WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons got off to a strong start, had to withstand a surge, and then pulled away for good to improve to 2-0 in the KCAC and 4-1 overall with a 79-48 victory over the McPherson College Bulldogs tonight (Nov. 18) in their home conference opener inside the Garvey Center.
The Falcons scored the first eight points of the night behind four points each from Taylor Jackson and Lauryn McIver in the first two and a half minutes of the game.
The defense by the Falcons held the Bulldogs without a point for over half of the first quarter and led 14-8 at the end of the opening period.
Another bucket by Jackson and a three from Trinity Johnson stretched the lead to 11 at 19-8, but the Bulldogs rallied with a 15-4 spurt to tie the score at 23-23 with 1:26 left until halftime.
It didn't take long for the Falcons to respond, and respond with force they did, scoring the final eight points of the half that was highlighted by a buzzer-beating three from Jackson for a 31-23 advantage at the break.
The Falcons continued the onslaught into the second half, getting four points from Rayland Garner along with a pair of threes by Johnson and Kori Babock to key a 16-4 blitz to expand the lead to a 20-point cushion at 47-27 with 4:45 left in the third.
It was a 58-34 lead after three quarters for the Falcons and a score by Jackson immediately made it a 60-34 cushion.
With the edge at 64-37, a three-point play by Babcock expanded the lead to 30 points and the Falcons had it on cruise control from that point.
"One of the big challenges of coming off a big win on Wednesday is to come back sharp the next game," said Friends women's basketball head coach Dean Jaderston. "We started playing a little flat and a little more individualistic in the first half and it showed. We had a nice run in the last minute of the second quarter to give us some momentum going into the half. Our point guard play significantly improved in the second half and everyone started moving the ball. That's when we're dangerous. We're still learning to trust each other, but it grows each game."
Jackson led the Falcons with another double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, with Babcock finishing with 15 points. McIver had a line of 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Garner scored eight and posted six boards, four assists and four thefts.
Gillian Rodgers paced McPherson with 15 points and Matisyn Moses had eight points and eight boards.
The Falcon defense was menacing all night, holding the McPherson offense to just 29 percent (18-of-62) from the field and 2-of-21 from three-point distance.
After the score was tied at 23-23 late in the second quarter, the Falcons clicked on all cylinders and outscored the Bulldogs 56-25 over the final 20:37.
The Falcons will now take time off for the Thanksgiving Break before resuming action Saturday (Nov. 25) for a noon tip-off at Columbia College in Columbia, Mo.
