Falcons Women Soar Past Nanooks in Second Half
Three Falcons Post Double-Doubles, Three Set Career Highs as SPU Keeps Streaks Alive
December 4, 2004

SEATTLE (Dec. 4) – The Falcons broke open the game with a 26-6 run early in the second half as Seattle Pacific defeated Alaska Fairbanks 99-75 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game on Saturday night at Brougham Pavilion.

The Falcons (2-0 GNAC, 5-1) won their 44th consecutive league game and 19th straight at home. SPU has also won 36 straight GNAC home matches. The Nanooks remained winless in league play, falling to 0-2 and 3-4 overall.

Brittany Kroon (Jr., Wasilla, Ak.) led all five Falcon starters in double figures with a career night. The 6-4 center scored 17 points and grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds in just 24 minutes of action. She shot 7-for-11 from the field and 3-for-4 from the foul line, falling just one point short of matching her career high in points.

Two other players had career nights for the Falcons. Junior guard Mandy Wood (Port Angeles, Wa.) led SPU with a career-high 22 points. She connected on 9-of-13 shots, including 2-of-4 from three-point range. Backcourt mate Amy Taylor (Sr., Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood) poured in 12 points and dished out a career-high 11 assists in the win, her first double-double of the season.

Junior forward Carli Smith (Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) was the third SPU player to record a double-double on the evening. She finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. Michelle Beaumont (Sr., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) scored 15.

SPU built a 10-point lead just eight minutes into the game, but the Nanooks slowly climbed back, capturing their third and final lead of the game 36-35 with 1:16 left in the first half. SPU finished with a 7-1 run to pull ahead by five at the break.

Fairbanks pulled back to within three points on two separate occasions, but SPU held UAF to just two baskets and a pair of free throws during its six-minute 26-6 run to put the game away. Fairbanks never got closer than 21 the rest of the way.

Cody Burgess led the Nanooks with 28 points and 10 rebounds, but shot just 10-for-27 from the field. Valerie Hartman added 16 points, four rebounds and four assists. Courtney Mason chipped in with 14 points and five assists.

The Falcons shot a season-high 54 percent from the field, including 59 percent in the second half as they outscored UAF 57-38 in the period. SPU also had a 53-26 advantage in rebounds.

Seattle Pacific was without the services of head coach Gordy Presnell, who was with his family, following the death of his father on Friday night. Assistant Jamie Craighead assumed head coaching duties in Presnell’s absence.

The Falcons travel to San Francisco for a pair of regional games. SPU takes on Sonoma State on Friday at 6 pm. The following night, the Falcons face San Francisco State at 8 pm.

SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY 99, ALASKA FAIRBANKS 75
ALASKA FAIRBANKS ((0-2) 3-4) Burgess,Cody 10-27 8-9 28; Hartman,Valerie 5-13 4-7 16; Mason,Courtney 6-8 0-0 14; Durny,Andrea 4-7 2-2 11; Schirack,Marsha 1-1 1-2 4; Wasson, Jen 1-1 0-0 2; Rabung,Karen 0-1 0-0 0; Deisher,Tania 0-1 0-0 0; Shumate,Joscelyn 0-2 0-0 0; Reabold,Kari 0-6 0-2 0. Totals 27-67 15-22 75.
SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY ((2-0) 5-1) Wood,Mandy 9-13 2-3 22; Kroon,Brittney 7-11 3-4 17; Beaumont,Michelle 6-11 0-0 15; Smith,Carli 5-7 4-4 14; Taylor,Amy 5-11 0-0 12; Strand,Rachel 2-3 2-2 6; Fielding,Autumn 1-2 2-2 5; Poe,Jenny 1-5 1-2 3; Hermanson,Trisha 1-5 0-0 3; Christensen,Jessie 1-1 0-0 2; Christensen,Beth 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 38-70 14-17 99.

Alaska Fairbanks.............. 37 38 - 75 
Seattle Pacific University.... 42 57 - 99

3-point goals-Alaska Fairbanks 6-19 (Hartman,Valerie 2-4; Mason,Courtney 2-3; Schirack,Marsha 1-1; Durny,Andrea 1-3; Shumate,Joscelyn 0-1; Reabold,Kari 0-4; Burgess,Cody 0-3), Seattle Pacific University 9-22 (Beaumont,Michelle 3-5; Taylor,Amy 2-7; Wood,Mandy 2-4; Hermanson,Trisha 1-3; Fielding,Autumn 1-2; Poe,Jenny 0-1). Fouled out--Alaska Fairbanks-None, Seattle Pacific University-None. Rebounds-Alaska Fairbanks 26 (Burgess,Cody 10), Seattle Pacific University 53 (Kroon,Brittney 19). Assists-Alaska Fairbanks 16 (Mason,Courtney 5), Seattle Pacific University 25 (Taylor,Amy 11). Total fouls-Alaska Fairbanks 16, Seattle Pacific University 20. A-572