L.A. Story. With final exams behind them and Christmas just over a week away, the No. 10-ranked Seattle Pacific University women’s basketball team travels to Los Angeles this week for some stiff competition in the CCAA/GNAC Challenge at Cal State L.A. (Dec. 19-20). The undefeated Falcons (8-0) meet Cal State L.A. (1-3) Friday (Dec. 19) then take on Cal Poly Pomona (5-0) Saturday afternoon (Dec. 20). After that comes a 19-day break for the holidays. Great Northwest Athletic Conference play resumes Jan. 8 at home vs. Western Washington.

Give them a 10. After being ranked 13th, Seattle Pacific moved up three more spots to No. 10 in the NCAA Division II rankings last week. On the Falcons’ heels is Cal State Bakersfield, which is now No. 12 in the USA Today/ESPN poll conducted by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Unbeaten Cal Poly Pomona, national champions in 2001 and 2002, was among those schools receiving votes and could break into the top 25 when the next poll is released Tuesday (Dec. 16). SPU currently owns a 41-game regular season win streak and is outscoring opponents by an average of 27.2 points a game.

Balanced bunch. Coach Gordy Presnell has to be pleased with his team’s play at this point in the season, especially after taking care of business with two dominating road wins last week. Against Warner Pacific, the Falcons jumped out to a 26-0 lead and never looked back, winning 97-60. Guard Michelle Beaumont (Jr., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) led the way with 17 points as four players scored in double figures. The next night, the Falcons had five players reach double digits against Northwest College, with reserve guard Mandy Wood (So., 5-7, Port Angeles, Wa.) scoring a game-high 16 as they pulled away early in the second half and won, 92-48. Eight SPU players are averaging more than six points while nine are playing between 14.5 and 27.0 minutes a game.

Extended time. As a result of the Falcons’ quick start against Warner Pacific, Presnell was able to substitute in his reserves early and often. No player logged more than 19 total minutes while 11 of 12 scored. Getting extended time were SPU freshmen Tara Jacob (5-10, Edmonds, Wa./Meadowdale), Anna Soule (5-5, Puyallup, Wa./Emerald Ridge) and Rachel Strand (6-2, Shoreline, Wa./King’s) as each set new scoring highs. Jacob had seven points (3-4 FGs), six rebounds and two blocks in 15 minutes of action. Soule was 3-3 from the field for six points (10 min.) and Strand chipped in five points (1-1 treys) and four boards in 18 minutes.

Thrice as nice. Three players were consistently productive in SPU’s two wins last week. Valerie Gustafson (Sr., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) totaled a quiet 27 points (10-16 FGs) and 13 rebounds after dominating performances the previous two games. Gustafson still leads the GNAC in scoring at 18.9 points per game, is No. 3 in field-goal percentage (.564) and No. 4 in steals (2.38). Kristin Poe (Sr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw) scored 12 points in each contest while leading the team in rebounds (17 total). Poe also dished out six assists against Warner Pacific and had four steals vs. Northwest. She is eighth in GNAC rebounding (7.6 rpg). Brittney Kroon (So., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.) ended the week with 23 points (10-15 FGs), 13 boards and three blocks. Her 3.1 blocks average is still tops in the GNAC.

Put-backs. After missing the Warner Pacific game because of the flu, Carli Smith (So., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) returned to action against Northwest College, scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds in 19 minutes. She leads the team in rebounding and is No. 7 in the GNAC (8.1 rpg)...SPU will visit Disneyland while in Southern California and then take nine days off for Christmas before returning to practice on Dec. 30...Jenny Poe (So., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw-Portland State) leads the conference with a 3.0 to 0.6 assists-to-turnover ratio and is No. 6 in steals (2.0)...Amy Taylor (Jr., 5-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood-Oregon) is third in GNAC free-throw percentage (.889) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.20)...Kroon is No. 4 in GNAC field-goal percentage (.558)...The Falcons lead the GNAC in scoring offense (84.8), scoring margin (+27.2), field-goal percentage (.460), field-goal percentage defense (.325), rebounding offense (46.2), assists (20.62), steals (12.25), blocks (6.38), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.16) and defensive rebounds (30.0). SPU is No. 2 in rebounding margin (+7.9), turnover margin (+6.38) and offensive rebounding (16.25).

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.

SPU Coaches. Coach Gordy Presnell was voted the 2003 Russell Athletic/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year for NCAA Division II last season after having also been named both conference and regional coach of the year. He has never registered a losing season in 16 years at the helm of the Seattle Pacific University basketball program. Presnell 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 21 wins per season and qualified for the playoffs 11 times, including an Elite Eight appearance in 1998.

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.