And away we go. If champions are made on the road, then the No. 5-ranked Seattle Pacific University women’s basketball team will be tested these next two weeks as they play four straight games away from Brougham Pavilion. The Falcons (7-0, 16-0), winners of their last 31 Great Northwest Athletic Conference games, travel to Northwest Nazarene (3-4, 7-8) Thursday (Jan. 29), then play at Saint Martin’s (6-1, 9-6) Saturday (Jan. 31) in a battle of the GNAC’s top two teams. SPU’s road swing continues at crosstown rival Seattle University next week.

West’s best, so far. The NCAA’s first regional rankings were released last week and, to no one’s surprise, unbeaten Seattle Pacific was sitting in the West’s top spot. Following the Falcons, who have won 49 straight regular season games, were Grand Canyon, Western Washington, Cal State Bakersfield, Cal Poly Pomona, UC San Diego, Sonoma State, San Francisco State, Montana State Billings and Saint Martin's. The top eight teams in the region go to the Division II tournament in March, with the top seed to host. SPU, one of four undefeated teams remaining in Division II, could move up in the national rankings this week after No. 2 North Dakota lost last week.

Seeing stars. Seattle Pacific’s record-setting team from 2002-03 will be honored at Monday’s (Jan. 26) Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sports Star of the Year banquet as the Team of the Year. Coach Gordy Presnell and assistant coach Kelley Berglund, the top scorer and rebounder last season, will accept the Publisher’s Award on behalf of the team.

On the defensive. While much can be said for SPU’s offense–which is tops in the GNAC and No. 11 in the nation (81.3 ppg)–don’t overlook the defensive end. Last week’s wins over Humboldt State and Western Oregon were a prime example of the Falcons’ defensive prowess as they pressured the teams into a combined 38 percent from the field and 48 turnovers. SPU limited WOU to just 37 total shots and just 14 second-half points. In the two wins combined, SPU out-rebounded their opposition 89-61, made 26 steals and blocked 13 shots. It leads the GNAC in a number of defensive categories, including scoring defense (59.6), field-goal percentage defense (.350, No. 14 in DII), blocks (6.75) and steals (11.94). Seattle Pacific also leads in rebounding margin (+8.1).

Getting offensive (minded). Carli Smith (So., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian), the frontline super sub and leading rebounder, isn’t typically known for her offense so it was a pleasant surprise to see her bust out against Humboldt State. Smith led the way with a season-high 16 points (6-7 FGs, 4-5 FTs) while collecting a game-high 12 boards (five offensive) and three steals in 24 minutes off the bench. Smith picked up some of the scoring load for teammate Valerie Gustafson (Sr., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills), who was limited to just eight points because of foul trouble. Smith is No. 5 in GNAC rebounding (8.3 rpg) and No. 8 in steals (1.80 spg).

They’re dishin’ it. There are several similarities between last year’s 29-1 club and the current edition. Both started 16-0, both were ranked in the top five by February and each squad was extremely balanced offensively. Berglund led an ensemble cast just as Gustafson, at 16.1 points per game, paces eight players averaging more than 6.2. And while most teams usually have one playmaker who leads the team in assists, this SPU team is a multi-headed assist monster. Six different players have led the team in assists at some point during the season. The main culprits are Kristin Poe (Sr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw), Amy Taylor (Jr., 5-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood-Oregon) and Mandy Wood (So., 5-7, Port Angeles, Wa.). Poe leads the team with 3.4 assists a game, while Taylor (3.2) and Wood (3.1) aren’t far behind. Jenny Poe (So., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw-Portland State) got into the act against Humboldt State, passing for a career-high eight assists. She’s averaging 2.8 per game.

Put-backs. Guard Michelle Beaumont (Jr., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) had a solid outing against WOU, scoring a game-high 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds, which tied her career-high...Brittney Kroon (So., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.) swatted a total of nine shots in the pair of wins and continues to lead the conference in blocks (3.81), ranking her No. 2 in NCAA Division II. She’s also the GNAC’s No. 5 percentage shooter (.526)...Freshman Rachel Strand (6-2, Shoreline, Wa./King’s) made the most of her four minutes vs. Humboldt, scoring a career-high seven points (3-4 FGs, 1-1 3FGs) and grabbing three boards...The Falcons still lead the GNAC in offense (81.3, No. 11 in DII), scoring margin (+21.8, No. 10 in DII), field-goal percentage (.458) and three-point field-goal percentage (.367). They are No. 2 in free-throw percentage (.743) and three-point field-goals per game (6.88)...Gustafson is the GNAC’s No. 3 shooter (.554), No. 4 in steals (2.12), No. 5 in scoring (16.1) and No. 10 in blocks (0.75)...Taylor is No. 2 in free-throw percentage (.882) and No. 5 in three-point field-goal percentage (.403)...Wood is No. 7 in three-point field-goal percentage (.380)...Kristin Poe is No. 7 in GNAC steals (1.81) and No. 11 in rebounds (6.8)...Tara Jacob (Fr., 5-10, Edmonds, Wa./Meadowdale), who had knee surgery on Jan. 6, is requesting a medical hardship this season after playing in only four games before her injury.

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.