The Falcons Online -- Seattle Pacific University Athletics

Déjà Vu: Once Again, SPU Women Enter Tourney at No. 1
March 9, 2004

SEATTLE (Mar. 9) – For the second year in a row, the NCAA Division II women’s basketball tournament begins with Seattle Pacific University sitting at No. 1 in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA coaches poll.

The lone remaining unbeaten team, the Falcons (27-0) will host the West Regional beginning Friday in Seattle. The West champion, to be determined Mar. 15, will advance to the Elite Eight, where it will meet the South Central champion Mar. 24. Drury (Mo.), the nation’s No. 2 team, is the top seed in the South Central.

Seattle Pacific has won 60 consecutive regular season games and 42 straight in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. The Falcons entered the 2003 tournament undefeated. Their sole loss in the last 57 games overall was to Cal State Bakersfield in last year’s regional title game. Bakersfield enters the postseason ranked No. 23.

Below is the USA TODAY/ESPN/WBCA Top 25 women's basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th.

USA TODAY/ESPN/WBCA DIVISION II TOP 25 COACHES' POLL

Rank	Team	Record	Total Points	Previous Rank
1.	Seattle Pacific University (18)	27-0	522	1
2.	Drury University (2)	31-1	501	2
3.	California University Of PA	29-1	482	3
4.	Shaw University (1)	28-2	410	7
5.	Glenville State College	27-3	404	4
6.	University Of North Dakota	25-5	401	8
7.	Concordia University - Saint Paul	27-3	391	5
8.	Emporia State University	24-4	354	6
9.	Merrimack College	27-3	345	10
10.	South Dakota State University	23-6	310	9
11.	Rollins College	27-3	295	13
12.	Quincy University	26-4	290	14
13.	Washburn University	25-4	284	11
14.	North Dakota State University	23-6	281	12
15.	Lake Superior State University	26-3	222	16
16.	University Of South Dakota	25-7	184	15
17.	Northwest Missouri St. University	24-6	183	20
18.	Angelo State University	26-4	182	18
19.	Georgia College & State University	26-5	156	21
20.	University Of North Florida	24-5	122	17
21.	Holy Family University	28-3	100	19
22.	California State University - Bakersfield	22-5	88	23
23.	West Texas A&M University	24-5	72	22
24.	Fort Valley State University	23-6	36	24
25.	Bentley College	23-6	29	NR

No. 24 Armstrong Atlantic State University

Others Receiving Votes: American International College 28; West Liberty State College 24; Armstrong Atlantic State University 23; Virginia Union University 20; Lander University 14; Missouri Western State 13; Clark Atlanta University 11; Assumption College 8; University Of Pittsburgh - Johnstown 8; Bellarmine University 6; University Of Indianapolis 6; California State Poly University - Pomona 5; Delta State University 4; Northeastern State University 4; University Of Charleston 3; Bryant College 2; University Of Nebraska - Kearney 2

*Four votes were not received from the following conferences: Rocky Mountain Athletic (1), Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics (1), Central Intercollegiate Athletic (1) and Carolina-Virginia Athletic.