The Lowdown: (RV) Friends University at Kansas Wesleyan University
Location: Salina, Kan.
When: Saturday, Dec. 6 @ 3 pm
Broadcast
Live Stats
Flying with the Falcons: The (RV) Friends University Falcons made a big run in the third quarter and then held off a late charge by the Bethel College Threshers to win 70-65 and improve to 8-1 overall and 3-1 in the KCAC. Read all about the Falcons' win over Bethel HERE!
Rayland Garner recently reached 1,000 career points and leads the KCAC in scoring (20.3 ppg) and is tied for fourth in the league in rebounding (8.4 rpg). Abigail Barr is second on the Falcons in scoring (16.0 ppg) and is third in the league in field-goal percentage (61.3). Lauryn McIver is averaging a solid stat line of 14.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg and 4.9 apg, with KK Peeler recording a team-high 5.1 assists per game to tie for fourth in the KCAC. Katie Weiss has hit a team-leading 25 threes on a solid 38.5 percent shooting clip from three-point distance.
The Falcons currently rank third in the KCAC in points per game (80.6).
Scouting the Coyotes: The Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes are 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the KCAC after falling 62-57 at Sterling College on Wednesday.
Odessa Ozuna is tops on the Coyotes in both scoring (12.3 ppg) and assists (6.1 apg), followed closely by Izzy McCool at 12.0 ppg. Raegann McDonald leads KWU in rebounds per game (6.7 rpg).
The Series: The Coyotes won both regular season meetings last year, but the Falcons were victorious when it mattered most 64-62 in the KCAC semifinals to clinch a berth in the conference championship game. Friends is 25-21 overall vs. Kansas Wesleyan since 2004, with a 12-10 mark in Salina during that stretch. The two teams have split the last 10 matchups.
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.
Offense vs. Defense: The Falcons currently rank third in the KCAC in scoring (80.6 ppg) this season but will face a stiff test against KWU's fourth-ranked defense (64.0 ppg).
Make it Make Sense: It's Basketball 101 that it's hard to win when losing the turnover battle, but the Falcons have defied that logic all season. Friends is a perfect 6-0 this season when committing more turnovers than the opposition.
Make or Miss League: The Falcons have won all eight games this season when leading in field-goal percentage but lost 95-88 to Evangel in the only game they've been outshot this season.
Welcome to the Club: Senior forward Rayland Garner recently became the eighth member of the Falcons' 1,000 career point club during the modern era with a game-high 28 points to help the Falcons win 65-59 over Oklahoma Wesleyan University (Nov. 19).
Falcons by the Numbers
Overall record: 8-1
KCAC: 3-1
Home: 5-1
Road: 3-0
Neutral: 0-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 0-0
60-69 points: 2-0
70-79 points: 1-0
80-89 points: 4-1
90+ points: 1-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 2-0
60-69 points: 4-0
70-79 points: 1-0
80-89 points: 0-0
90+ points: 1-1
When leading at halftime: 6-0
When trailing at halftime: 2-1
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 1-0
When committing more turnovers: 6-0
When turnovers are even: 1-1
When leading in field-goal percentage: 8-0
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 0-1
When field-goal percentage is even: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 7-1
When trailing in three-point percentage: 1-0
When leading in rebounding: 8-0
When trailing in rebounding: 0-1
When rebounding is even: 0-0
When leading in assists: 6-0
When trailing in assists: 1-1
When assists are even: 1-0
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.
Harper Taylor is in her first season as head coach of the Kansas Wesleyan University women's basketball program.
Taylor is familiar with the Coyotes after a two-year tenure as assistant coach from 2021-23.
Prior to coming back to KWU, Taylor was an assistant coach at Metro State University Denver.
She was also a graduate assistant coach at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and played collegiately three seasons at Hastings College.
Up Next: The Falcons will return to the Garvey Center and host Tabor College Wednesday evening (Dec. 10) at 6 pm.
