SEATTLE (Oct. 29) – Despite losing its top three scorers to graduation, Seattle Pacific University has been installed as the favorite once again in women’s basketball for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference crown.

The Falcons, with the fewest number of returning starters and the only GNAC team with a returning all-star, were virtually a unanimous choice in the preseason coaches poll, earning nine of 10 first-place votes.

Seattle Pacific opens its 17th season under coach Gordy Presnell Nov. 21 by hosting UC San Diego. Central Washington has been picked as the top contender and the Wildcats visit Brougham Pavilion for the GNAC opener Dec. 4.

SPU won the conference title in 2003, going 18-0 in league play. They won their first 29 games overall before falling in the NCAA Division II West Region championship game.

Michelle Beaumont (Jr., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) and Valerie Gustafson (Sr., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) are the returning starters. Beaumont hit 33 three-pointers and averaged 7.7 points while Gustafson shot 55 percent from the field and averaged 9.9 points. They are among seven members of last year’s regular rotation.

Bolstering that group are three freshmen and two transfers, including guard Amy Taylor (Jr., 5-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood) who played at Oregon the past two seasons.

Gone from last year’s squad are all-region selections Kelley Berglund and Kerie Hughes, plus guard Stephanie Urrutia. Berglund, the top scorer and rebounder, is now an assistant coach. Hughes, the GNAC player of the year at point guard, is playing professionally in Australia.

Great Northwest Coaches Poll    2002-03 Pts 
1.      Seattle Pacific (9)     29-1    108 
2.      Central Washington (1)  17-9    90 
3.      Western Washington      22-6    79 
4.      Saint Martin’s          13-14   62 
5.      Northwest Nazarene      20-9    60 
6.      Seattle                  9-18   45 
7.      Alaska Anchorage        11-15   41 
8.      Western Oregon          13-14   34 
9.      Humboldt State           9-18   24 
10.     Alaska Fairbanks         8-19   17
(Note: First-place votes in parenthesis.  
Points awarded on a 11-9-8-7-6-5-4--3-2-1 basis).