Unfriendly territory. Coming off yet another big victory and at full-strength for the first time this season, top-ranked and unbeaten Seattle Pacific University plays its final Great Northwest Athletic Conference road games this week in Alaska. The Falcons (14-0, 23-0) can assure themselves of a GNAC championship as early as Thursday (Feb. 27), when they visit Alaska Anchorage (5-9, 10-12). Saturday afternoon (Mar. 1) they play at Alaska Fairbanks (3-11, 8-15) before returning to Brougham Pavilion for next week's final regular season games, versus Western Oregon and Humboldt State.

Title within grasp. The Falcons took another giant step toward reaching another goal last week, beating second-place and 20th-ranked Western Washington, 102-91, to take a three-game lead with four remaining. Coach Gordy Presnell is looking for the program's second conference title in three years and fourth in seven seasons. But beyond the GNAC, Seattle Pacific is striving to earn the top seed in the West Region, thereby receiving the right to host the first three rounds of the NCAA Division II playoffs. The No. 2 team in the West is Cal State Bakersfield (22-1), winner of 19 straight.

It ain't easy in Alaska. Seattle Pacific will fly into Anchorage somewhat under the radar in this, Iditarod week. The mushers and dogs will get underway Saturday in relatively balmy conditions (temperatures in mid-30s). But things rarely come easily to visitors in Alaska. In fact, although SPU has averaged more than 21 wins over the past four seasons, the team has played only .500 ball (4-4) up there during that span.

Heavy D. Their growing legion of fans is no doubt captivated by their fastbreak offense and ability to score seemingly at will. But the Falcons' defense is doing the job. Perhaps lost amidst the 188 points put up on the scoreboard last week was the defensive carnage. SPU forced a total of 46 turnovers, made 28 steals and blocked 15 shots in the wins over Western and Seattle University. The visitors also combined to shoot less than 36 percent shooting from the floor and the 86-40 score vs. the Redhawks was the fewest points allowed in 53 games. Alaskan native Brittney Kroon (Fr., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak./Wasilla) rejected three shots in each game while starting center Kelley Berglund (Sr., 6-3, Port Angeles, Wa./Washington State) made eight steals last week. The Falcons lead the GNAC in scoring defense, allowing just 61.6 points per contest. Kroon ranks third in blocks (1.23) despite playing just 7.5 minutes per game.

Berglund, big time. Berglund has been at her best when SPU has faced its biggest tests, and the Western game was another example. She not only stymied Susan Rodgers, the Vikings' 6-foot-6 pivot (seven points, five fouls), but anchored the lowpost offense, scoring a team-high 19 points. In seven games against regionally-ranked opposition, Berglund has averaged 17.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 0.86 blocks while shooting 61 percent. All of those figures are above her season averages, and bode well for the playoffs.

Full power. For the first time, Presnell had his full compliment of players available late last week as Trisha Hermanson (So., 5-6, Buckley, Wa./White River) returned from a knee injury which sidelined her for two games. Hermanson had also missed the first seven games of the season for academic reasons and forward Kristin Poe (Jr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa.) missed 13 games with a torn MCL before returning earlier this month.

The future looks good. Without question, this is the year the Falcons can make a run at the conference, regional and national championships. They boast leadership, experience, talent, depth and now health. Presnell can also look forward to a bright future. Poe, Kroon, Valerie Gustafson (Jr., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) and Carli Smith (Fr., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) all return to the frontline while Hermanson, Michelle Beaumont (So., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) and Mandy Wood (Fr., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) could assume the backcourt responsibilities next season. Gustafson posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards vs. the Vikings while Wood got back into a groove after a brief drought to total 26 points and hit 5-8 three-pointers last week. Smith snared 12 rebounds in 20 minutes against Seattle U. and Beaumont canned 8-13 field goals for the week.

Put-backs. Kerie Hughes (Sr., 5-6, Mount Vernon, Wa./Mount Vernon), like Berglund, lifted her game for Western, finishing with 18 points and seven assists. Hughes, with five steals in the two games, broke into the career top five with 210, replacing Debbie Miller (1995-98). She needs six assists to become No. 5, supplanting Chantel Vinson (1994-98)...Stephanie Urrutia (Sr., 5-9, Sunnyside, Wa./Sunnyside) is likely to get into the career scoring leaders this week. She needs 22 points to bump Elizabeth Fenner (1992-95) from No. 10...The Falcons lead the GNAC in nine statistical categories, including scoring (84.0), scoring margin (+22.4), field-goal percentage (.478), three-point accuracy (.403), rebounding (+8.9), steals (13.48), blocked shots (4.48), scoring defense (61.6) and defensive field-goal percentage (.357)...Nationally, SPU is No. 5 in scoring offense, scoring margin and three-point accuracy...Individually in the GNAC, Wood is first (.537) and Beaumont second (.474) in three-point percentage. Smith is fourth in free-throw percentage (.828), sixth in field-goal accuracy (.536) and seventh in rebounding (7.5). Gustafson is third in field-goal percentage (.578). Hughes is third in assists (5.64), fifth in three-point (.431) and 10th free-throw accuracy (.769). Berglund is fourth in rebounding (8.4) and field-goal shooting (.557), seventh in blocked shots (0.83) and No. 12 in scoring (13.6). Urrutia is fifth in free-throw percentage (.806) and seventh in assists (3.87).

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.