WICHITA, Kan. – Having to battle until the very end, the Friends University Falcons secured their 14^th win in their last 15 games by defeating the Avila University Eagles 69-65 today (Feb. 24) inside the Garvey Center.

The win gives the Falcons 22 victories on the season, the programs most since the 2017-18 season.

Taylor Jackson led all scorers with 23 points, but none were bigger than a go-ahead three-point play that snapped the 10^th tie of the game and put the Falcons in front for good, 67-64 with 1:54 remaining.

After Madilyn Melton split two free throws to pull the Eagles within two, the Falcons failed to score but got a turnover on Avila's next possession.

Jackson then stepped up and nailed two crucial free throws to put the game away for Friends.

Trailing by as much as six in the first quarter and 24-20 going to the second, the Falcons battled back and took their first lead since the 6:37 mark of the opening period when one free throw by Jackson made it 31-30.

A bucket by Jackson put Friends on top by three before a three by Kathleen Stanley late in the first half tied the score at 37-37 heading to the break.

It was still tied until Lauryn McIver assisted on a three by Kori Babcock and then scored herself to open up a five-point lead for the Falcons.

The Eagles quickly answered and scored the next six points to regain the lead until a three-point play by Rayland Garner gave Friends a 51-49 lead.

The back-and-forth action continued as a three-point play and a score by McIver gave the Falcons a 56-52 lead after three quarters.

Friends then opened up its biggest lead of the game at 60-52 on a three by Ashlyn Ryall early in the fourth period, but two threes by Hannah Smith keyed a 12-4 spurt over the next five minutes to force the last tie of the game.

"That was a good win to end the season," said Friends women's basketball head coach Dean Jaderston, now with 87 wins at the helm of the Falcons.

"It's weird, but I can't remember a Senior Night since I've been here when we've shot the ball well. We had to guard tonight and get some key stops. Avila is a weird matchup for us…they often have four guards on the floor, and I thought our players adjusted well. It was also great to see Kassie Kinniburgh finish well on her senior night. I think she had to guard every player at some point during the game. I'm proud of this team and how they compete. I also like how they rise to the occasion when the game is on the line."

Jackson continued her strong offensive play with a game-high 23 points and has now averaged 23.5 ppg in her last two games. The Houston, Texas native also equaled her highest rebounding effort in two years with 17 boards along with two blocks.

Garner scored 16 and McIver added 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and a career-high tying four steals for the Falcons (22-6, 19-3 KCAC). Playing in her final regular season home game, Kinniburgh pulled down six rebounds.

Morgan Wiseman led the Eagles (9-19, 8-14 KCAC) with 14 points off the bench and Marlie Wright scored 12 and recorded four assists. Smith chipped in with 11 points and Melton paced Avila with 10 boards.

The Falcons outrebounded the Eagles 49-36 and enjoyed scoring advantages of 30-10 in the paint and 14-4 in second chance points.