OKLAHOMA CITY – Rayland Garner scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Friends University Falcons to a solid 72-68 victory at Oklahoma City University today (Nov. 11).
After the Stars scored the first six points of the game and then led 10-5, the Falcons methodically fought back and gained their first lead of the game at 16-15 on a layup by Garner.
Following multiple lead changes, Garner again hit a layup to pull the Falcons into a 25-25 gridlock at the end of the first quarter.
A layup by Taylor Jackson opened the scoring in the second period and proceeded to give the Falcons a lead they wouldn't relinquish for the final 29:41.
Leading by just one at 28-27, a three by Trinity Johnson jumpstarted a 12-2 burst that opened up a double-digit lead of 40-29 for the Falcons with 4:33 left in the opening half.
It was a 42-34 edge at the break and the Falcons maintained control through the third period and added one point to the cushion for a 57-48 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
The Stars made a push in the final stanza and came within four at 65-61 on a layup by Myracle Washington at the 5:40 mark.
Friends dug in and answered with the next five points to stretch the lead back to nine with 3:33 remaining.
OCU didn't go away and made it a one possession game on a layup by Cacie Gorman with 31 seconds left, but Lauryn McIver hit the front end of two free throws and the Falcons got a defensive stop to seal the victory.
"Any time you win on the road vs. the Sooner Conference you have to be excited," said Friends women's basketball head coach Dean Jaderston. "We competed hard today, even though we didn't execute as well as we wanted. We figured out how to play against a small lineup, and that will serve us well in the future. We needed to get a road win going into conference play next week. It's a lot of fun to coach this team…we're going to get better every week this season."
Garner shot 11-of-18 from the field and nailed all four of her free throws in scoring her 26 points while also pulling down eight rebounds. Jackson recorded a double-double of 16 points and 10 boards, with McIver also reaching double-figures with 10 points.
Jerzie Bryant paced four Stars in double-figures with 18 points and Amaya Gordon had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The glass belonged to the Falcons, 47-38 in overall rebounding and a 19-15 edge on the offensive glass.
The Falcons will now open up the KCAC season Wednesday evening (Nov. 15) at Kansas Wesleyan University. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 pm in Salina, Kan. After that, it's the KCAC home opener against McPherson College on Saturday (Nov. 18) at 5 pm inside the Garvey Center.
Don't miss a second of the Women's Basketball Falcons' push to the top of the KCAC, purchase season tickets now!
