Heading north. The undefeated Seattle Pacific University women’s basketball team, which moved up to No. 8 in last week’s NCAA Division II rankings, heads to Alaska this week for a pair of tough Great Northwest Athletic Conference road games. The Falcons (3-0, 12-0), who have now won 27 straight GNAC games and 45 consecutive regular season games, play at Alaska Fairbanks (2-1, 6-5) Thursday (Jan. 15) and Alaska Anchorage (0-4, 5-8) Saturday (Jan. 17). SPU then returns to Brougham for Homecoming weekend games against Humboldt State and Western Oregon.

She keeps on tickin’. Kristin Poe (Sr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw) proved she’s arguably one of the toughest competitors around after helping SPU to a pair of wins last week. Against Western Washington, the Falcons trailed early and were struggling offensively when Poe stepped up and scored 16 points in the final 11:08 of the first half to keep SPU in the game. In the second half, she took a blow to the midsection, a foul which forced her to forego a couple free throw attempts and seek sideline treatment. Poe returned to action several minutes later only to get struck in the knee and leave the contest again. Still, she ended the night with a career-high tying 23 points (8-14 FGs, 2-2 treys), eight rebounds, five assists and three steals in a vital 80-71 win. Despite the bruised knee, Poe came back to pitch in nine points, seven boards, four steals and three assists in the 82-66 victory over Seattle University. She shared player of the week honors in the GNAC.

Redemption of the guards. Starting guards Amy Taylor (Jr., 5-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood-Oregon) and Michelle Beaumont (Jr., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) were a dynamic duo in SPU’s win over Seattle University. After the pair struggled against Western Washington (combined six points on 1-of-7 shooting), they both brought their ‘A’ game for Seattle U. Taylor shot lights out (9-11, including 5-6 threes) on her way to scoring a careerhigh 25 points while also dishing six assists. Beaumont was locked on target as well, shooting 6-for-8 from the field for 15 points.

Ms. Consistency. After dominating games early in the season, senior Valerie Gustafson (6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) has since quietly gone about her business as the season rolls on. After scoring 14 points against WWU and adding another 17 vs. Seattle U., Gustafson has now reached double figures for 11 straight games. She leads the Falcons in scoring (17.2 ppg), which ranks her No. 3 overall in the GNAC. Gustafson is accurate, too, hitting nearly 54 percent (84-156) of her shots (No. 4 GNAC). She’s also SPU’s third-leading rebounder, pulling down 6.5 boards a game.

Kroon coming home. The Falcons should get more than just some polite applause at Saturday’s game in Anchorage. Center Brittney Kroon (So., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.), who’s hometown is 45 miles to the north, figures to pull a considerable following. Now the starter in the middle, Kroon ranks No. 2 in NCAA shot-blocking, averaging 3.5 per game. She’s also averaging 7.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and is No. 3 among GNAC field-goal percentage leaders (.542). Kroon and her teammates will get a rather cool reception otherwise. The forecast for Fairbanks Thursday is a high of 16 below zero. Saturday’s high in Anchorage could reach 9 above.

Splendid sophs. Coach Gordy Presnell definitely hit the jackpot with his group of sophomores. While none are flashy, Kroon, Mandy Wood (So., 5-7, Port Angeles, Wa.), Carli Smith (So., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) and Jenny Poe (So., 5- 8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw-Portland State) can be counted on to put up solid numbers for the Falcons. Case in point were last week’s pair of wins, when Wood came off the bench to score 17 points, including five clutch threes, to push SPU past Western. That same game, Poe totaled eight points, seven boards and five assists. Smith led the Falcons in rebounding both nights, including 12 vs. Seattle U.

Put-backs. Only one other Falcon team has made it to 13-0: last year’s squad, which eventually won its first 29. Seattle Pacific entered last week as one of seven undefeated teams remaining in NCAA Division II...The past two SPU teams to start 12-0 (1998 and last season) both reached the West Region championship game of the NCAA tournament...Seattle Pacific should move up in the next national poll, due Tuesday. Two teams in the top five–Washburn and South Dakota–lost...The Falcons now have sole possession of first place in the GNAC. Saint Martin’s and Western Washington are tied for No. 2 at 3-1 in league...The Seattle U. game was the first this season which SPU did not own a lead at halftime. Beginning with a trey just before the break, the Falcons went on a 27-6 run to build an 18-point margin over the Redhawks... Taylor is No. 2 in GNAC free-throw percentage (.923), No. 4 in assist-toturnover ratio (1.45) and No. 9 in three-point field-goal percentage (.373)... Gustafson is No. 4 in steals (2.17) and No. 9 in blocks (0.83)...Smith is the GNAC’s No. 3 rebounder (8.8) and No. 9 in steals (1.73)...Wood is No. 3 in three-point field-goal percentage (.426)...Kristin Poe is No. 8 in GNAC steals (1.75) and No. 9 in rebounds (7.3)...SPU has not lost a conference game since Feb. 7, 2002, at Western Washington...The Falcons lead the conference in offense (82.8), scoring margin (+21.0), field-goal percentage (.456), field-goal percentage defense (.352), three-point field-goal percentage (.376), rebounding offense (44.6), rebounding margin (+6.9) and blocks (6.50). SPU is No. 2 in scoring defense (61.8).

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.