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Early ones matter. While the women’s basketball playoff picture and postseason hype really begins to take shape in late February, Seattle Pacific University has a lot riding on the outcome of games this week. The Falcons (5-1, 12-5) need to consolidate their lead in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference to be well-prepared for an unfriendly schedule which features six road games among the final eight. SPU aims to keep its home conference record unblemished against Northwest Nazarene (4-3, 10-8) Thursday (Feb. 1) and Seattle University (6-2, 14-4) Saturday afternoon (Feb. 3) to open the annual homecoming doubleheader. A stretch of four consecutive road games begins Feb. 8 at Saint Martin’s.

A worldwide audience. Saturday’s homecoming doubleheader will be streamed live on the Internet by CSTV. It is the first such airing of an SPU home event and fans can access the games at no charge at www.NCAAsports.com/DII.

Can't win 'em all. Seattle Pacific has hit its stride in January. Taking advantage of four home games in the first five GNAC counters, the Falcons went 5-0. However, their hopes for a third undefeated conference season in five years were dashed with a tough 60-58 loss at Western Washington last week. A layup by the Vikings with 3.4 seconds remaining broke a 58-all tie. Still, SPU holds a one-game lead over Western and Seattle U. in the loss column. In last week’s first NCAA Division II regional rankings, the Falcons stood No. 3 in the West, behind Chico State and UC San Diego. Eight teams qualify for the regional tournament, Mar. 9-12.

Shooting clinic. If there were any questions to how Seattle Pacific would respond from the tough loss at Bellingham, the answer was swift and sure. The Falcons put together one of those rare performances where everything clicks in routing Dixie State, 106-62. SPU buried 17 treys in the contest, shattering the school record of 12. The Falcons finished at 71 percent (17 of 24) from behind the arc, including 9-11 in the second half. It wasn’t just the long ball that was dropping. Altogether, SPU posted a season-best 61 percent (37-61) and connected on all 15 free throws. It was the first time in 71 games that it scored 100 points or more.

Getting everybody involved. At the rate and depth the threes were falling, Dixie State had nowhere to turn on the defensive end. Autumn Fielding (Sr., 5-9, Kennewick, Wa.) had the most impressive performance, going 5-for-6 from downtown, but the Falcons had plenty involved in the act as six different players had at least a pair of three-point baskets. Jackie Hollands (Jr., 5-9, Oregon City, Or.) went 3-for-5 in scoring all 15 of her points in the second half, and Jessie Menkens (Sr., 5-10, Battle Ground, Wa./Prairie) knocked down 3 of 6. Beth Christensen (Jr. 5-5, Enumclaw, Wa.) and Libby Magnuson (Jr., 5-10, White Bear Lake, Mn.) made good on both of their attempts. Daesha Henderson (Fr., 5-8, Snohomish, Wa.) went 2-for-3. Previously, the team had not hit more than eight threes this season.

Happy New Year. Certainly this is not the same squad which finished the 2006 calendar. Apparently among the new resolutions was a commitment to look and play like a regional championship contender. This month scoring is up 10.8 points (to 75.9), shooting has risen by over 8 points, both beyond and inside the arc. Turnovers are down nearly five per game and rebounding has gone from a minus-5.1 to a plus 7.2 in January. Whereas nobody averaged in double figures the first 10 games, four have done so in the last seven outings, topped by Rachel Strand (Sr., 6-0, Shoreline, Wa./King’s) at 13.0 points per game. Strand and center Kelsey Hill (So., 6-2, Portland, Or./Portland Christian) are getting the job done inside, converting a combined 62 percent.

Put-backs. Coach Julie van Beek is now walking without crutches, although she still wears a protective plastic boot over her left foot. Two days prior to the season opener van Beek ruptured her Achilles, and she consequently missed five games on the bench...Reserve center Lexi Schaar (So., 6-4, Crookston, Mn.) will undergo knee surgery and miss the remainder of the season. Schaar had averaged 7.0 points and 1.2 blocked shots through the first five games before being injured. She is eligible to petition for a medical hardship...SPU has won its last six and 12 of 13 homecoming games since 1993...The loss at Western Washington was the first January defeat in 36 games dating back to Jan. 26, 2002...Seattle Pacific’s 106 points against Dixie State was the most since the Falcons put up 107 against Cal State L.A. on Dec. 29, 2004. It ties for No. 7 all-time...SPU’s shooting percentages for overall, threes and free throws were all season highs in the GNAC. Seven players scored in double figures for the Falcons…Although its been a relative offensive explosion of late, no single player has provided the spark. Strand and Hill’s 26 points in the two games last week led the parade. Fielding had 24, Hollands 22 and Menkens 21…SPU shot a combined 23-25 from the free-throw line last week and moved to the top of the GNAC standings and 10th nationally at 76.2 percent. SPU leads the GNAC and is fourth nationally in assists (19.1) and is also tops in the GNAC and 22nd nationally in fewest turnovers (15.4)…Christensen ranks as the league leader in assists (4.6)…Hill is third in rebounding (7.9), sixth in field-goal percentage (.503) and eighth in free-throw percentage (.778)…Strand ranks second in shooting percentage (.547) and eighth in rebounding (6.9)…Fielding moved up third in three-point percentage (.431).

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.