The Falcons Online -- Seattle Pacific University Athletics

Going into Final Basketball Games, Falcons Looking Good
March 5, 2003

SEATTLE (Mar. 5) -- With just two games remaining in the basketball regular season, Seattle Pacific University finds itself it great shape with respect to the respective NCAA Division II tournaments.

The SPU men (15-10) are No. 6 in the West Region and play their final games at home; Thursday against Saint Martin's and Saturday versus Central Washington. The top eight teams in the region will advance to the playoffs, with the entire 64-team NCAA bracket to be announced Monday (Mar. 10) at 10 a.m. PST.

Cal State San Bernardino is the top men's team in the West. In addition to Seattle Pacific, other Great Northwest Athletic Conference teams in playoff contention are Humboldt State (No. 3) and Alaska Fairbanks (No. 5).

While the undefeated Falcon women (25-0) have been certain of a postseason bid for several weeks, they have yet to wrap-up the top seed in the West and, thus, earn the right to host the regional tourney. Seattle Pacific, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation for the fourth week in a row, is also No. 1 in the region but Cal State Bakersfield (24-1) is in hot pursuit.

Seattle Pacific, receiving all 25 first-place votes, was a unanimous choice for the top of the Div. II rankings. It hosts Western Oregon Thursday and Humboldt State Saturday to complete the regular season.

The site of the women's regional, to be held Mar. 14, 15 and 17, will be announced Sunday night (Mar. 9) at 7 p.m. PST.

Other GNAC women's teams among the top 10 in the West are Western Washington (No. 3), Central Washington (No. 5) and Northwest Nazarene (No. 6). Nationally, Bakersfield is No. 5 and Western Washington No. 24.

NCAA West Region Rankings
Men - 1. Cal State San Bernardino (21-4); 2. Brigham Young-Hawaii (17-3); 3. Humboldt State (22-4); 4. Cal Poly Pomona (19-6); 5. Alaska Fairbanks (18-7); 6. Seattle Pacific (15-10); 7. Cal State Bakersfield (18-7); 8. Sonoma State (16-9); 9. Chico State (16-9); 10. Hawaii Hilo (16-9).
Women - 1. Seattle Pacific (25-0); 2. Cal State Bakersfield (24-1); 3. Western Washington (20-5); 4. Montana State - Billings (20-6); 5. Central Washington (15-8); 6. Northwest Nazarene (17-8); 7. Cal State Stanislaus (17-8); 8. Cal State Chico (15-9); 9. Sonoma State (15-10); 10. UC Davis (15-10).

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

Rank	School	Record	Total Points	Last Week
1.	Seattle Pacific University (25)	625	25-0	1
2.	California University Of PA	599	26-1	2
3.	Bentley College	568	26-2	3
4.	South Dakota State University	549	25-2	4
5.	California State University - Bakersfield	532	24-1	5
6.	Arkansas Tech University	484	24-3	6
7.	University Of South Dakota	466	24-3	7
8.	University Of Indianapolis	440	25-2	9
9.	Washburn University	411	24-3	11
10.	North Dakota State University	371	24-5	12
11.	University Of North Dakota	359	22-5	8
12.	Columbus State University	358	25-2	13
13.	Angelo State University	319	24-3	10
14.	Drury University	313	24-3	14
15.	University Of Central Arkansas	278	23-4	15
16.	Glenville State College	254	24-3	16
17.	Fort Valley State University	249	27-3	17
18.	Armstrong Atlantic State University	213	24-3	18
19.	Grand Valley State University	167	23-5	19
20.	Hillsdale College	146	23-4	22
21.	Emporia State University	65	21-6	20
22.	Longwood University	62	23-4	25
23.	University of Minnesota-Duluth	50	22-4	NR
24.	Western Washington University	45	20-5	23
25.	Northern Kentucky University	43	20-6	21