Monday, November 16, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Seattle Pacific women’s basketball team began its season with two big victories, earning the GNAC’s Red Lion Team of the Week award. The Falcons had a wire-to-wire victory, 82-58, over Humboldt State on Friday and an 89-43 dominating win over Fresno Pacific on Saturday.

Along with Western Washington, the Falcons attended the West Region Challenge hosted by Humboldt State in Arcata, Calif. In both games for Seattle Pacific, they were led not by one or two individuals but by dominant team performances.

In their opening game of the season against host Humboldt State, Seattle Pacific looked to be in midseason form with four players in double-digit scoring. Jordan McPhee led the team with a career-high 17 points. Brianne Lasconia put up 16 points, Molly Grager had 14 and eight rebounds and Stacey Lukasiewicz scored 11.

Seattle Pacific led from start to finish against the Lumberjacks after pulling ahead 29-15 after the first quarter. Humboldt State was voted as the No. 3 team in the California Collegiate Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll. The Falcons’ defense held HSU to 35.6 percent from the field and just 1 for 9 from three-point range.

Against Fresno Pacific, the Falcons had four double-digit scorers once again with Courtney Hollander leading the way with a double-double, putting up 13 points and 13 rebounds, along with four assists. McPhee had another strong outing with 12 points and seven rebounds, Lukasiewicz scored 11 points and dished out eight assists and Hannah Rodrigues scored 11 off the bench.

The Falcons used a 23-7 second quarter and a 30-11 third quarter to run away with the contest over Fresno Pacific. The team shot 50 percent from the field and from behind the arc, and shot 86.7 percent from the charity stripe. Seattle Pacific also outrebounded the Sunbirds 49-26.

The Falcons will travel back down to California for the West Region Crossover Classic hosted by Azusa Pacific. Seattle Pacific will face the No. 2 team from the CCAA in UC San Diego on Fri., Nov. 20 and the No. 2 team from the PacWest in Azusa Pacific on Sat., Nov. 21.