SEATTLE (Jan. 21) – Seattle Pacific University stands atop the first women’s basketball regional rankings for NCAA Division II. The undefeated Falcons (14-0), who are No. 5 nationally in the coaches poll, were followed by Grand Canyon (Az.) and Western Washington in the West Region.

SPU hosts Humboldt State Thursday at 5:30. The Falcons have won 29 consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference games over three seasons. They have beaten four of the other top nine teams in the region this season.

The top team in the region will earn the right to host the eight-team regional tournament beginning Mar. 12. SPU hosted the 2003 regional.

In the men's regional rankings, Seattle Pacific was not eligible with a sub-.500 (7-8) record. However, it owns wins over two of the top five teams, Humboldt State and Alaska Anchorage. The Falcons play Central Washington in Brougham Pavilion Thursday at 7:30.

In this week’s NCAA individual statistics, Ralph Steele (Jr., 6-2, Birmingham, Al.) is No. 3 in free throw accuracy (.939, 46-49) and Jason Chivers (Jr., 6-8, Los Angeles, Ca.) is fifth in rebounding (11.5). The men’s team is No. 4 in free throw percentage (.774). For the women, center Brittney Kroon (So., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.) is No. 2 in blocked shots (3.7).

WEST REGIONAL POLLS:
Women - 1. Seattle Pacific (14-0); 2. Grand Canyon (10-3), 3. Western Washington (11-3), 4. Cal State Bakersfield (10-3), 5. Cal Poly Pomona (9-4), 6. UC San Diego (8-5), 7. Sonoma State (8-5), 8. San Francisco State (8-5), 9. Montana State-Billings (10-7), 10. Saint Martin 's (7-6).
Men - 1. Cal State San Bernardino (12-1); 2. BYU-Hawaii (14-2); 3. Cal State Bakersfield (11-2); 4. Humboldt State (14-3); 5. Alaska Anchorage (12-4); 6. Hawaii Hilo (11-3); 7. Cal Poly Pomona (9-4); 8. Western Washington (10-5); 9. Alaska Fairbanks (9-5); 10. Montana State-Billings (9-4).