The Lowdown: Oklahoma Wesleyan University at (RV) Friends University
Location: Garvey Center
When: Wednesday, Nov. 19 @ 6:00 pm
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Flying with the Falcons: The (RV) Friends University Falcons were tripped up for the first time in the 2025-26 95-88 to (RV) Evangel University in the KCAC opener and are now 4-1 overall. Read about the Falcons' setback vs. Evangel HERE.
Rayland Garner has started the 2025-26 season on fire and leads the KCAC in scoring (21.8 ppg) and is third in the league in rebounding (8.6 rpg). Lauryn McIver is second on the Falcons with 18.0 ppg and is also averaging 5.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Abigail Barr is next with 16.0 ppg along with 6.4 rebounds while ranking second in the conference in field goal percentage (64.4). Katie Weiss is also averaging double-digit scoring at 11.6 ppg and has hit a conference-high 18 threes with a solid 45 percent shooting clip from the perimeter. KK Peeler leads the Falcons and is tied for third in the KCAC with 6.2 assists.
Scouting the Eagles: The Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles are an even 2-2 on the season following a 78-46 loss at Tabor College in their KCAC opener.
Gracie Alexander is pacing OKWU with 10.0 ppg and Khassidy Warr has a team-high 6.3 rebounds. Sophia Regalado leads the Eagles with 1.8 assists this season.
The Series: The Falcons have won five straight in the series, including sweeping last season's two meetings in drastic different fashions. Friends slipped by OKWU 82-81 in double-overtime on the road before routing the Eagles 89-45 inside the Garvey Center. The Falcons are 21-11 overall vs. the Eagles since 2008, with a 12-4 mark in Wichita during that stretch.
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.
Make or Miss League: The Falcons have won all four games this season when leading in field-goal percentage, but lost 95-88 to Evangel last Saturday in the only game they've been outshot this season.
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 and were picked second in both KCAC preseason polls this season.
Falcons by the Numbers
Overall record: 4-1
KCAC: 0-1
Home: 2-1
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: 3-1
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: 1-1
When leading at halftime: 2-0
When trailing at halftime: 2-1
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 0-0
When committing more turnovers: 3-0
When turnovers are even: 1-1
When leading in field-goal percentage: 4-0
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 0-1
When field-goal percentage is even: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 4-1
When trailing in three-point percentage: 0-0
When leading in rebounding: 4-0
When trailing in rebounding: 0-1
When rebounding is even: 0-0
When leading in assists: 4-0
When trailing in assists: 0-1
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.
Heidi Messer is in her fourth season as head coach of the Oklahoma Wesleyan University women's basketball program.
Messer came to OKWU after a five-year stint as assistant coach and strength and conditioning coach at Northeastern Oklahoma State University. Before joining NSU, Messer was also an assistant coach at Manchester University from 2012-14 following a two-year appointment as a graduate assistant coach at Georgetown College (Ky.). In her final season at Georgetown, Messer helped the team advance to the NAIA Fab Four.
Up Next: The Falcons will play their first KCAC road game of the season Saturday (Nov. 22) at York University, Tip-off is at 1 pm in York, Neb.
