Simply the best. It may not have ended as planned, but the Seattle Pacific University women’s basketball team finished a season that will be remembered as the best in school history. The Falcons (30-1) won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and West Regional championships, advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for just the second time, and established a new record for victories while finishing No. 3 in the final rankings.

Eight is enough. After beating Cal Poly Pomona in the West Regional Final at Brougham Pavilion, the Falcons traveled to Saint Joseph, Mo., to face No. 2-ranked and local favorite Drury at the Elite Eight. SPU trailed for 38 of the 40 minutes and although the Falcons rallied several times, they were not able to get over the top, losing 94-83. The Lady Panthers applied backcourt pressure that contributed to an uncharacteristic 25 turnovers for SPU. Although the Falcons shot 48 percent (30-62), they were out-rebounded 38-26 and hampered by foul trouble. Valerie Gustafson (Sr., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) led SPU with 21 points while Kristin Poe (Sr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa.) and Mandy Wood (So., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) added 14 apiece. Drury eventually lost to California (Pa.) in the nationally-televised championship game, 75-72.

For the second year in a row, Gordy Presnell was named the Russell Athletic/Women's Basketball Coaches Association coach of the year in NCAA Division II.

Dominant once again. Many wondered how this team would follow up last year’s brilliant 29-1 season, considering three all-conference players were lost to graduation. Well, after going one better, the 2003-04 squad made believers out of many. Balance and teamwork were the name of the game as SPU won a record 30 games, outscoring the opposition by 20.3 points. The Falcons finished the conference and regular season undefeated for a second straight year, running their unbeaten streaks at 60 games in the regular season and 42 in the GNAC. After being ranked No. 22 in the first Division II poll of the season, SPU climbed its way to the No. 1 spot by the end of February, remaining there until the Elite Eight. Despite the loss, the Falcons had their highest ever final ranking.

He’s the man. For the second year in a row, Gordy Presnell was named the Russell Athletic/Women's Basketball Coaches Association coach of the year in NCAA Division II. Presnell was presented with the award at the WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women's Final Four in New Orleans. Earlier he was voted both regional and conference coach of the year. In 17 seasons, Presnell’s teams have averaged over 21 wins while making the postseason 12 times, including nine of the last 10 years.

Seniors Valerie Gustafson (left) and Kristen Poe played on three conference championship teams in the last four years.

An unforgettable pair. Gustafson and Poe, who played on three conference championship teams in the last four years, will leave a significant hole both on and off the court. Gustafson, a two-time academic all-conference selection, finished her tenure by earning GNAC player of the year as well as all-region honors while leading SPU in scoring (15.2). She established a new single-season field-goal percentage record (.578, No. 15 in DII) and finished No. 3 on the career list (.547). Gustafson also finished No. 8 on the career scoring list and No. 10 in rebounding. Poe, the emotional leader of the team whose five-year career was marked by multiple knee injuries, was a first team all-GNAC selection this year after leading the team in steals and finishing as the No. 2 rebounder. She ended at No. 3 on the career steals list and No. 6 in rebounding.

Glass more than half-full. Despite losing two quality senior starters, there’s plenty of reasons to be optimistic about next year as Presnell will have three starters–Amy Taylor (Jr., 5-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood-Oregon), Brittney Kroon (So., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.) and Michelle Beaumont (Jr., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome)–returning. Taylor, the GNAC newcomer of the year and a second-team all-conference pick, set a new school season free throw percentage record (.896) and led the team in assists. Kroon, who finished as the NCAA’s No. 1 shot blocker (4.4), also established a new season record with 135 total blocks and set a single-game block record of 13. Beaumont, a three-point threat, averaged 9.2 points on the season. Two likely candidates to fill out the starting five are super sophomores Mandy Wood (So., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) and Carli Smith (So., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian), the team’s top reserves. Wood led the team and conference in three-point field-goal percentage (.460, No. 3 in DII) and moved into the No. 1 spot for career three-point percentage (.467). Smith came off the bench to lead the team in rebounding (8.2), with the No. 9 all-time single-season rebound total. She also moved into No. 1 on the career free throw percentage list (.823).

Significant signees. Two players who could make an immediate impact when they arrive on campus in the fall are recruits Quinn Brewe and Lexi Schaar. Brewe, a 6-1 forward, averaged 18.4 points and 12.9 rebounds while leading Lynnwood’s Meadowdale High School the Washington 3A state title and a 26-1 record. She was named prep girls’ state player of the year by both The Seattle Times and the Associated Press. Schaar, a 6-4 center out of Minnesota’s Crookston High School, averaged 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks on the season. Presnell expects to add one more player soon. The national letter of intent signing period ends May 15.

Camps around the corner. Along with recruiting, Presnell and his staff are preparing for the annual summertime Falcon Basketball Camps for girls in grades 4-10. The first camp session, June 21-25, is full but the July 21-25 session is still accepting applications. The cost is $150.
For registration forms, click here.

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.