Falcons Women Win Regular Season Finale; Kroon Sets GNAC Blocks Record
March 5, 2005

Season    Game Stats

ANCHORAGE, Ak. (March 5) -- Jenny Poe scored a team-high 13 points as Seattle Pacific likely secured home court advantage for the regional tournament with a 66-50 victory over Alaska Anchorage in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game on Saturday night in Anchorage.

Having already secured the GNAC championship, the Falcons (17-1 GNAC, 25-2) will almost certainly be named the west region's No. 1 seed when the field for the 64-team NCAA II tournament is announced tomorrow evening. Seattle Pacific, which is ranked fourth nationally, has held the region's top ranking all season.

The Falcons played like the region's top team, capturing the lead from the opening whistle and never falling behind the host Seawolves (4-14 GNAC, 9-18). SPU scored the first six points of the contest and opened the game with a 20-7 run. Anchorage pulled back to within eight, but the Falcons went into halftime with an 11-point lead, 30-19. Only one starter and a total of four players scored in the first half for Anchorage, as Seattle Pacific established dominance through its defense.

The Seawolves climbed back to within nine just over two minutes into the second half. However, Amy Taylor (Sr., 5-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood) buried a three pointer, and SPU held a double-digit lead throughout the rest of the game.

Poe (Jr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa.) shot 5-for-7 from the field and also had six rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. Taylor was the only other SPU player to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points and four assists.

Brittney Kroon (Jr., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.), who entered the night tied for the GNAC lead for career blocked shots, finished with six points, 10 rebounds and nine blocks. She now has sole possession of the record with 270 swats in her career. UAA's Cassie Bro led all scorers with 14 points in 29 minutes off the bench. Amber NAsby poured in 13 points in the loss, and Taylor Long grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

Carli Smith (Jr., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) added six points and 11 rebounds for SPU, and Quinn Brewe (Fr., 6-1, Edmonds, Wa./Meadowdale) led a potent bench with nine points.

SPU shot just 39 percent from the field, but held Anchorage to a dismal 30 percent, including 23 percent in the first half. The Falcons also held a 48-37 advantage in rebounding.

The Falcons are competing in the NCAA II tournament, which begins on Friday (March 11). SPU has earned the GNAC's automatic berth and will likely be awarded the West Region top seed and tournament host. The complete tournament field will be announced tomorrow from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. live on www.ncaasports.com. Regional tournament play will be held on Friday, Saturday and Monday of next week, and the eight winners will advance to the NCAA II finals.

SEATTLE PACIFIC (25-2, 17-1 GNAC)
Poe,Jenny 5-7 3-4 13; Taylor,Amy 4-8 0-0 10; Brewe,Quinn 4-6 1-2 9; Strand,Rachel 3-8 0-1 6; Smith,Carli 3-11 0-0 6; Kroon,Brittney 2-7 2-3 6; Wood,Mandy 1-6 2-2 5; Beaumont,Michelle 2-6 0-0 5; Christensen,Jessie 1-1 0-0 2; Hermanson,Trisha 1-5 0-0 2; Christensen,Beth 1-3 0-0 2; Fielding,Autumn 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-69 8-12 66.
ALASKA ANCHORAGE (9-18, 4-14 GNAC)
Bro,Cassie 4-11 3-4 14; Nasby,Amber 6-10 1-1 13; Beason,Stephanie 3-9 2-2 8; Archuleta,Megan 2-8 0-0 4; McWilliams,O'Lita 2-3 0-1 4; Long,Taylor 0-7 3-6 3; Reilly,Jessica 0-2 2-2 2; Wilson,Christa 1-9 0-0 2; Larsen,Kelsey 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-60 11-16 50.

Seattle Pacific............... 30 36 - 66 
Alaska Anchorage.............. 19 31 - 50

3-point goals-Seattle Pacific 4-19 (Taylor,Amy 2-6; Beaumont,Michelle 1-4; Wood,Mandy 1-4; Hermanson,Trisha 0-3; Christensen,Beth 0-1; Strand,Rachel 0-1), Alaska Anchorage 3-12 (Bro,Cassie 3-5; Beason,Stephanie 0-4; Archuleta,Megan 0 1; Reilly,Jessica 0-2). Fouled out--Seattle Pacific-None, Alaska Anchorage-None. Rebounds-Seattle Pacific 48 (Smith,Carli 11), Alaska Anchorage 37 (Long,Taylor 12). Assists-Seattle Pacific 19 (Taylor,Amy 4), Alaska Anchorage 14 (Reilly,Jessica 4). Total fouls-Seattle Pacific 14, Alaska Anchorage 13. A-520