The Falcons Online -- Seattle Pacific University Athletics

Fourth-Ranked SPU Wins GNAC Women's Title Outright; Likely Top Regional Seed
March 3, 2005

FAIRBANKS, Ak. (March 3) – Brittney Kroon scored a team-high 17 points and tied the league record for blocked shots, and the Falcons captured the outright conference championship as Seattle Pacific defeated host Alaska Fairbanks 76-65 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action on Thursday night at the Patty Center.

Brittney Kroon had 17 points to lead the SPU scoring, but it was her two blocked shots that put her into a tie for the GNAC career blocked-shots record. File photo courtesy Joanie Komura

After entering tonight with no worse than a tie for the GNAC crown, the No. 4-ranked Falcons (16-1 GNAC, 24-2) won the title outright with the victory, their third straight league championship and fourth in the past five years. Seattle Pacific also likely assured itself of the No. 1 seed in the West Region when the NCAA II tournament begins on March 11. The Nanooks fell to 9-8 in the GNAC and 13-13 overall.

Kroon (Jr., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.), who leads the conference in field-goal percentage, was 7-for-8 from the field. She also blocked two shots to give her 261 swats for her career, which ties the league record.

Carli Smith (Jr., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) added 10 points and 10 rebounds, her eighth double-double of the season. She also had three assists. Amy Taylor (Sr., 5-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood) chipped in 15 points and four assists, and Jenny Poe (Jr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa.) scored 12 points and graCody Burgess paced Fairbanks with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Adrienne Taalak poured in 16 points and grabbed five boards.bbed five rebounds.

The Falcons shot 42.9 percent from the field and held Fairbanks to 34.6 percent. The Nanooks shot just over 30 percent in the first half as Seattle Pacific jumped ahead by 14 at the break. Fairbanks also committed 23 turnovers.

The Falcons wrap up regular season play in a GNAC game at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday at 8:05 p.m.

SEATTLE PACIFIC 76, ALASKA FAIRBANKS 65
SEATTLE PACIFIC (16-1 GNAC, 24-2) Kroon,Brittney 7-8 3-4 17; Taylor,Amy 5-13 1-3 15; Poe,Jenny 5-11 2-3 12; Smith,Carli 4-8 2-2 10; Beaumont,Michelle 3-8 0-0 8; Wood,Mandy 2-7 0-3 5; Hermanson,Trisha 1-2 0-0 3; Fielding,Autumn 0-0 2-2 2; Christensen,Beth 0-1 2-2 2; Strand,Rachel 0-4 2-2 2; Brewe,Quinn 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-63 14-21 76.
ALASKA FAIRBANKS (9-8 GNAC, 13-13) Burgess,Cody 5-17 12-14 24; Taalak,Adrienne 4-13 8-9 16; Durny,Andrea 2-3 2-2 7; Rabung,Karen 3-5 0-0 6; Hartman,Valerie 1-6 1-1 4; Schirack,Marsha 1-2 2-2 4; Reabold,Kari 1-3 0-0 2; Mason,Courtney 1-2 0-0 2; Smith, Candice 0-1 0-0 0; Wasson, Jen 0-0 0-0 0; Shumate,Joscelyn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-52 25-28 65.

Seattle Pacific............... 38 38 - 76 
Alaska Fairbanks.............. 24 41 - 65

3-point goals-Seattle Pacific 8-24 (Taylor,Amy 4-9; Beaumont,Michelle 2-5; Hermanson,Trisha 1-2; Wood,Mandy 1-5; Christensen,Beth 0-1; Strand,Rachel 0-1; Poe,Jenny 0-1), Alaska Fairbanks 4-14 (Burgess,Cody 2-3; Hartman,Valerie 1-5; Durny,Andrea 1-2; Reabold,Kari 0-1; Taalak,Adrienne 0-3). Fouled out—Seattle Pacific-None, Alaska Fairbanks-Durny,Andrea. Rebounds-Seattle Pacific 36 (Smith,Carli 10), Alaska Fairbanks 39 (Burgess,Cody 12). Assists-Seattle Pacific 14 (Wood,Mandy 5), Alaska Fairbanks 7 (Burgess,Cody 2; Hartman,Valerie 2). Total fouls-Seattle Pacific 19, Alaska Fairbanks 21. A-465