Falcons Lead GNAC With Total of 12 on Basketball All-Academic Team
March 2, 2005

SEATTLE (Mar. 2) ­ Seattle Pacific University placed a total of 12 men's and women's basketball players on the Academic All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference teams.

The Falcons led all 10 GNAC teams with six men and women. It was the second year in a row that SPU had the most selections among the men.

Both Jordan Lee and Michelle Beaumont have been named to the Academic All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference basketball teams for three successive years.

Jordan Lee (Sr., 6-1, Tacoma, Wa./Life Christian), a Christian theology major with a 3.75 grade point average, was selected for the third consecutive year. Tony Binetti (Jr., 6-1, Enumclaw, Wa.), and Jeff Knudson (Jr., 6-7, Mukilteo, Wa./Kamiak) were repeat choices. Knudson is a biology major with a 3.58 GPA and Binetti majors in business administration and also has a 3.58.

First time honorees were Dustin Bremerman (Business Administration, So., 3.34, Yakima, Wa/Eisenhower), Chad Williams (Communications, Jr., 3.32, Burlington, Wa.) and Drew Matzen (Business Administration, So., 3.27, Bothell, Wa./Lynnwood)

On the women's team, Michelle Beaumont (Sr., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) was named for the third successive year. Beaumont is an art major with 3.23 GPA. Brittney Kroon (Jr., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.) and Mandy Wood (Jr., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) made it for a second time. Kroon is a history major with 3.70 and Wood majors in education with a 3.68.

The SPU first-timers were Amy Taylor, Physical Education, Sr., 3.75, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood), Rachel Strand (Exercise Science, So., 3.29, Shoreline, Wa./King's) and Jenny Poe (Communications, Jr., 3.22, Enumclaw, Wa.).

A total of 31 women and 15 men were named to the academic teams. To be eligible, student-athletes must have a minimum grade point average of 3.200 and be in at least their second year of competition at their institution.