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Vegas in the A.M. If ever there was a need for a morning jolt of caffeine, it’s this week, when the Seattle Pacific University women’s basketball team has a pair of early starts in Las Vegas. The 24th-ranked Falcons (4-3) seek to snap an atypical two-game losing streak at the Great Western Classic Tuesday and Wednesday (Dec. 18-19) at 11 a.m. They first face UC San Diego (3-1) in a rematch of last year’s opening round of the NCAA Division II tournament. The final pre-Christmas contest is against Cal Poly Pomona (3-3). SPU returns home Dec. 30 to host No. 4 North Dakota (14-1) before conference play begins Jan. 4.

Close calls. It was a tale of two different games for the Falcons in the CCAA/GNAC Challenge, back on Dec. 8-9. Seattle Pacific led most of the way in its opening game against tournament host Sonoma State, but the Seawolves went on a 12-2 run over the final four minutes to pull away with a 56-49 victory. The following night, the Falcons dug a deep hole, falling 20 points behind No. 8 Chico State. This time, however, they attempted to play the role of spoilers, storming back to within three late in the game. In the end, their valiant effort came up just short in a 61-56 loss.

Sounds familiar. Hopefully the 9-day layoff will help the Falcons to prepare both physically and mentally. On the latter count, they would do well to remember last December, when they also lost to Sonoma State and Chico, yet eventually recovered and went on a 14-game win streak beginning in January. SPU has not lost three consecutive games since midway through 1995-96.

Double trouble. Center Kelsey Hill (So., 6-2, Portland, Or./Portland Christian) averaged 12.5 points and 10.5 rebounds and posted her first two double-doubles of the season in the two losses. Hill led all players in both points (15) and rebounds (10) against Sonoma State. She followed that up with 10 points and 11 rebounds against Chico. Hill, whose surge began with an 18-point, 7-board effort at Gonzaga Nov. 30, is the team’s co-leading scorer (9.4) and ranks sixth in the GNAC at 7.3 rebounds. She is also sinking her field goals at a rate 100 points above the team average (.467).

Efficiency is key. If there is one key area to highlight the difference between SPU’s victories and defeats, it could be the ability to knock down shots. The Falcons have been able to create opportunities in all of their games, but the consistency in execution just has not been there yet. Seattle Pacific is averaging just eight more field goal attempts in its wins, but is averaging nearly 20 more points. The Falcons are shooting just over 40 percent in those wins, but a mere 33 percent in losses. For the season, they are at .376, including .288 on three-pointers. No SPU team has shot below 42 percent from the floor since 1993-94.

Cleaning the glass. While the Falcons continue to build consistency on offense, they have put together some solid defensive performances. Seattle Pacific is holding opponents to 36.7 percent shooting overall and just 27.3 percent from three-point range. Additionally, SPU isn’t giving opponents many second chances. They lead the league in defensive rebounding, averaging over 27 per game. Yet there’s work to be done; opponents are winning the battle of the boards by 2.4 per game. A year ago, the Falcons were a plus-7.1.

Put-backs. Despite the two losses, SPU held on to its spot in the Dec. 12 national poll, falling from No. 17 to No. 24...The Falcons’ 29 turnovers versus Chico was the most since an 81-64 victory over Lewis-Clark State in ‘02-03...The Falcons held opponents to just 36.5 percent shooting overall, but shot just 29.6 percent themselves, including 27 percent against Sonoma...Jessie Menkens (Sr., 5-10, Battle Ground, Wa./Prairie) hit three three-pointers for the third straight game to finish with 11 points in the loss to Sonoma State. She buried two treys in the loss to Chico and currently ranks seventh in the GNAC in both three pointers made (1.7) and accuracy (.375)...Jackie Hollands (Jr., 5-9, Oregon City, Or.) was one of the most productive players with 17 points last week, but saw her scoring average dip below double figures for the first time this season...Opponents are shooting just 36.7 percent, the third-best mark in the GNAC. SPU is also holding opponents to 27.3 percent from three-point range and 60.6 points per game...The team is struggling on offense (8th, 65.6) and shooting (7th in both three-point and overall field-goal percentage)...Point guard Beth Christensen (Jr., 5-5, Enumclaw, Wa.) finished with eight assists and ranks second in the GNAC with a 4.14 average...Rachel Strand (Sr., 6-0, Shoreline, Wa./King’s) is No. 2 in three-point accuracy (.500, 7-14), seventh in rebounding (7.1) and 10th in blocked shots (0.86)...Backup center Lexi Schaar (So., 6-4, Crookston, Mn.) is No. 4 in blocked shots (1.20).

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.