GNAC release (HTML)
PORTLAND, Ore. – With two more women's basketball victories last week, the Seattle Pacific Falcons already are in double digits for the year.
Now, 10-and-0 SPU has some gained some more recognition for that early-season success, being named as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's Team of the Week.
The Falcons, ranked No. 14 in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association national poll, tacked on two more W's last week in their own SPU Classic. On Friday, they beat Concordia Irvine, 76-64, thereby giving head coach
Julie Heisey her 400th coaching victory. Then on Saturday, they rolled past Nova Southeastern of Florida, 75-50.
"I've been around a lot of great people," Heisey said, reflecting on the 400 wins. "I've had great players and great coaches to help, and people to believe in us. In my first year at Trevecca Nazarene (in Nashville, Tenn.), we went 4-24 and then the next year, we were 15-14.
"When I got to SPU, there was already a winning tradition set. It was a privilege to come in and work with kids that loved to play and compete."
The 10-0 start is Seattle Pacific's best since 2007-08. It is one of 12 teams in Division II still undefeated.
Junior guard
Jordan McPhee led all scorers in the Concordia Irvine game with 18 points, making both 3-pointers she attempted. The Falcons had 11 players score in that one as they improved to 3-0 against Pacific West Conference teams this season.
On Saturday against Nova Southeastern, McPhee again led the way on offense, this time with 13 points, and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. The Falcons have kept their opponents to 50 or fewer points in seven games, and have the No. 1 defense in Division II, allowing just 48.8 points per game.
The Sharks came into the game ranked as the South Region's No. 1 team in the D2SIDA poll.
SPU is off this week for Christmas break. The non-conference schedule is now complete, and GNAC play resumes on Thursday, Dec. 29, when Central Washington visits Brougham Pavilion at 7:00 p.m.
