Complete Box Score

SEATTLE (Nov. 15) – A brand new coaching staff and four new players, but not much else looks different for the Seattle Pacific women’s basketball team. Showcasing a wealth of depth and a high-scoring, fast-paced offense the Falcons cruised to a 95-62 non-conference victory over Northwest University in their season opener Tuesday night at Brougham Pavilion.

Led by dominant post play Seattle Pacific (1-0), ranked No. 3 in NCAA II after finishing as national runner-up last year, wasted no time in jumping all over the Eagles (1-1) to give Julie van Beek a victory in her SPU coaching debut. Carli Grant (Sr., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) and Kelsey Hill (Fr., 6-2, Portland, Or./Portland Christian) controlled the paint, both recording double-doubles to help lead the Falcons to their seventh straight season-opening win.

Grant, who averaged a double-double last season and led the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in rebounding, finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. A true freshman, Hill made the most of a starting opportunity in her collegiate debut, matching Grant’s team-high in points with 16 of her own and hauling in 10 rebounds. Hill started in place of Brittney Kroon (Sr., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.), who sat out with an illness.

Grant, Hill and Mandy Wood (Sr., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) each scored four points out of the gate as SPU jumped out to a 12-2 lead. Northwest cut the deficit back down to eight, but Wood buried a three pointer with 11:37 left in the first half to put the Falcons on top by 12, 21-9. SPU maintained a double digit lead throughout the remainder of the contest and went into halftime with a 24-point cushion.

Wood also finished with 16 points to go along with six assists and four steals in the victory. Jackie Hollands (So., 5-9, Oregon City, Or.), a sophomore transfer from Washington, added 10 points in 14 minutes off the bench in her SPU debut.

Emilee Eisinger had a game-high 21 points and nine rebounds for the Eagles. Brittany Bowsher added 10 points and three boards in the loss.

The Falcons shot 47.9 percent from the field and held the Eagles to 36.2 percent shooting. SPU also made 5-of-11 three-points attempts. The Eagles were just 2-for-7 from long range. Seattle Pacific also had a 45-35 advantage in rebounds, including 15-8 no the offensive glass.

Seattle Pacific hosts a pair of games this weekend in the Sodexho Tip-Off Classic. The Falcons open Friday evening against Biola and face Minnesota State Moorhead Saturday. Both tip-offs are scheduled for 5 p.m.

SEATTLE PACIFIC 95, NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY 62
NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY (1-1)
Emilee Eisinger 8-17 5-8 21; Brittany Bowsher 3-5 4-4 10; Rachel Travis 3-5 2-2 9; Cassie Snyder 2-6 0-0 5; Kim Sandberg 2-11 1-3 5; Rebekah Johnson 2-2 1-2 5; Jasmine Yeldon 0-3 3-4 3; Rebekah Proctor 1-7 0-0 2; Sam McCracken 0-2 2-2 2; Jennah Priest 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-58 18-25 62.
SEATTLE PACIFIC (1-0)
Hill,Kelsey 8-16 0-0 16; Grant,Carli 6-7 4-4 16; Wood,Mandy 5-7 4-4 16; Hollands,Jackie 4-7 0-0 10; Menkens,Jessie 3-11 2-2 8; Fielding,Autumn 2-6 2-2 7; Poe,Jenny 2-8 2-2 6; Schaar,Lexi 1-3 3-6 5; Christensen,Beth 1-3 2-4 4; Christensen,Jessie 2-3 0-0 4; Strand,Rachel 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 35-73 20-26 95.

Northwest University.......... 32 30 - 62 
Seattle Pacific............... 56 39 - 95

3-point goals-Northwest University 2-7 (Cassie Snyder 1-2; Rachel Travis 1-1; Rebekah Proctor 0-4), Seattle Pacific 5-11 (Wood,Mandy 2-3; Hollands,Jackie 2-4; Fielding,Autumn 1-3; Menkens,Jessie 0-1). Fouled out- Northwest University-Brittany Bowsher, Seattle Pacific-Schaar,Lexi. Rebounds-Northwest University 35 (Emilee Eisinger 9), Seattle Pacific 45 (Grant,Carli 14). Assists-Northwest University 16 (Cassie Snyder 7), Seattle Pacific 27 (Wood,Mandy 6; Fielding,Autumn 6). Total fouls-Northwest University 19, Seattle Pacific 23. A-279