The Lowdown: The Quaker Classic - Barclay College at Friends University

Location: Garvey Center

When: Tuesday, Oct. 31 @ 6 pm

Broadcast: https://kcacnetwork.com/friends/   

Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3Sxewza

Flying with the Falcons: The Friends University Falcons open the season following an injury-riddled 2022-23 campaign that saw the team come together at the right time and make a postseason run to the KCAC tournament championship game for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

The centerpiece of what the Falcons hope to accomplish this season starts with Taylor Jackson, a 6'3 junior forward that is already the program's modern-era career blocks leader with 204 swats in two seasons.

Another returner expected to make her mark is Rayland Garner, a 5'6 sophomore forward from Kingfisher, Okla.  Garner flashed explosive scoring potential for the Falcons in the first semester last year, averaging a team-high 14.5 points per game during the first 13 games of the season.

A pair of veterans on the inside and outside are also back to give the Falcons valuable playing experience from last season. A steady presence inside, Kassie Kinniburgh averaged 5.5 rebounds and 5.1 points per game last year for the Falcons, while Ellie Munds showcased intriguing three-point potential, shooting 38.1 percent on 2.8 attempts from distance through 15 games in the 2022-23 season.

A slew of newcomers, including Kori Babcock (5'6, JR, G), Lauryn McIver (5'9, SO, G), Jadyn Glasgow (5'5, SO, G) and Trinity Johnson (5'9, JR, G) are expected to make an instant impact this season for the Falcons.

Scouting the Bears: This will be the second KCAC opponent this season for the Barclay College Bears, who fell 75-41 to McPherson College in their season opener on Oct. 27 in Haviland, Kan. Barclay trailed 33-20 at the half and were outscored 42-21 in the second half.

The Series: The Falcons have won both meetings on record, with each matchup coming in the last two seasons. Friends has won each game by an average of 48.5 points, emerging victorious 83-54 last season and 99-41 in the 2021-22 campaign. 

Quoting Head Coach Dean Jaderston:  

"It's so much fun getting our season underway. Now that we're playing, each non-conference game is so important in our development as a team. With so many new players, especially on the perimeter, we need to take every opportunity to build our chemistry. It will be a good opportunity to bounce back from our Hastings game and get better."

Falcon Fright Night: At tonight's game, there will be a contest for the team with the funniest and scariest costume. So come dressed in your best team or individual costume for a chance to win a prize at halftime! Campus Ministries will also host a bonfire behind Smith after the game!  

Preseason Recognition: Friends University junior forward Taylor Jackson is a KCAC Women's Basketball Preseason Team selection. An interior force since arriving on campus, Jackson earned third-team All-KCAC recognition and was an all-conference defensive team selection last season after leading the NAIA in blocks per game (3.5 bpg) along with 11.4 points and 10.4 rebounds. Read the full release here!

Block Parties: Taylor Jackson has been a major deterrent for the Falcons inside since joining the program for the 2021-22 season. Jackson won six KCAC Defensive Player of the Week awards last season and has collected nine for her career. The Houston, Texas native is now the Falcons' modern-era career leader in blocks and has 204 swats for her career.

Sponsor Alerts: Friends University Athletics is excited to have Home2 Suites by Hilton as an official athletic sponsor this season! For more on what they can offer, click HERE to visit their official webpage.

Tickets: Click HERE to purchase tickets to all Falcon home basketball games.

Falcons by the Numbers last season:

Overall record: 17-14

KCAC: 11-11

Home: 11-3

Road: 5-9

Neutral: 1-2

When scoring:                                           

Under 50 points: 1-8

50-59 points: 3-3

60-69 points: 6-3

70-79 points: 4-0

80-89 points: 3-0

90+ points:  0-0

When allowing:

Under 50 points: 6-1

50-59 points: 8-2

60-69 points: 2-6

70-79 points: 1-4

80-89 points: 0-1

90+ points: 0-0

When leading at halftime: 14-3

When trailing at halftime: 2-11

When tied at halftime: 1-0

When committing fewer turnovers: 9-1

When committing more turnovers: 8-13

When turnovers are even: 0-0

When leading in field-goal percentage: 15-3

When trailing in field-goal percentage: 1-11

When field-goal percentage is even: 1-0

When leading in three-point percentage: 12-6

When trailing in three-point percentage: 5-8

When leading in rebounding: 11-8

When trailing in rebounding: 5-6

When rebounding is even: 1-0

When leading in assists: 9-1

When trailing in assists: 8-13

When assists are even: 0-0

In OT: 3-0

The Coaches:

Dean Jaderston is in his fifth season at the helm of the Friends University women's basketball program. The Falcon women's basketball program has seen considerable growth under his leadership both on and off the court.  Last year the team finished 17-14, catching fire at the end of the season, making it all the way to the KCAC tournament championship game at Hartman Arena.

Jaderston brings a wealth of experience to Friends University, with over 30 years of coaching high school and college basketball (13 years high school and 23 years at the college level). Last season he recorded his 300th career collegiate win on December 13th vs. Tabor College.

As a men's basketball coach Jaderston was a two-time KCAC Coach of the Year. He coached six NAIA All-America performers during his tenure at Sterling College. He also led his teams to  two KCAC championships and one KCAC tournament championship.

Prior to taking over at Sterling, Jaderston served in the dual role of men's basketball head coach and assistant athletic director at Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL for five seasons.

Before entering the college ranks he spent eight seasons as both the head girls' basketball and head girls' and boys' tennis coach at Rosemount High School in Rosemount, MN, and 4 years as the head boys' basketball coach at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, MN.

As an athlete Jaderston was a successful college basketball player at Crown College in St. Bonifacius, MN.  He was a four-time all-conference selection while helping the team advance to four national tournaments. He also earned All-America and Academic All-America during his college career.

He also competed in tennis for three years at Crown and was a two-time conference singles and three-time conference doubles champion.

Jaderston and his wife Julie have been married for 34 years and are active in youth and camping ministries. They currently serve as executive directors of a premier summer Christian family conference called Northern Pines of Minnesota. They have 3 married sons and 7 grandchildren.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History/Secondary Education from Crown College in 1989 and then completed a Master of Arts in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy from Adler Graduate School in 1998.

Tre Jackson is the head coach of the Barclay College women's basketball program.