Change is complete. A two-phase facelift of the formidable Seattle Pacific University women’s basketball program will be complete by the time the 2006-07 season rolls around. All of the starters and key contributors to the crew which won 113 of 124 games the past four years have now graduated, leaving head coach Julie van Beek with virtually a clean slate to begin her second campaign. Two part-time starters are among the seven returnees next season.

What a way to go. Although the run was stopped short of a third straight Elite Eight appearance, SPU stood proud after going the distance in defense of its NCAA West Regional crown. With back-to-back upsets of nationally-ranked foes, van Beek’s squad reached the regional title game for the fourth year in a row before bowing to Chico State, 72-63. Seattle Pacific finished 24-6 and was rewarded with a final national ranking of No. 22 following its wins over No. 23 UC San Diego (62-57) and No. 4-ranked and regional host Western Washington (70-50). In 2005, the Falcons had been the NCAA national runner-up and in ‘04 they made the quarterfinal round.

Leaving their mark. Certainly the graduating Class of ‘06 will go down in program history as among the most special. Four-year veterans Carli Grant (Sr., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian), Brittney Kroon (Sr., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.) and Mandy Wood (Sr., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) played increasingly instrumental roles with each year. Grant became only the second SPU player to collect 1000 points and rebounds, finishing No. 2 in the latter category. A consensus all-region selection as a senior, Wood broke school and Great Northwest Athletic Conference three-point field-goal records and was No. 8 in career scoring. Kroon holds every school and GNAC record for blocked shots, and was No. 4 in NCAA history. Jenny Poe (Sr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa.) was the team’s No. 2 scorer this season and a defensive stopper.

Pieces in place. While there are considerable holes to fill, several role players have been preparing for just such an opportunity. Autumn Fielding (Jr., 5-9, Kennewick, Wa.) and Beth Christensen (So., 5-5, Enumclaw, Wa.) started a combined 30 games in the backcourt this season. Fielding finished No. 6 in GNAC three-point shooting (.385) and nearly tripled her scoring average, to 8.2. Christensen was the conference co-leader in assists (4.3) and her shooting percentage jumped over 10 percent. Two others logged over 15 minutes per game. Kelsey Hill (Fr., 6-2, Portland, Or./Portland Christian) was effective as Kroon’s understudy, averaging 5.5 points and 5.4 rebounds. Rachel Strand (Jr., 6-0, Shoreline, Wa./King’s), who has bided her time behind Grant for three seasons, is a logical candidate for the starting five. Guards Jackie Hollands (So., 5-9, Oregon City, Or.) and Jessie Menkens (Jr., 5-10, Battle Ground, Wa.) also saw plenty of action after transferring from Div. I programs.

Vintage crop. Before van Beek had coached her first game, she had already assembled a recruiting class of considerable pedigree. She has since received commitments from two more women. Point guard Daesha Henderson (Snohomish) and post players Megan Hoisington (Central Kitsap) and Melissa Reich (Bellevue Christian) signed last fall. Reich was the state 1A player of the year, and all three were chosen for the state all-star series. Another prep senior, Lisa Cannon of Lewiston, Id., signed this spring, along with Bradley transfer Libby Magnuson, a 5-10 guard who started 21 games as a sophomore.

Hoop camp. In less than a month the first of two sessions of the Falcon Basketball Camp for Girls gets underway in Brougham Pavilion. Both sessions, June 26-29 and July 24-27, are nearly full. The cost is $175 and registration forms are available on The Falcons Online.

Put-backs. After leading the nation for much of the year, Kroon finished No. 2 in NCAA shot-blocking, averaging 4.1. The team was No. 2 in assists (21.0), No. 11 in blocks (5.3), No. 19 in field-goal percentage defense (.356), No. 21 in scoring offense (75.0) and No. 23 in field-goal percentage (.447)...This was the Falcons’ 10th straight NCAA tournament appearance and 11th overall. SPU was regional champion in 1998, 2004 and 2005...Chico State, coached by Lynne Roberts, advanced to the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Grand Valley State (Mi.). Roberts later accepted the head coaching job at Pacific in Stockton, Ca. She was 86-31 in four seasons at Chico...Four of the team’s six losses occurred in Bellingham, but the victory over Western ended the Vikings’ 21-game win streak and 19-game home court skein. SPU trailed by 15 early in the second half but then outscored their rivals 50-15 over the final 18 minutes...The tentative ‘06-07 schedule begins with the Sodexho Tip-Off Classic Nov. 17-18, with Warner Pacific and Azusa Pacific coming to the pavilion. In two other tournaments, the Falcons face CCAA members Chico State, Sonoma State, Cal Poly Pomona and UC San Diego. The latter two will be met in Las Vegas, Dec. 19-20. The other non-conference dates are at home against San Francisco State, Lewis-Clark State and North Dakota, and on the road at Gonzaga...There will be only nine GNAC members next season but Montana State Billings joins the fold for ‘07-08...van Beek’s total for wins (24) was by far the most of any first-year coach. Gordy Presnell had won 16 back in ‘87-88. Presnell was 15-15 and reached the WAC semifinals in his first season at Boise State...Wood received the Falcon Award for Excellence for career achievement in athletics, academics and leadership. She was also voted the team MVP. Jessie Christensen (So., 5-9, Enumclaw, Wa.) was most improved and Beth Christensen was most inspirational. Poe, who was a featured speaker at the year-end all-sport awards banquet, took the coaches award...Beth Christensen and Kroon were the Falcons’ two GNAC statistical leaders. Grant was No. 2 in rebounding (9.5) and Wood No. 3 in assists (4.1). Kroon was fourth in shooting percentage (.520) and Grant (.502) sixth. Poe finished among the top 20 in six categories. SPU led the GNAC in assists, blocks and defensive field-goal percentage. It was No. 2 in scoring, scoring margin (14.9), rebounding margin (7.1) and both defensive field-goal and three-point percentage, scoring, shooting percentage and rebounding.

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.