Big tests ahead. Only a couple of hours will stand between the completion of final exams and the start of a battery of tests on the basketball court for the No. 3-ranked Seattle Pacific University women. Unbeaten after a season-opening four-game home stand, the Falcons (4-0) begin a stretch of seven straight games on the road this weekend in Bellingham, where they will also wrap-up the journey on New Year’s Eve. SPU opens the CCAA/GNAC Challenge Friday evening (Dec. 9) against 11th-ranked Chico State (4-0). The following night, the opposition is Sonoma State (4-1). Next week, the California leg of the trip begins Dec. 17 at Westmont.

Once a decade. Seven-game road trips are about as frequent as a census poll. Not since the 1994-95 season has Seattle Pacific been away from Brougham Pavilion for so long. The Falcons, who were on the road for eight in a row 11 seasons ago, do not play another home game until Jan. 5. Until then, they have stops in Bellingham, Santa Barbara, Bakersfield (two games), Ellensburg and Bellingham again. Their upcoming December opponents own a combined record of 25-7 to date.

Big implications. It’s quite conceivable that Friday’s game could determine the site of the NCAA Division II West Regional next March. For the past three seasons, SPU has earned the top seed and right to host the tournament. Last year, Chico State was the No. 2 seed, and the Wildcats eventually fell to the Falcons in the West championship game. Four of the next seven games are against teams which made the 2005 Div. II playoffs.

First-half fire. Seattle Pacific continued its trend of fast starts against Lewis-Clark State last week for the 10th straight regular season win (80-67) and 34th straight at Brougham. The Falcons showed no rust in coming out of a two-week layoff, jumping out to a 41-26 lead by halftime and never letting the Warriors back into the contest. SPU shot 47 percent in the first frame to go along with a strong defensive effort in holding L-C State to 27 percent.

Autumn in December. Some time during the lull between games, Autumn Fielding (Jr., 5-9, Kennewick, Wa.) earned a place in the starting lineup. Better yet, she took advantage of it with perhaps a breakout performance. Fielding pumped in career-highs 14 points and four three-pointers, and shot 5-for-8 overall. Going 4-5 outside the arc, she moved up to second in Great Northwest Athletic Conference three-point accuracy (.583). She’s now averaging 8.3 points and 3.0 assists in just 17.0 minutes per game.

Doubles Granted. Forward Carli Grant (Sr., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) continued her consistency, registering her third double-double in four games and 21st of her career. She matched Fielding for team-high honors with 14 points and hauled in a game-high 14 rebounds. Grant also dished out a season-best four assists. That balance in numbers is nothing unusual for Grant, who has amassed 846 career points and 839 rebounds. She is on pace to become just the second player in team history to tally 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Grant, who averaged a double-double and led the league in rebounding last season, leads the GNAC with 10.5 boards per game. She is fifth in field-goal percentage (.581).

Hill climbing. Making the transition from high school to college is a difficult uphill climb for any player, no matter the level of talent. Post player Kelsey Hill (Fr., 6-2, Portland, Or./Portland Christian) has handled that transition well and came up with another strong showing, with 13 points (5-9 FGs) and four assists in 23 minutes off the bench last week. Hill has scored in double figures three times and is ninth in GNAC field-goal percentage, shooting an efficient 50 percent (18-36).

Unselfish play. Seattle Pacific’s high energy and up-tempo style of play relies on sound transition play and quick ball movement. The Falcons exhibit a very unselfish style of play, always looking for that extra pass for the best shot selection. SPU leads the GNAC with 26 assists per game and has nearly twice as many assists as opponents thus far. Nine of the team’s 12 roster players are averaging at least 2.0 assists. Mandy Wood (Sr., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) leads the way and ranks fourth in the GNAC with 5.25 per game. She had a season-high seven against Lewis-Clark State. Wood is also the team’s leading scorer at 15.0.

Put-backs. This weekend’s tournament will begin Friday at Whatcom Community College before concluding Saturday at Western Washington’s home court, Carver Gym...Center Brittney Kroon (Sr., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.) swatted five L-C State shots to keep her average at 5.0 blocks per game. Kroon ranks first in the league and 10th in rebounding (7.0)...Wood leads all guards and ranks seventh in the league with a 56.4 shooting percentage. She also ranks third in three-point percentage (.500), fourth in assists (5.25) and steals (2.5), fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.67), and sixth in scoring (15.0) and three pointers made (2.25).. Although coming off the bench, Beth Christensen (So., 5-5, Enumclaw, Wa.) is sixth in GNAC assists (3.75) and ninth in steals (2.25)...Seattle Pacific leads the conference in scoring (82.5) and is fifth in scoring defense (61.5)...SPU ranks first in shooting percentage (.462), three-point percentage (.412), three-pointers made (7.0), assists (26.0), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.55) and blocks (5.5); second in field-goal percent defense (.363); third in three-point percent defense (.256); and fourth in free-throw percentage (.744)...Rachel Strand (Jr., 6-0, Shoreline, Wa./King’s) contributed a season-high eight points and grabbed seven rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench vs. L-C State.

Coaching Staff. Julie van Beek is in her first year as the Falcons’ head coach after building Nashville’s Trevecca Nazarene into an NAIA national power. After starting the program from scratch, van Beek’s last six squads reached the playoffs, including a national quarterfinal appearance in 2005. In nine years at the helm her record was 162-119. She is a native of Nampa, Id., and played at Northwest Nazarene. Michelle Skyles is the top assistant, having moved from a similar position at Eastern Washington. Skyles coached Jerome to the Idaho state 4A title in 2004. Sasha Anderson joins the staff following five years as head coach at Snohomish County Christian.

Tickets, please. General admission tickets for all SPU home women’s basketball games are priced $5, with students, youth and senior citizens $3 with proper identification. Reserved seating for doubleheaders with men’s games is $7 and $6. Teams or groups can qualify for discount rates by calling 206-281-2085 in advance.

Missing links. For the latest and best information on Seattle Pacific University athletics, stay where you're at -- on The Falcons Online. For updated standings and statistics, see the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web site.