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Maintaining momentum. After a so-so start to the season, the Seattle Pacific University women’s basketball team has raised its game to another level since the beginning of the New Year and Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. Another victory last week kept the Falcons (3-0, 9-4) atop the GNAC standings and as one of two teams still undefeated in league play. With six of their final eight games on the road, they look to keep the hot streak alive with a pair of games to complete a three-game home stand. SPU goes after its fourth straight win against Alaska Fairbanks (0-2, 5-9) Thursday night (Jan. 18). One of the league’s biggest surprises and hottest teams, Alaska Anchorage (3-1, 14-1), arrives on Saturday (Jan. 20). Western Washington hosts SPU Jan. 24 followed by a non-league matinee home date with Dixie State Jan. 27.

Pouring it on. Seattle Pacific’s 82-49 victory over Saint Martin’s was its largest of the season and, overall, one of the most impressive. A stingy defense has proven only more miserly at home, yielding 57.3 points in six home victories. Offensively, the Falcons are beginning to find their rhythm. They still stand sixth in GNAC scoring (66.5 ppg) but that number is climbing, evidenced by the 71.3 clip in conference games. SPU has now won 62 of its last 64 home conference games.

Raising the bar. Scoring hasn’t been the only improvement by the Falcons since league play has started. Seattle Pacific has increased production in several other areas as well. The offense has been more efficient and rebounding has been superb. SPU is shooting 44 percent in conference games compared to just 39 percent overall. It is coming off a season-high 56 percent display versus Saint Martin’s. Similarly, the Falcons are out-rebounding GNAC opponents by 7.0 per game compared to minus-2.3 overall.

It starts inside. Seattle Pacific’s improved offensive efficiency has been a direct result of getting the ball inside with greater effectiveness. Post players Kelsey Hill (So., 6-2, Portland, Or./Portland Christian) and Rachel Strand (Sr., 6-0, Shoreline, Wa./King’s) have thrived of late. They rank first and second, respectively, in league-game shooting percentage, with Strand at 68 percent and Hill 67. SPU’s leading scorer, Hill is averaging over two more points and two rebounds per game more in GNAC play (12.7 points, 9.3 rebounds). Strand, who had converted 74 percent of her floor shots over the last four games, is next in line with 12.3 points and 9.0 rebounds in league games. In the first three league wins, the Falcons are outscoring opponents 103-45 in the paint, including 42-22 against Saint Martin’s.

Not just for the bigs. Along with increased production from the front line, SPU has a number of sharpshooting slashers, who have been taking the ball inside on a more frequent basis. In the victory over SMU, Jackie Hollands (Jr., 5-9, Oregon City, Or.) shot 4-for-6 from inside the three-point line, thanks to her ability to find open lanes on the drive. She finished with 14 points and is averaging 11.3 points in the GNAC, more than twice her season average. Autumn Fielding (Sr., 5-9, Kennewick, Wa.) has also increased her production in league play to 10.0 points per game. She had 11 against the Saints, including 2-3 treys.

Ball control. In the free-wheeling days when the Falcons were averaging sometimes over 80 points per game, caution was thrown to the wind–and often the ball sailed out of bounds during the frenetic drive to score in transition. Without the offensive weaponry this season, Coach Julie van Beek has her team playing under far more control. Turnovers, which averaged as many as 21.7 in the last decade, have decreased to just 16.3 so far this season (28th in the NCAA). There have been 13 or under in five of the last six outings, and currently, SPU ranks second in the league with a plus-4.1 turnover margin. In conference play it owns a 50-33 scoring advantage off turnovers.

Put-backs. Seattle Pacific got 26 points from its bench against Saint Martin’s, and the reserves have not been outscored in any game this season. Hollands joined the starting five for the first time last week and also had six assists. Libby Magnuson (Jr., 5-10, White Bear Lake, Mn./Bradley) came off the bench and had six points and five assists. Jessie Menkens (Sr., 10, Battle Ground, Wa./Priairie) and Megan Hoisington (Fr., 5-11, Bremerton, Wa./Central Kitsap) also had six points apiece...Strand was nearly perfect, shooting 7-for-8 against Saint Martin’s, including a three-pointer. She is leading the team with a 41.7 three-point percentage (10-24) outside the arc...Beth Christensen (Jr., 5-5, Enumclaw, Wa.) leads the league in assists (4.4). Her eight assists vs. SMU tied her season high...Hill leads the Falcons and ranks 16th in the league in scoring (10.4). She also ranks sixth in the GNAC in rebounding (7.5) and is ninth in both field-goal (.522) and free-throw (.800) percentages. Strand is seventh in both rebounding (7.3) and blocked shots (0.8). The Falcons are 15th nationally in free-throw percentage (76.3). Autumn Fielding (Sr., 5-9, Kennewick, Wa.) connected on 2-3 treys last week and is 5-10 in the last two contests. Last week’s 7-for-16 team effort on threes was a season-best...Backup center Lexi Schaar (So., 6-4, Crookston, Mn.) may return to practice later this month. She has missed the last eight games with a knee injury...All home games now feature Live Stats at the Falcons Online (www.spu.edu/falconsonline).

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.