Almost home. Sometimes a fresh start is all that’s needed and Seattle Pacific University gets just that when the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women’s basketball campaign begins next week. After a brief break for Christmas, the No. 14-ranked Falcons (6-3) resume their arduous road journey, visiting Central Washington (5-2) Thursday (Dec. 29) and No. 7 Western Washington (7-1) on New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31). The latter will be the final installment on a month-long series of seven straight road games. SPU begins a three-game home stand Jan. 5 versus Saint Martin’s.

Seesaw start. After losing just two regular season games the previous three years, including two undefeated records heading into postseason play, SPU finds itself in unfamiliar territory. The Falcons got off to a 4-0 start at home, but have since lost three of five. Whereas Seattle Pacific has had a stranglehold on the top seed in the West Region for three years, this year’s battle to host the first three rounds of the NCAA Division II tournament appears wide open. Unranked Cal State Bakersfield may now be the frontrunner after beating both Western and SPU (77-70). The latter spoiled what had been a good swing through Southern California. The Falcons bounced back from back-to-back losses in Bellingham by thumping Westmont 95-66 and holding off Cal Poly Pomona 76-74. Incidentally, Bakersfield owns three of the wins off Seattle Pacific during its 93-7 run over the last three-plus seasons.

Title up for grabs. Just as the West Regional seems to have taken up residency in Brougham Pavilion for three years, the GNAC title has belonged to Seattle Pacific. The Falcons have won 59 of their last 60 conference games over four seasons. They were the preseason favorite to claim a fourth straight crown, however Western Washington (which was a close second in the coaches poll) and others are going to make this a much more competitive race. SPU has won nine consecutive conference openers and has not lost two straight in league play since the 1999-00 season.

Finding finishing touch. In all three defeats this season, the Falcons have built substantial leads in the first half, only to be plagued by a sluggishness down the stretch. In the loss to Bakersfield, Seattle Pacific built an eight-point lead early in the first half and went into halftime tied. But the Roadrunners opened the second half with a 19-4 run and, although SPU got back to within four on three separate occasions late in the game, the deficit proved to be too great. After shooting 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range before the half, the Falcons shot 36 percent overall and were just 1-for-9 (11 percent) from three-point range in the second half.

Triple threat. As rare as triple-doubles are in college basketball, they are almost unheardof for centers. That’s what makes the accomplishment of Brittney Kroon (Sr., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.) so noteworthy. Against Bakersfield, Kroon became the first Falcon player in nearly nine years to post double figures in three statistical categories. She had 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocked shots against the Roadrunners. Kroon joins Chantel Vinson (1995-96) and Debbie Miller (1996-97) as the only owners of a triple double. She also made the CCAA/GNAC Challenge all-tournament team. Amazingly enough, this was not Kroon’s first time with double-digit blocks Two years ago, she swatted a school and GNAC record 13, and last year she rejected 11 shots in one game.

Run Jenny, run. It’s no secret that Seattle Pacific likes to get up and down the floor, running at a tempo that keeps most teams gasping for air. One of SPU’s biggest threats on the break is wing Jenny Poe (Sr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa.), who never hesitates on her drives to the basket and has great hands on the outlet pass. Poe established a new career high in scoring with 19 points at Westmont, and then established a new personal best 21 the following game against Cal Poly Pomona. She also had four rebounds and a season-high seven assists, and helped SPU to a 24-0 advantage in fast-break points. Poe averaged 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists in the team’s three games last week.

Put-backs. Beth Christensen (So., 5-5, Enumclaw, Wa.) moved into the starting lineup in Bakersfield. Christensen had 11 assists and five steals in the last two outings...Carli Grant (Sr., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) scored a season-high 20 points–two shy of her career best–at Westmont. She grabbed a season-low three rebounds, but that was enough to move her up to No. 3 all-time at SPU...Rachel Strand (Jr., 5-11, Shoreline, Wa./King’s) scored a season-high nine points and matched her career best with nine rebounds in the loss to Bakersfield...Sharpshooter Mandy Wood (Sr., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) made four three-pointers in the victory over Westmont, matching her season best for the third time this year. She has made five in a game twice in her career...The Falcons rank second in the conference in scoring with 78.7 points per game. SPU is also second in field-goal percentage (.464) and rebounding (41.3), and leads the conference in blocks (5.2) and assists (23.1)...Wood leads the Falcons and ranks sixth in the conference with 15.6 points per game. She is also third in assists (4.5), fifth in three pointers made (2.2), sixth in steals (2.11), seventh in field-goal percentage (.519) and 12th in three-point percentage (.377). Poe moved up to second on the team in scoring (12.7) and also ranks 10th in free-throw percentage (.778). Grant ranks second in field-goal percentage (.581) and third in rebounding (8.9)...Kroon is again the leader in blocks (4.9), and seventh in rebounding (7.9)...Following a season-low 10 turnovers at Westmont, SPU committed 51 in two games at Bakersfield. A season-high 60 percent shooting at Westmont was followed by 50 percent vs. Cal Poly Pomona...Already Seattle Pacific has been involved in five games decided by 10 or fewer points–matching last year’s total.

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.