Seattle Pacific Women Want to Take Next Step Wednesday
March 22, 2005

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Mar. 22) – They’ve come this far before. Back at the Elite Eight for the second year in a row, the Seattle Pacific University women’s basketball team now wants to take the next step.

The Falcons resume play Wednesday (12 noon Pacific) with a quarterfinal game against Grand Valley State of Michigan. With a win, SPU would achieve its first semifinal berth. The victor meets the winner of St. Cloud (Mn.) and Merrimack (Ma.) Thursday at 4 p.m. PST.

“A year ago, we were happy to be here,” said SPU coach Gordy Presnell. “I don’t think you do well when you’re just happy to be here. I think you have to come with a sense of purpose. Hopefully we have that.”

This is Seattle Pacific’s third Elite Eight appearance. Seven years ago in nearby Pine Bluff, Ark., it was soundly beaten in their opener. Last year an unfortunate pairing pitted top-ranked and unbeaten SPU against No. 2-ranked Drury, the local favorite, in St. Joseph, Mo.

In six of the last seven years, the NCAA champion has been a team which had advanced to the Elite Eight the previous year. The only other returnee in ‘05 is Merrimack. Presnell’s squad includes eight returnees from last season.

“Our core group is a bunch of juniors who have gone 87-4,” Presnell noted. “We’re going to come out and play as hard as we can and play to our capabilities.”

This time around the Falcons (28-2), ranked No. 3 nationally, are the more experienced team in their half of the bracket, which is comprised entirely of No. 1 regional seeds. Shaw (N.C.), with a record of 32-1 and No. 1 in the country, is the only top seed in the other half.

Presnell said he respects No. 9 Grand Valley State’s (28-5) motion game and commitment to defense. Lakers coach Dawn Plitzuweit said SPU possesses many qualities.

“They’re a veteran team,” said Plitzuweit of the Falcons. “They shoot the ball well, they’re disciplined in what they’re looking to do offensively and defensively.”

On a team blessed with balance and quality depth, Amy Taylor is widely regarded as the Falcons’ key component for her game management and ability to make key plays. Taylor (Sr., 5-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood) was the Great Northwest Athletic Conference player of the year, yet doesn’t appear among the league’s top 10 scorers or top five playmakers. Averaging 12.5 points, she could become the only SPU top scorer to finish under 13 points in 25 years.

SPU and Grand Valley State have one common opponent this season. Each lost to North Dakota. The Lakers have won 23 of their last 24. They are led by co-regional player of the year Niki Reams, a 5-10 transfer from Michigan who averages 18.8 points and 8.7 boards.

Audio of each SPU game will be carried live via webcast at broadcastmonsters.com. Saturday’s championship game will be aired live on ESPN2.