Tipping off. The first fruits from more than a month of practice and scrimmaging will be on display when the 22nd-ranked Seattle Pacific University women’s basketball team hosts the Falcon Hoop Classic Friday and Saturday (Nov. 21-22) at Brougham Pavilion. SPU opens the season against UC San Diego (10-17 last season) Friday (Nov. 21) then meets Montana State Billings (21-7) in a rematch of the West Region semifinal Saturday (Nov. 22). Rounding out the tournament field is Central Washington, which will play at 1 p.m. each day. Seattle Pacific travels to a tournament at Nampa, Id., Nov. 29-30.

Recogntion already. The Falcons are coming off a historic 29-1 season and despite losing its top three scorers to graduation they have been installed as the preseason favorite in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. After finishing eighth among NCAA Division II teams in the final USA Today/ESPN poll last season they are No. 22 this preseason. SPU, with just two starters returning, was virtually a unanimous choice in the GNAC preseason coaches poll, earning nine of 10 first-place votes.

Changing roles. Coach Gordy Presnell’s squad includes eight returnees, including seniors Valerie Gustafson (6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) and Kristin Poe (5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw). The pair are expected to fulfill leadership roles both on and off the court.

“They’re both extremely athletic and tenacious,” says Presnell. “They will have a little different role for us this year because we’ll need them to score a bit more for us to be successful.”

Gustafson, who averaged 9.9 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 56 percent from the field a year ago, will hold down the power forward spot while Poe, a fifth-year senior, will provide leadership and toughness on the outside.

Super sophs. Seattle Pacific’s underclassmen, particularly second-year players Carli Smith (So., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian), Mandy Wood (So., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa./Port Angeles) and Brittney Kroon (So., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.), are expected to make a big impact. Smith was the top nonstarter in the GNAC, averaging 8.1 points and 7.3 rebounds to earn conference freshman of the year honors. Her toughest competition came from Wood, who set an SPU record and led the league in three-point shooting. A 6-foot-4 post, Kroon led the team in blocks and her continued development is vital to the team’s success.

Perimeter loaded. The Falcons’ perimeter game is in good shape with the return of starting guard Michelle Beaumont (Jr., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) and the addition of two Division I transfers, Amy Taylor (Jr., 5-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood-Oregon) and Jenny Poe (So., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw-Portland State). Beaumont averaged 7.7 points a year ago, including a conference record 35 points in one outing. Taylor, who was Oregon’s most improved player last season, is moving from the two guard spot to play point. Jenny Poe, the younger sister of Kristin, was a part-time starter at Portland State. Also playing a significant role is Trisha Hermanson (Jr., 5-6, Buckley, Wa./White River), the backup point guard the past two seasons.

Early signees. The Falcons bolstered their inside game with the early signing of two recruits to national letters of intent. Joining SPU next season are Quinn Brewe from Lynnwood’s Meadowdale High School and Lexi Schaar of Minnesota’s Crookston High School. Brewe, a 6-1 power forward, averaged 15.9 points and 10.3 rebounds in her junior year while helping lead Meadowdale to a fourth-place finish at the Class 3A state tourney. Schaar is a 6-4 center who earned all section honors as a junior while averaging 15 points, eight boards and 2.8 blocks.

Put-backs. Presnell is leaning toward a regular rotation of nine players. A tentative starting lineup is Kroon, Gustafson, Taylor, Beaumont and Kristin Poe. The top reserves are Hermanson, Wood, Smith and Jenny Poe...Seattle Pacific takes a 33-game regular season win streak into Friday’s opener. It has won 34 regular season home games in a row, dating back to Jan. 18, 2001...The Falcons have won their last four openers and 15 of 16 under Presnell...Although Presnell did not schedule any preseason exhibitions, the Falcons did scrimmage Gonzaga. The perimeter game proved extremely sharp and SPU more than held its own against the Zags, who are picked second in the West Coast Conference...The lone GNAC game prior to New Year’s is at home Dec. 4 against Central Washington, picked second in the conference. Three of the first six games are versus teams which qualified for the 2003 regional... Mackenzie Duffin (So., 6-2, Kent, Wa./Kent-Meridian) joins the post rotation after being a redshirt last year. Also in the mix are Tara Jacob (Fr., 5-10, Edmonds, Wa./Meadowdale) and Rachel Strand (Fr., 6-2, Shoreline, Wa./King’s). Among the backcourt reserves is Anna Soule (Fr., 5-5, Puyallup, Wa./Emerald Ridge) ...Beth Christensen (Fr., 5-5, Enumclaw, Wa.) will redshirt this season...Kelley Berglund, the top scorer and rebounder, is now an assistant coach. Presnell’s top aide is Jamie Craighead. Three key players from last year’s team remain active in the game. In addition to Berglund, GNAC player of the year Kerie Hughes is playing professionally in Australia and is currently the top scorer for the Perth Lynx. Stephanie Urrutia is an assistant coach at 25th-ranked Chico State, which visits the pavilion Dec. 6...Cal State Bakersfield, at No. 21, is the only other West team in the preseason rankings.

Tickets, Please. General admission tickets for all SPU home women’s basketball games are priced $5, with students, youth and senior citizens $3 with proper identification. Reserved seating for doubleheaders with men’s games are $7 and $6. Teams or groups can qualify for discount rates by calling (206) 281-2085 in advance.

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.