Originally published Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 12:00 AM

NW Briefs | Seattle Pacific names Erin O'Connell its first woman athletic director

Erin O'Connell, a former University of Washington rower, has been named Seattle Pacific's first woman athletic director.

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Erin O'Connell is a former Washington rower.

Erin O'Connell has been named athletic director at Seattle Pacific University, the first woman to hold the job since SPU began fielding intercollegiate teams in 1946.

The Division II school announced the hiring on Tuesday.

O'Connell is a 35-year-old native of San Francisco and former Washington rower. She spent five years as assistant athletic director for compliance at the school. She was named interim AD last July.

O'Connell succeeds Tom Box, who was promoted to vice president for university advancement after 10 years in the athletic department.

"There is a great staff and coaches here at SPU and a tradition of excellence that I hope to continue," O'Connell said.

Seattle Pacific sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports. The Falcons have ranked among the top 30 Division II schools each of the last three years in competition for the best overall athletic program in the country.

Basketball

Washington State's men will play LSU in the fifth Cougar Hardwood Classic on Dec. 22 at KeyArena. LSU and SEC Coach of the Year Trent Johnson are playing in the NCAA tournament this week.

Hockey

Seattle's Thunderbirds will play Spokane, the defending Memorial Cup champ, in the first round of the Western Hockey League playoffs. Game 1 in the best-of-seven series is Friday in Spokane. Games 3 and 4 will be March 24 and 25 at ShoWare Center in Kent.

The Everett Silvertips open the playoffs at Tri-City on Friday, and host Games 3 and 4 of their first-round series on March 25 and March 27.

Baseball

Matt Bywater struck out 12 in eight innings as Pepperdine beat Washington State 3-1 in Malibu, Calif. Jared Prince's fourth-inning double drove in the run for the Cougars (5-10).

Gymnastics

Seattle Pacific competes Friday at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championships in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Falcons need a high score to earn a berth to the national championships.

Softball

All-American Danielle Lawrie of Washington was named Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season after going 3-0 last week.

From The Associated Press and sports-information reports.

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