Women Win First Conference Crown

It was the best season of women's basketball in 21 years at Seattle Pacific University. And it's only too bad it had to end. The Falcons, who set a school record for victories by going 26-3 in the regular season and won their first Pacific West Conference championship, lost in the NCAA Division II championship game to UC-Davis, 74-69. They finished the season ranked among the top 15 teams in the country. Sparked by the playmaking and many other talents of junior Debbie Miller, and the scoring exploits of senior Linnea Jarvits, Seattle Pacific proved to be the best in the Northwest this winter. The Falcons beat UC-Davis, the No. 5 team in the nation, in one of 13 consecutive wins during the months of December and January. Miller and Jarvits both made the all-conference and all-region teams. Off the court, three other players were selected academic all-conference. The SPU men's basketball team, with an 18-9 record, surged back into playoff contention during the final month of the regular season, thanks largely to a 25-game home winning streak. In fact, neither the men's nor women's team lost at home this season. The Falcon men just missed a bid for a fourth straight NCAA postseason appearance.

SPU Track Teams Have National Contenders

Seattle Pacific University junior Kyle Gough hopes to follow in his father, Steve Gough's, footsteps this year. As a Falcon, Steve won the NCAA decathlon championship back in 1970; Kyle was third in the national meet a year ago. His sights are set on the 1997 national meet in Edwardsville, Illinois, May 22-24. The Seattle Pacific women's team includes four returning All-Americans, and should get a significant lift from Julie Swann, a freshman from England who has the potential to contend for NCAA titles at 800 and 1500 meters.

Gymnastics National Meet Returns to SPU

Last year it was the most closely contested championship meet on record and near-capacity crowds attended the final two sessions. No wonder Seattle Pacific University jumped at the opportunity to once again host the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships April 10-12 in Brougham Pavilion. More than 250 top-flight men and women athletes from such schools as UCLA, William & Mary, and the U.S. Air Force Academy will come to campus for the three-day meet. SPU's respected women's team hopes to keep the top women's prizes from leaving town. The Falcons, fourth in the nation last season, have improved themselves this year. Gina (Moody) Bolenbaugh, Deni Boswell and Lisa Smith all return to defend their individual event championships. Texas Woman's University is the four-time defending team champion. Single-session and three-day event ticket packages are available by calling 206/281-2085.  Please read our disclaimer. Send any questions, comments or correspondence about Response to jgilnett@spu.edu or call 206-281-2051. Copyright © 1999 University Communications, Seattle Pacific University. Seattle Pacific University Office of University Communications 3307 Third Avenue West Seattle, Washington 98119-1997 United States of America