BELLINGHAM, Wash. ? The UC San Diego women's basketball team led 22nd-ranked Seattle Pacific for most of the game, but Kelsy Burns scored the go-ahead bucket with 50 seconds remaining and the Falcons held on for the 63-59 victory in the opening game of the GNAC/CCAA Crossover Classic Friday night at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the campus of Western Washington University.

Seniors Michelle Osier and Alexis Gaskin each finished with game-highs of 16 points and eight rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the Tritons lost to the Falcons for the seventh time in a row.

Friday's contest was the season-opener for the defending GNAC champions, while UCSD dropped to 1-1 on the young season with the loss.

Looking to avenge last year's 76-67 defeat at the hands of the Falcons in the NCAA Division II West Regional Semifinals, the Tritons scored the first six points of the game and took a 10-2 lead following a Gaskin layup with 14:07 left in the first half. UCSD never trailed in the opening period and took a 31-27 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Tritons held the Falcons at bay for the first half of the second period, taking their biggest lead of the game at 39-29 following a layup from Osier with 14:36 remaining. UCSD led 45-37 with less than 10 minutes to play, when Burns knocked down a long three to spark a 13-3 SPU run over the next 3:11.

A triple from Daesha Henderson gave the Falcons their first lead, 50-48, with 6:20 remaining.

The Tritons were able to tie the score on three occasions after that point, but never could regain the lead.

After Annette Ilg sank two free throws to tie it at 59-59 with just over a minute left, Burns came up big again, hitting a jumper from the baseline to put Seattle Pacific ahead for good.

UCSD had two opportunities to tie or take the lead, but came up dry both possessions. Ilg missed a three that would have put the Tritons in front and Leilani Martin's shot in the lane with 13 second left rimmed out.

Megan Hoisington grabbed the rebound and converted two at the line to ice the victory for the Falcons.

Gaskin was 8-of-16 from the field, while Osier hit six of her 15 shots for the game. Ilg finished with 12 points on 3-of-6 shooting, while Kristen Cabral tallied eight points and four rebounds off the bench.

Burns and Hoisington each had 14 points for Seattle Pacific.

The Tritons will face host Western Washington to wrap up the tournament Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Seattle Pacific meets Cal Poly Pomona in the early game at 5:00.