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Two to get ready. It’s been a wild second half in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, with five teams contending for the championship as recently as last week. Yet with just two games remaining, Seattle Pacific University is one win away from clinching at least a share of the title. The Falcons (11-3, 18-7) seek their fourth straight win Thursday night (Mar. 1) at Northwest Nazarene (9-6, 15-11), one of five other GNAC teams battling for an at-large NCAA Division II tournament berth. The regular season concludes Saturday night (Mar. 3), across town at Seattle University (8-6, 17-8), still another contender.

March Madness, here we come. The NCAA unveils its 64-team bracket and the site of the West Regional Sunday night (Mar. 4), and SPU is virtually assured its 11th straight playoff appearance and 12th overall. The Falcons won twice after being ranked No. 3 in last week’s regional poll. Another ranking is due Feb. 28. UC San Diego and Chico State are expected to be 1-2 once more, with the Tritons holding the inside track to getting the No. 1 seed and opportunity to host the tournament Mar. 9-12.

Peaking at the right time. The Falcons are hitting their stride at just the right time. They are coming off a dominant display against defending GNAC champion Western Washington, winning 76-52 to finish unbeaten in league play at home. Earlier came the most lopsided victory of the season, 92-48 over Western Oregon. Seattle Pacific needs just one win–or one Alaska Anchorage loss–to clinch at least a tie for its fourth GNAC title in the past five seasons. The Falcons, however, might need two wins to claim the conference’s automatic berth in the playoffs.

Sensational shooting. While SPU controlled just about every aspect of the game last week, its shooting performance stood out above the rest. The team combined to convert 54 percent of its field goals (59-109), and hit 46 percent (18-39) on three-point attempts. In addition, they made 84 percent (32-38) of their free throws. On the other end of the floor the Falcons held their foes to 29 percent (33-113) from the floor. After hitting just 50 percent from the field in the first 12 games, they have made that mark six times in the last 13.

Whatever it takes. They were picked third in the conference preseason poll–and that was before they lost two of their three centers, including the projected starter. They then started out by winning just four of the first seven games and falling from the national rankings. But it’s doubtful that any team in the West wants to face the Falcons right now. Coach Julie van Beek, who’s overcome an injury of her own (torn Achilles), has done a masterful job of getting the squad to play to its collective strengths, as evidenced by ranking third nationally in assists (19.4). There are no big scorers (only two in double figures, both below 12 points per game) and still they are No. 2 in GNAC scoring offense (70.8). They are simply getting the job done, whatever it takes.

Jackie's world. Rarely have individuals attracted the spotlight this season, but Jackie Hollands (Jr., 5-9, Oregon City, Or.) played exceptionally well to earn GNAC player of the week. The blonde sharpshooter sank a sizzling 84 percent of her shots (14-17) in scoring 41 points against the Westerns. Hollands hit a perfect 5-for-5 from inside and 9 of 12 from outside the three-point arc. She also had eight steals. Hollands poured in 19 points in just 20 minutes of action against Western Oregon and followed that up by stealing the show on Senior Night with a career-high 22 points against Western Washington.

Key belongs to Kelsey. Another can’t-miss option in the offense was center Kelsey Hill (So., 6-2, Portland, Or./Portland Christian), who totaled 26 points on 79 percent (11-14) shooting. Hill posted her fifth and sixth double-doubles in scoring and rebounding, scoring 15 points and hauling in 10 rebounds vs. Western Oregon and 11 of each vs. the Vikings. For the season Hill tops the team in scoring (11.8) and rebounding (8.2). The lefty’s also third in GNAC field-goal accuracy (.520). She could become the first sophomore to lead the team in scoring and rebounding since Tosca Lindberg in 1990-91.

Put-backs. Alaska Anchorage plays at Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon and, if it wins both, could conceivably earn the automatic berth if its finishes tied with SPU. The Seawolves have won their last seven...Northwest Nazarene is the alma mater of both van Beek and her top aide, Michelle Skyles...Since being outscored by UAA in the second half at Anchorage Feb. 15, the Falcons have proven tough to stop down the stretch. They are a combined plus-49 in the three second periods since. Hollands did the majority of her damage after halftime last week, pouring in 15 and 16 points, respectively. She has now reached double figures in season scoring (10.1)...The 24-point margin vs. Western Washington was the largest in Seattle Pacific’s 21 series wins...Libby Magnuson (Jr., 5-10, White Bear Lake, Mn.) scored 20 points and shot 50 percent in the two victories...Autumn Fielding (Sr., 5-9, Kennewick, Wa.) dropped 13 points on WOU and the team was 14-for-15 at the foul line...Point guard Beth Christensen (Jr., 5-5, Enumclaw, Wa.) is closing in on her second straight conference assists title (4.9). She is second in assists-to-turnovers ratio (1.76 and ninth in steals (1.64). Rachel Strand (Sr., 6-0, Shoreline, Wa./King’s) continues to lead the GNAC in field-goal percentage (.544) and is fourth in blocked shots (1.0) and 10th in rebounding (6.6). Hill ranks ninth in the GNAC in scoring (11.8), and third in rebounding (8.2). Hollands is third in steals (2.0), eighth in three-pointers made (1.7) and 10th in assists (2.6). As a team SPU is No. 2 in field-goal percentage (.424) and turnover margin (4.76). In GNAC games, the Falcons are averaging league-highs of 72.4 points and 11.4 steals and shooting 44.6 percent.

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.