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Early implications. While some of their fellow students are still wrapping-up final exams, Seattle Pacific University women's basketball players will begin a battery of tests on the hardwood. The 17th-ranked Falcons (4-1) need to be sharp right away, as they face several West Region heavyweights before month’s end. This weekend’s CCAA/GNAC Challenge features the first of three nationally-ranked opponents in December. SPU opens against tournament host Sonoma State (1-3) Friday evening (Dec. 8), and on Saturday (Dec. 9) it's a rematch of the past two West Region championship games, with Seattle Pacific facing No. 8 Chico State (3-1). Another CCAA/GNAC Challenge follows Dec. 19-20 in Las Vegas.

No holiday picnic. Most college students during this time of the year have the luxury of enjoying a long break, the Falcons will be battling through one of their most important stretches of the season. Chico State is the reigning West champion, and last season denied SPU its fourth straight trip to the Elite Eight. The Falcons face two other nationally-ranked opponents. In Vegas, they meet 22nd-ranked UC San Diego, the CCAA preseason favorite, and perennial contender Cal Poly Pomona. In their final pre-conference contest, Seattle Pacific hosts No. 5 North Dakota Dec. 30.

Win one, lose one. Not to be overlooked, Seattle Pacific has had some challenges along the way already and boasts an impressive record thus far, its lone loss coming last week at Division I opponent Gonzaga. Aside from a couple key runs by the Bulldogs, the Falcons were able to trade baskets for much of the time in a 74-58 loss. Quickly bouncing back, SPU dismantled previously unbeaten Lewis-Clark State, 81-64, at home.

Post party. The roster is loaded with long-range shooters who can light it up at the blink of an eye, but the Falcons are also showing an ability to flex their muscles in the post. While none of the players is averaging in double figures this season, the interior trio of Kelsey Hill (So., 6-2, Portland, Or./Portland Christian), Lexi Schaar (So., 6-4, Crookston, Mn.) and Rachel Strand (Sr., 6-0, Shoreline, Wa./King’s) stood tall last week. In the two games, Hill averaged 12.0 points and 5.5 rebounds, including a career-high 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting at Gonzaga. Strand and Schaar combined for near-perfect shooting and 36 points against L-C State. Schaar had a career-best 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting, while Strand scored a career-high 17 and shot 7-for-7 from the field. A pair of first-half three-pointers by Strand helped break open a tight start.

Catching fire. One of the aforementioned three-point specialists found her form last week. Jessie Menkens (Sr., 5-10, Battle Ground, Wa./Prairie) was dialed in from behind the arc. After going 1-for-10 from long range in the first three games, Menkens drained 6-of-12 treys last week, three in each contest. She leads SPU and is 12th in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with 1.4 threes per game. As a team, the Falcons looked much sharper on offense against Lewis-Clark State, earning assists on 30 of 35 baskets and hitting a season-best 51.5 percent from the floor.

Take a seat. After watching the first four games from afar, if at all, head coach Julie van Beek was back on the bench in the last game, although with her injured Achilles conspicuously propped up. The sideline pacing was left to lead assistant Michelle Skyles, who directed the team through the four games during van Beek’s absence. Van Beek, who sustained the injury Nov. 15, has now been cleared to travel and coach from the bench.

Put-backs. The Falcons have won 11 of their last 12 games played in California. On the road, they have won eight in a row against non-Div. I teams...Despite the loss to Gonzaga, SPU moved up two spots to No. 17 in this week's USA Today/ESPN coaches poll for NCAA Division II…The Falcons outshot opponents 47.2 percent to 43.6 percent last week. SPU held the Zags to 42.9 percent, and for the season opponents are shooting just 36.7 percent…Strand, who had 19 career threes entering the season, already has six so far and is the team’s top marksman and ranks third in the GNAC at 55 percent (6-11). She is also third in rebounding (8.8) and eighth in both field-goal percentage (.486) and blocks (0.8)...Point guard Beth Christensen (Jr., 5-5, Enumclaw, Wa.) is second in assists (4.2). Christensen had a season-high eight assists vs. L-C State. The team is No. 3 in free throw percentage (.730) field-goal percentage defense (.367) and opponents are hitting only 28.0 percent on threes...Schaar played just 58 minutes last season but has already played 47 this season and has surpassed her scoring total (29)...Six players are averaging between 7.8 and 9.8 points, topped by Jackie Hollands (Jr., Oregon City, Or.) at 9.8...Seattle Pacific got to the foul line just nine times last week (making six)....The reserves accounted for 43 points against Lewis-Clark State and there have been five different leading scorers thus far...GNAC teams were perfect in five games against West Region opponents last week, improving to 13-5 for the season. Six of the wins have come against the four Hawaii schools, which all added women’s basketball as a varsity sport this winter.

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.