SPU Women Receive First-Ever No. 1 Basketball National Ranking
February 12, 2003

SEATTLE (Feb. 12) - Seattle Pacific University ascended to the nation's No. 1 ranking in women's basketball, marking the first such occurrence in the program's 28-year existence.

Following a seven-week stay at No. 2, the unbeaten Falcons received 23 of 24 first-place votes and 599 points altogether in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll for NCAA Division II.

South Dakota State, which had been No. 1 since Dec. 18, dropped to No. 2 following a loss last week at North Dakota, which is now No. 5.

"Every team wants to be the bar for the others, and this week we get a chance to be that bar," said SPU Coach Gordy Presnell, who now has his ninth 20-win season in 16 years. "It's exciting for all of us, particularly the players."

Seattle Pacific, off to its best start at 20-0 and 11 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, resumes play Saturday night by hosting Central Washington. SPU has won 28 straight home games, dating back to a Jan. 18, 2001, loss to Central.

Following road wins over Saint Martin's (73-62) and Northwest Nazarene (81-74), the Falcons have now been victorious in 26 straight regular season games.

Regionally, Seattle Pacific maintained its lead over Cal State Bakersfield and Western Washington. Bakersfield is ranked sixth nationally and Western 20th.

Prior to this season, the highest national ranking for the women's team was No. 6. The last SPU team to receive a midseason No. 1 ranking was men's soccer in 1994.