The Lowdown: University of Saint Mary at Friends University
Location: Garvey Center
When: Saturday, Feb. 10 @ 1 pm
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Flying with the Falcons: The Friends University Falcons scored a season-high 35 points in the third quarter to break things open and defeat the Ottawa University Braves 87-72 Wednesday evening (Feb. 7) in Ottawa, Kan. The 10th straight victory keeps the Falcons in third place in the KCAC at 15-2, just one game behind both Tabor College and the University of Saint Mary. Read the full game recap HERE!
The trio of Rayland Garner, Taylor Jackson and Lauryn McIver are the Falcons' backbone this season, with Garner standing second in the KCAC in scoring (17.9 ppg) and Jackson topping the league in rebounding (10.8 rpg) and blocks (2.7 bpg) along with 14.2 ppg. Jackson's blocks per game are also second in the NAIA and McIver is tops in the KCAC with 4.9 assists per game.
The Falcons have been solid defensively, holding the opposition to just a 33.7 field-goal percentage overall and a 28 percent clip from the perimeter.
Scouting the Spires: The University of Saint Mary Spires have won five straight games and are now 19-4 overall and are the KCAC co-leaders with a 16-1 conference record. The five straight wins come on the heels of a 65-63 overtime loss to the KCAC's other co-leader Tabor College, the Spires only setback thus far in the conference.
Tanea Sims has been the anchor for the Spires this season with team-highs in points (14.5 ppg), rebounding (9.7 rpg) and field-goal percentage (54.4). Sims is also fourth in the KCAC in scoring, third in rebounding and second in field-goal percentage. Alanis Delgado is second in scoring with 12.1 ppg and is tops on the team and third in the league with 3.2 assists per game. Paige Pendley (11.0 ppg) and Keely Barnard (10.8 ppg) also average double-figure scoring for Saint Mary.
The Series: The Falcons are 32-10 vs. the Spires since the 2004-05 season, but fell earlier this season 83-58 (Dec. 6) in Leavenworth, Kan. after also dropping last season's KCAC championship game to Saint Mary 66-46 at Hartman Arena. Friends has dominated Saint Mary at home, winning 19 of 21 matchups in Wichita and are 5-5 against the Spires in the last 10 meetings.
Quoting Head Coach Dean Jaderston
"I don't remember many regular season games with so many post season ramifications. It's a ternary of last year's conference championship game. We have to be disciplined in how we guard to take away their three point shooters and finish the offensive opportunities we get. It should be a lot of fun!"
High Stakes: A lot is on the line in this matchup between a pair of top-tier KCAC teams. Friends is looking to climb into at least a tie for the second spot in the conference with a win, while the Spires will remain no worse than tied for first should they win over Friends.
Conference Standard Bearers: With two of the unquestioned top three teams going to head to head in the KCAC, it figures there'd be plenty of high level individual talent on display, and this matchup is no exception. Rayland Garner (Friends) is second in the KCAC in scoring and Tanea Sims (Saint Mary) is fourth, while Taylor Jackson (Friends) is tops in the league in rebounding and Sims ranks third. Sims is also second in field-goal percentage, with Garner currently fifth. Two of the top three distributors are also in action, with the Falcons' Lauryn McIver leading the league in assists, followed by Alanis Delgado in third.
Just Take Me Half the Way: Being on top at halftime has been a good indicator of success for the Falcons this season, as they've won all 15 games they've carried a lead into the locker room. But when trailing at the half, the Falcons are just 3-5.
Lending a Helping Hand: Friends University sophomore guard Lauryn McIver has made an immediate impact in her first season with the program, particularly distributing the ball. McIver tied a modern-era single-game record with 11 assists in the Falcons' 79-69 victory at Evangel University (Jan. 24) and now leads the KCAC with 4.9 assists per game on the season.
70 is a Serious Number: The Falcons have won 16 of 17 games when limiting the opposition to below the 70-point mark, but are 2-4 when allowing at least 70 points. Conversely, the Falcons are a perfect 17-0 when scoring at least 70 points themselves, but have lost five of six games when failing to reach the 70-point mark.
Make or Miss League: Sometimes basketball can be broken down in its most simplistic terms: The team that shoots the ball better wins the majority of the time. That has proven to be true thus far for the Falcons, as they're 17-1 when leading in field-goal percentage, but have lost four of five games the opposition has shot better from the field.
Sharing is Caring: The Falcons have won all 13 games when leading in assists, but are just 4-5 when the opposition records more helpers. Friends won the only game that the assist count was even.
Block Parties: Taylor Jackson has been a major deterrent for the Falcons inside since joining the program for the 2021-22 season. Jackson has collected 14 KCAC Defensive Player of the Week awards for her career and has won five this year, including four of the last six weekly nods. The Houston, Texas native is the Falcons' modern-era career leader in blocks with 265 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.
Falcons by the Numbers
Overall record: 18-5
KCAC: 15-2
Home: 10-2
Road: 8-3
Neutral: 0-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-2
50-59 points: 0-3
60-69 points: 1-0
70-79 points: 10-0
80-89 points: 5-0
90+ points: 2-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 4-0
50-59 points: 5-1
60-69 points: 7-0
70-79 points: 2-3
80-89 points: 0-1
90+ points: 0-0
When leading at halftime: 15-0
When trailing at halftime: 3-5
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 8-1
When committing more turnovers: 7-4
When turnovers are even: 3-0
When leading in field-goal percentage: 17-1
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 1-4
When field-goal percentage is even: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 13-1
When trailing in three-point percentage: 5-4
When leading in rebounding: 15-2
When trailing in rebounding: 3-3
When rebounding is even: 0-0
When leading in assists: 13-0
When trailing in assists: 4-5
When assists are even: 1-0
In OT: 0-0
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.
Andy Kelly is in his third season as head coach of the University of Saint Mary women's basketball program. Last season, Kelly guided the Spires to their first-ever KCAC tournament championship that resulted in an NAIA National Tournament berth.
Kelly came to USM from Baker University, where he was an assistant coach for four seasons and helped the Wildcats to three NAIA National Tournament appearances along with a Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season and tournament title in 2017.
Up Next: The Falcons will play at Southwestern College Wednesday evening (Feb. 14) for a 6 pm tip-off in Winfield, Kan.
