No. 1 SPU Women Hold Off Saint Martin’s to Stay Unbeaten
February 26, 2004

SEATTLE (Feb. 26) ­ Amy Taylor scored 16 points to lead No. 1-ranked Seattle Pacific University past Saint Martin’s 72-62 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball game Thursday at Brougham Pavilion.

The Falcons (25-0, 16-0 GNAC), who took over the top spot in the NCAA Division II rankings this week, have now won 58 consecutive regular season games and 40 straight conference contests.

The Saints (13-11, 9-6 GNAC) led 11-10 with 14:02 to go in the first half before Taylor (Jr., 5-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood) hit three treys during a decisive13-0 run as SPU took the lead for good at 23-11. The Falcons extended their margin to 41-23 after Wood made her third three-pointer of the first half and SPU held a 45-29 lead at halftime.

SPU took its largest lead of the contest at 51-29 before Saint Martin’s reeled off 12 straight points to cut the deficit to 51-41 with 14:49 to play. The Falcons’ lead was trimmed to eight points three times, but the Saints could get no closer.

Joining Taylor in double figures for Seattle Pacific were Mandy Wood (So., 5-7, Port Angeles, Wa.) with 14 points, Kristin Poe (Sr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa.) scored 12 and Valerie Gustafson (Sr., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) added 11. Carli Smith (So., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) pulled down a season-high 15 rebounds for SPU.

The Falcons were outrebounded (43-41) for the first time since mid-December and shot just 35 percent from the floor, their second-lowest total of the season. SPU tied a season-high with 11 three-pointers (11-for-27) on the night as Taylor and Wood made four apiece. SPU forced 20 Saints’ turnovers and held the team to 34 percent shooting.

Julie Eisentrout’s 16 points and 13 rebounds led the way for Saint Martin’s. Brandi Riel had 12 points, Beth Layton and Lindsay Ford scored 11 each and Stephanie Colbo added 10 for the Saints.

SPU plays its final home game of the regular season Saturday (5 p.m.) against Northwest Nazarene.

SEATTLE PACIFIC -- Taylor 16, Wood 14, K. Poe 12, Gustafson 11, Kroon 6, Smith 6, Beaumont 5, J. Poe 2, Hermanson 0, Strand 0.

SAINT MARTIN’S -- Eisentrout 16, Riel 12, Layton 11, Ford 11, Colbo 10, Golob 2, Matson 0, Bales 0, Staudacher 0.

Halftime - SPU 45, SMC 29