six steals. Seattle Pacific returns home next week to face Alaska Anchorage on Jan. 30 at Brougham Pavilion.

SEATTLE PACIFIC -- Beaumont 4, Gustafson 19, Berglund 12, Garis 0, Urrutia 18, Smith 0, Hermanson 7, Wood 2, Hughes 11, Casimir 0, Lukkes 3, Kroon 0.

SEATTLE UNIVERSITY -- Welton 16, White 20, Tinsley 2, Young 0, Connolly 12, McCourtie 0, Cordova 0, Trias 0, Swenson 6, Hubbell 0, Dascenzo 0, Epskamp 0, Sommerman 0.

Halftime -- SPU 38, SU 30