Familiar territory. They have been here before, but never under these circumstances. After hosting the NCAA Division II West Regional the past three seasons, the Seattle Pacific University women’s basketball team gets an all-new experience by opening the postseason on the road this time around. However, the Falcons (22-5) will play on a familiar floor. Seeded fifth, SPU faces 23rd-ranked UC San Diego (23-4) at Bellingham’s Carver Gymnasium Friday evening (Mar. 10). The winner will meet either top-seed and No. 4-ranked Western Washington (26-1) or Northwest Nazarene (17-10) in Saturday night’s (Mar .11) second semifinal game. The regional championship game is Monday (Mar. 13), with the victor going to the Elite Eight in Hot Springs, Ark., Mar. 22.

Rest of the West. The other half of the regional bracket features No. 2 seed and 14th-ranked Chico State (24-3) facing Humboldt State (17-10) and, in the first game Friday, No. 3 seed Cal State Bakersfield (20-7) plays Cal State L.A. (20-7). Seattle Pacific is the two-time defending West champion and was regional runner-up in 2002 and ‘03. Last year SPU was the national runner-up.

Only the teams changed. Seattle Pacific and UC San Diego have not met in two years but the head coaches know one another. First-year Falcon mentor Julie van Beek and the Tritons’ Janell Jones were on opposite benches at the 2005 NAIA Elite Eight, when van Beek coached Trevecca Nazarene and Jones was at the helm of Oklahoma City University. OCU prevailed in the quarterfinal matchup and went on to finish second in the NAIA tournament.

Experience helps. This may be the first NCAA tournament game for the coaches, but the Falcons certainly hold the edge in playing experience. Seniors Carli Grant (Sr., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian), Brittney Kroon (Sr., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.), Jenny Poe (Sr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa.) and Mandy Wood (Sr., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) have participated in plenty of March Madness over their careers. Grant, Kroon and Wood have won 111 of 121 games altogether, including a mark of 10-3 in the postseason. They are also coming off a resounding performance in the final regular season game, combining for 71 points in an 89-53 victory over Central Washington. Poe led the way with 21 and 10 rebounds–her second career double-double. Grant doubled up for the 10th time this season with 19 points and 11 boards. The West Regional MVP a year ago, Wood contributed 16 points and career-bests of six rebounds and eight assists. Kroon finished with 15 points and five rebounds.

Sharp when it counts. Certainly Seattle Pacific closed the regular season with a rush, winning 15 of the final 16 games 14 by margins of 10 or more points. Over that stretch, the defense allowed only 54.1 points per game and only two opponents shot better than 40 percent from the field. SPU leads the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in field-goal percentage defense (.357) and blocked shots (5.70) and is No. 2 in three-point percentage allowed (.288). The lone setback came against Western Washington, the only foe to convert above 45 percent of its field goals this season. That defeat ended the Falcons’ 36-game home winning streak and three-year reign as league champions.

No knock on Wood. Wood earned the unanimous praise of coaches across the GNAC by being voted first team all-conference. Wood finished the regular season fifth in scoring (15.3) and third in assists (4.2). She also ranks among the leaders in field-goal percentage (.474) and three-point accuracy (.401). Grant was a second-team selection and Poe received honorable mention. Grant is No. 2 in GNAC rebounding (9.5). Poe finished in the top 20 of seven different categories.

Never gave up. Kroon also picked up a kudo this week, being named a finalist of The V Foundation Comeback Award for the third year in a row. Four years ago, Kroon underwent successful transplant surgery. Since then she has set every SPU and GNAC shot-blocking record and ranks No. 4 in Div. II history. Kroon currently leads the NCAA with 4.3 blocks per game and averages 8.2 points and 5.5 rebounds. The Comeback Award is given annually to a college basketball student-athlete who has accomplished a personal triumph in the face of true adversity, be it in health, life or moral dilemma. It is presented by The V Foundation and ESPN in honor of late basketball coach Jim Valvano.

Put-backs. This is the Falcons’ 10th straight NCAA tournament appearance and 11th overall. SPU was regional champion in 1998, 2004 and 2005. The Falcons have won their tournament opening game four of the last five years...Four of Seattle Pacific’s five season losses were dealt by the West’s top three seeds: Western Washington (twice), Chico State and Cal State Bakersfield...Seattle Pacific is 19th in NCAA scoring (76.1). It also ranks 13th in shooting (.457) and 25th in rebounding margin (7.2)...Part-time starter Jessie Menkens (Jr., 5-10, Battle Ground, Wa.) missed last week’s two games with an ankle injury but was expected to rejoin practices this week...Coincidentally, three of the team’s five losses this season have occurred in Bellingham, all in December...Wood is now No. 8 in career scoring and holds the record for three-pointers (224)...SPU is No. 2 in GNAC scoring, shooting percentage and rebounding. Besides leading in blocks, Kroon is No. 3 in field-goal accuracy (.526) and Grant is seventh (.495). Beth Christensen (So., 5-5, Enumclaw, Wa.) leads the league in assists (4.5) and is eighth in steals (1.81).

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.