The Lowdown: (RV) Evangel University at (RV) Friends University
Location: Garvey Center
When: Saturday, Nov. 15 @ 1:00 pm
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Flying with the Falcons: The (RV) Friends University Falcons defeated Haskell Indian Nations University 81-72 on Tuesday (Nov. 11) in Lawrence, Kan. and will head into the KCAC opener at 4-0 for the first time since the 2010-11 season. Read all about the Falcons' victory at Haskell HERE!
Rayland Garner has started the 2025-26 season on fire and leads the KCAC in scoring (22.3 ppg) and is third in the league in rebounding (9.3 rpg). Lauryn McIver is second on the Falcons with 17.0 ppg and is also averaging 5.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Abigail Barr is next with 15.5 ppg along with 6.8 rebounds while ranking tied for second in the conference in field goal percentage (66.7). Katie Weiss is also averaging double-digit scoring at 12.3 ppg and has hit a team-high 15 threes on the season. KK Peeler leads the Falcons and is second in the KCAC and tied for ninth in the NAIA with 6.3 assists.
Scouting the Valor: The (RV) Evangel University Valor are 2-1 this season and are a top five scoring team in the NAIA at 101.0 ppg, powered by a 133-30 season opening win over Crowley's Ridge.
Ali Kamies leads Evangel in scoring with 18.0 ppg and Carson Dillard is right behind with 17.7 ppg. Heaven Schockley is scoring 15.0 ppg and is tied with Kamie Jenkins for the team lead in rebounding at 5.3 rpg. Cassidy Hambelton has recorded a team-leading 5.7 assists on the season for the Valor.
The Series: The Falcons have won all three meetings over the Valor on record, including both matchups in Springfield, Mo. since Evangel joined the KCAC for the 2023-24 season. This will be the first meeting on record between the two schools in Wichita.
Promo Depot: We are proud to have Promo Depot as a sponsor of Friends University Athletics this season! Click HERE for more info on the services Promo Depot can offer!
Kansas Army National Guard: We are thrilled to have the Kansas Army National Guard on board with us this year as an official sponsor! Click HERE to visit their website.
Model of Consistency: The Falcons have finished no lower than fourth in the KCAC in three of the last four seasons under head coach Dean Jaderston.
Major Conference Recognition: The Falcons returned an All-KCAC duo in Lauryn McIver and Abigail Barr this season. McIver was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection, while Barr earned honorable-mention honors. Read the full All-KCAC release HERE.
Falcons by the Numbers
Overall record: 4-0
KCAC: 0-0
Home: 2-0
Road: 2-0
Neutral: 0-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 0-0
60-69 points: 0-0
70-79 points: 0-0
80-89 points: 3-0
90+ points: 1-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 0-0
60-69 points: 2-0
70-79 points: 1-0
80-89 points: 0-0
90+ points: 1-0
When leading at halftime: 2-0
When trailing at halftime: 2-0
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 0-0
When committing more turnovers: 3-0
When turnovers are even: 1-0
When leading in field-goal percentage: 4-0
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 0-0
When field-goal percentage is even: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 4-0
When trailing in three-point percentage: 0-0
When leading in rebounding: 4-0
When trailing in rebounding: 0-0
When rebounding is even: 0-0
When leading in assists: 4-0
When trailing in assists: 0-0
When assists are even: 0-0
In OT: 1-0
The Coaches:
Dean Jaderston is in his seventh 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. Their consistency and competitiveness have led to an 81-43 record over the past four years, including two trips to the KCAC championship game in the past three seasons.
Jaderston brought a wealth of experience to Friends University, having coached for over 30 years (24 years in college and 13 years in high school). On December 13, 2022, he recorded his 300th career collegiate win 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. In 2024 he was inducted into the Crown College Athletic Hall of Fame.
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.
Jaderston and his wife Julie have been married for 38. They also currently serve as executive directors of a premier summer Christian family conference called Northern Pines of Minnesota. They have three married sons and nine grandchildren.
Madi Wallace is in her first season as head coach of the Evangel University women's basketball program.
Wallace brings a familiar presence to the program, having played at Evangel for three seasons from 2015-18 after starting her collegiate playing career at Avila University. She led the team in threes as a junior and was also an NAIA Scholar Athlete honoree.
Her first career coaching job came during a two-year tenure at Mission University, where she led the team to a second-place national finish at the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Tournament last season.
Up Next: The Falcons will remain at home and host Oklahoma Wesleyan University Wednesday evening (Nov. 19) at 6 pm inside the Garvey Center.
