WICHITA, Kan. — The (RV) Friends University Falcons outscored the (RV) Mid-America Christian University Evangels 51-29 in the second half to overcome a nine-point halftime deficit and emerge victorious in the 2025-26 season 81-68 today (Oct. 25) inside the Garvey Center. 

The Falcons led 15-13 after the first quarter and were still up 23-21 when Aniya Smith hit a three to put MACU in front and start an 18-7 spurt that gave the Evangels a 39-30 lead at the half. 

Trailing by as many as 12 in the third quarter, consecutive buckets by Lauryn McIver and nine points from Rayland Garner helped the Falcons answer with an 18-7 surge of their own climb within one at the 3:48 mark of the third quarter. 

After Smith split two free throws, a three by Katie Weiss provided the Falcons their first lead since there was 4:38 left in the second period. 

A basket by Mia Smith temporarily gave the Evangels the lead back, but Anna Sant'Anna scored and KK Peeler hit two free throws to give Friends a 61-58 lead heading to the final quarter. 

The Falcons built on the momentum from the third quarter and continued to pull away as five straight points from McIver and a score from Abigail Barr finished a 9-0 run to open the fourth period and create a double-digit lead of 70-58. 

A three by Sincere Roberts cut the lead to nine, but a score from Barr and another three by Weiss pushed the lead to 14 and the Falcons never let the lead dip below double-figures the rest of the way. 

Heaven Gilbert then scored to make it 81-65 with 22 seconds for the Falcons' largest lead of the day. 

Garner led the Falcons with 23 points, converting seven of 13 field goals and nine of 13 free throws, while also recording five assists and two steals. Barr added 19 points on an efficient nine-for-11 shooting, complemented by six rebounds and a block. Weiss scored 15 points in her first career game, all from three-point range, making five of 12 attempts beyond the arc. McIver tallied 15 points and led the team with six assists, adding seven rebounds to her performance. Peeler dished out a team and career-high seven assists for the Falcons. 

Mia Smith led Mid-America Christian with 15 points, hitting six of 16 field goal attempts and adding three assists. Monique Carter contributed 10 points and excelled defensively with three steals while also leading the team with seven assists. Talayah Thomas had 13 points and Roberts finished with 12 points, while Aniya Smith added 10 points and seven rebounds with two steals.

It was a tale of two halves shooting the ball, as the Falcons heated up to shoot 63 percent (17-of-27) in the second half after mustering just a 30.6 percent (11-of-36) percentage in the first half. Conversely, the Falcons stifled the Evangels into just a 26.2 percent (11-of-42) clip in the second half after MACU shot 40 percent (16-of-40) in the opening half. 

The Falcons will next play at Baker University on Thursday (Oct. 30) at 5:30 pm in Baldwin City, Kan.