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Spring 2008 | Volume 31, Number 1
| Athletics
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Falcons Reach the Regional Finals
With a 27-0 record and ranked No.2 in the nation, the SPU women hosted the NCAA Division II West Regionals |
Like their counterparts on the women’s soccer team, the Falcon women hoopsters have taken repetition to a whole new level. As the regular season gave way to postseason play, the Seattle Pacific University women’s basketball team had racked up one win after another, resulting in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) record of 18-0, and an overall record of 27-0.
Ranked No. 2 in the nation, they clinched their second consecutive GNAC title after defeating Western Oregon University 68-39 on March 6, and they closed out the regular season in front of a foot-stomping Brougham Pavilion crowd on March 8 –– just a week before they were to host the NCAA Division II West Region tournament March 14–17.
The season began with a sign of things to come. At a November exhibition game, the Falcons set the table for an impressive season by stunning the NCAA Division I University of Washington women’s basketball team with a convincing 8-point margin of victory. They never looked back.
Led by Head Coach Julie van Beek, the SPU women defeated every foe they faced — some by a single point, others in utter blow-outs. And even before clinching the GNAC title, Seattle Pacific was only one of three remaining unbeaten teams in the nation, second only to Delta State University in Mississippi for the No. 1 overall seed going into postseason play.
The men’s basketball team, coached by Jeff Hironaka, finished the season 12-6 in the GNAC and 20-7 overall. The Falcons will make their fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Division II West Region Tournament.
The men’s basketball team, coached by Jeff Hironaka, finished the season 12-6 in the GNAC and 20-7 overall. The Falcons will make their fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Division II West Region Tournament.
The men put together a four-game winning streak toward the end of the season and Falcon center, senior Rob Will, established new records for single-game field goal percentage and consecutive shots made. Against Alaska Fairbanks on February 28, Will hit all 13 of his shots to break the SPU record for single-game field goal percentage shared by Darrin Levy, Class of 1987, and Falcon great Loren Anderson, Class of 1954, who both shot 12 for 12. He then hit his first eight shots during the next game against Alaska Anchorage, setting a new GNAC record for consecutive field goals made at 22. His near perfect weekend earned him GNAC Player of the Week honors.
The Falcon basketball teams were not only excellent on the hardwoods. Six women and three men players were named to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Academic All-Star Team, giving Seattle Pacific more players on the GNAC Academic All-Star Team than any school in the conference.
Other spring sport excitement is happening as well. Closing out the indoor track and field season, six Falcon women — sophomore Jessica Pixler, defending national champion in the mile and top seed in both the 800 meters and mile; pole vaulter Melissa Peaslee; high jumper Teona Golding; and miler Jane Larson — compete in the 2008 NCAA Division II National Indoor Track and Field Championships March 14–15 in Mankato, Minnesota.
The SPU women gymnasts are working through a tough season at 2-9 but have been showing steady improvements with each meet. Between mid-March and year-end, Falcon rowers will take to the water, beginning March 15 against Pacific Lutheran on America Lake in Tacoma, Washington.
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