Second-Ranked Falcons Survive Defensive Battle Against City Rival, Post 61-47 Win Over SU
January 29, 2005

Season Stats   Game Stats

SEATTLE (Jan. 29) -- Carli Smith and Amy Taylor scored 11 points each, and the Falcons survived a season low in points, as Seattle Pacific defeated Seattle University 61-47 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game on Saturday evening at SU's Connolly Center.

The Falcons, ranked No. 1 in the west region and No. 2 nationally, improved to 9-0 in the GNAC and 17-1 overall with their 51st straight win in conference play. The Redhawks, who came into the game with a 7-1 home record, fell to 3-6 in the GNAC and 8-10 overall.

Taylor (Sr., Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood), who hit all of SPU's three three-pointers, and Smith (Jr., Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian), who also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, were the only players for either team to score in double figures. Beth Christensen (Fr., Enumclaw, Wa.) scored a career-high eight points in 10 minutes off the bench.

Despite season lows in field goals, three pointers, field-goal percentage and three-point percentage, and being held to just one field goal in the first 11 minutes of the second half, the Falcons held a double-digit lead throughout the entire second half. Behind a strong defensive effort, SPU held SU to just four points during that same 11-minute stretch following halftime to maintain a 13-point advantage.

Taylor then buried her third trey of the game and Brittney Kroon (Jr., Wasilla, AK.) drained a pair of free throws to put Seattle Pacific on top by 18, 47-29, with eight minutes left to play.

The Redhawks pulled to within 10 on two separate occasions, but SPU had an answer both times and went 8-for-10 from the free-throw line in the final 2:45 to keep a comfortable lead.

Kristen Connolly led the Redhawks in scoring with nine points and four rebounds. Laina Sobczak added eight points and five rebounds in the loss. Amanda Kerr chipped in eight points and three rebounds in 11 minutes off the bench.

After Smith scored the first bucket of the game, SU got a basket from Connolly to tie the score 2-2. Michelle Beaumont (Sr., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) responded with a pair of free throws for SPU, and the Falcons held the lead throughout the remainder of the game.

Beaumont hit a jumper to push the lead to nine just six minutes into the contest, and Kroon made it 11 with a pair of free throws with 6:33 left in the half. Seattle U. tried to hold for the final shot of the half, but Connolly missed with six seconds left, and the Falcons went the length of the floor, as Christensen hit a runner from 10-feet out as time expired to put SPU on top by 13 at the break.

SPU shot just 31.6 percent from the field and 25 percent from three-point range. However, the Falcons held the Redhawks to just 30.6 percent shooting and 23.1 percent from behind the arc. SPU held a 48-40 advantage in rebounds and received a big boost at the free-throw line. The Falcons were 22-for-27 (81.5 percent) from the charity stripe. The Redhawks were just 6-for-10.

The Falcons return to Brougham Pavilion for a pair of home GNAC games next week. Seattle Pacific next hosts Western Oregon on Thursday at 7 p.m.

SEATTLE PACIFIC 61, SEATTLE UNIVERSITY 47
SEATTLE PACIFIC (17-1, 9-0 GNAC) Smith,Carli 5-12 1-1 11; Taylor,Amy 4-11 0-1 11; Christensen,Beth 2-3 4-4 8; Beaumont,Michelle 2-8 3-4 7; Kroon,Brittney 1-3 4-4 6; Poe,Jenny 2-7 2-5 6; Brewe,Quinn 0-3 4-4 4; Wood,Mandy 0-3 4-4 4; Strand,Rachel 2-3 0-0 4; Christensen,Jessie 0-1 0-0 0; Fielding,Autumn 0-2 0-0 0; Hermanson,Trisha 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-57 22-27 61.
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY (8-10, 3-6 GNAC) Connolly,Kristen 4-15 0-0 9; Kerr,Amanda 4-9 0-0 8; Sobczak,Laina 3-9 2-2 8; Thomas,Jackie 3-6 0-0 6; Payne,Ashley 2-8 1-2 6; Busch,Thresia 2-10 0-2 4; Iverson,Jenny 1-2 1-2 4; Dascenzo,Nicole 0-2 2-2 2; Burch,Chantell 0-1 0-0 0; Jones,Laura 0-0 0-0 0; Smith,Cassy 0-0 0-0 0; Swenson,Jessica 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-62 6-10 47.

Seattle Pacific............... 38 23 - 61 
Seattle University............ 25 22 - 47

3-point goals-Seattle Pacific 3-12 (Taylor,Amy 3-6; Christensen,Beth 0-1; Beaumont,Michelle 0-2; Poe,Jenny 0-1; Wood,Mandy 0-2), Seattle University 3-13 (Payne,Ashley 1-3; Iverson,Jenny 1-1; Connolly,Kristen 1-7; Dascenzo,Nicole 0-1; Kerr,Amanda 0-1). Fouled out--Seattle Pacific-None, Seattle University-None. Rebounds-Seattle Pacific 48 (Kroon,Brittney 9; Smith,Carli 9), Seattle University 40 (Busch,Thresia 7). Assists-Seattle Pacific 11 (Wood,Mandy 4), Seattle University 12 (Thomas,Jackie 4; Busch,Thresia 4). Total fouls-Seattle Pacific 13, Seattle University 23. A-497