The Falcons Online -- Seattle Pacific University Athletics

SPU Women Make Key Plays, Advance to NCAA Title Game
March 24, 2005

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Mar. 24) – Making a string of key plays in the final minutes to help overcome a night of cold shooting pushed Seattle Pacific University within sight of the summit of NCAA Division II women’s basketball.

Carli Smith was the spark that sent SPU's women's basketball team to the NCAA D-II National Championship Game with clutch free throw shooting. The team will play Saturday afternoon in their first-ever title game. (File photo courtesy Joanie Komura, SPU athletics)

The Falcons got 18 points from Mandy Wood and a vital basket and steal from Carli Smith to wrap-up a 73-64 victory over Merrimack (Ma.) in a national semifinal game at the Elite Eight Thursday night in the Summit Arena.

Third-ranked Seattle Pacific (30-2) will meet No. 2 Washburn (34-2) in Saturday's NCAA Division II championship game. Washburn defeated Central Arkansas, 69-67, in the second semifinal Thursday.

Wood (Jr., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) scored eight of her points in the final seven minutes to turn back a rally by the Warriors (29-6). She banked in a 21-foot three-pointer to put Seattle Pacific in front to stay, 59-57, with 5:35 remaining, and two minutes later connected on a pull-up 15-footer.

Smith (Jr., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian), who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds, then delivered two clutch plays in the final 72 seconds. First she sank a 15-footer, making it 67-64. On Merrimack’s next possession she stole an inbounds pass, enabling the Falcons to get two free throws from Jenny Poe (Jr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa.).

Overcoming a season-low 27-percent (20-74) shooting, Seattle Pacific scored the game’s final eight points, with Taylor (Sr., 5-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood) and Smith each adding a pair of foul shots in the last 20 seconds. In all, the Falcons converted 26 of 28 free throws.

“We’re just so excited to be playing in the national championship game ,” said SPU coach Gordy Presnell. “We hit some big shots down the stretch: Mandy, Amy and Carli. Mandy and Amy missed their fair share of shots, but they can hit the dagger three.”

Wood hit 4 of 13 treys and Taylor, who had 14 points, was 2-10. Her second three stopped a 9-0 Merrimack run. Poe grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds.

Just as defense proved to be the deciding factor in the quarterfinal win over Grand ValleyState, it was the primary factor again against Merrimack. Center Brittney Kroon (Jr., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.) dominated inside . Kroon blocked eight shots and altered at least 10 more attempts. She also had nine rebounds and seven points–all in the second half.

“Our team has found a way (to win), and the way we found a way tonight was at the free throw line,” Presnell said.

Merrimack managed to shoot just 31 percent (22-71) from the field, with Poe forcing All-America guard Joelle Martin into 3-for-19 shooting. Martin still finished with 17 points, with 10 coming at the foul line, plus 11 boards and seven blocks.

The Falcons’ shooting woes were the worst in over 11 years. They have tied the season record for wins, set last season. This is the first time SPU has played for an NCAA championship.

Early on, SPU threatened to run away. Poe had two baskets during a run of 10 unanswered points in the opening minutes for a 12-3 advantage. Twice the bulge grew to 14 points before the Warriors scored the final six points of the half, cutting it to 36-28.

A nine-point second-half lead was erased after the Warriors forced a series of turnovers during a 13-3 spree which gave them a 53-52 edge.

Saturday’s game can also be heard on the web, beginning at 1:55 Pacific.

SEATTLE PACIFIC 73, MERRIMACK COLLEGE 64
MERRIMACK COLLEGE (29-6) Martin, Joelle 3-19 10-12 17; Smith, Jenny 6-17 2-4 14; Brosnihan, Eileen 4-15 2-4 10; Brownlee, Ashley 4-8 0-0 8; Golden, Gately 2-2 3-4 8; Quist, Krystyn 2-7 0-0 4; Scurrah, Katie 1-2 0-0 3; Bodamer, Shannon 0-0 0-0 0; Imbriacco, Liz 0-0 0-0 0; Borelli, Kara 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-71 17-24 64.
SEATTLE PACIFIC (30-2) Wood,Mandy 6-20 2-2 18; Taylor,Amy 4-15 4-4 14; Smith,Carli 4-9 4-4 12; Kroon,Brittney 1-4 5-6 7; Poe,Jenny 2-10 2-2 6; Strand,Rachel 1-4 2-2 4; Hermanson,Trisha 0-2 4-4 4; Beaumont,Michelle 1-7 0-0 3; Brewe,Quinn 1-3 1-2 3; Christensen,Beth 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 20-74 26-28 73.

Halftime-SPU 36-28. 3-point goals-MC 3-14 (Golden, Gately 1-1; Scurrah, Katie 1-1; Martin, Joelle 1-5; Brownlee, Ashley 0-3; Borelli, Kara 0-1; Smith, Jenny 0-3), SPU7-29 (Wood,Mandy 4-13; Taylor,Amy 2-10; Beaumont,Michelle 1-4; Strand,Rachel 0-1; Hermanson,Trisha 0-1). Fouled out--Merrimack College-Golden, Gately. Rebounds-MC 54 (Martin, Joelle 11), SPU 52 (Smith,Carli 10; Poe,Jenny 10). Assists-MC 12 (Martin, Joelle 4), SPU 12 (Taylor,Amy 4). Total fouls-MC 21, SPU 17. A-1402