Sterling, Kan. – The Friends University Women's Basketball Falcons trimmed a 14-point lead down to one, but the Sterling College Lady Warriors held on for an 83-80 win in KCAC action this evening (Feb. 13) in Sterling, Kan. The Falcons are now tied for the second spot with Tabor College at 14-5 in the league, two games behind front-runner Kansas Wesleyan University.
The Falcons trailed by 14 on three different occasions, with the last time occurring on a basket by Alex Bearup that made it 68-54 with 8:20 remaining.
Friends quickly got back in it with nine straight points to come within five at the 6:07 mark.
After the Lady Warriors built the lead back to eight, Taylor Jackson asserted herself with three consecutive buckets before Rayland Garner hit two free throws to cut the lead to one at 77-76 with 1:31 left.
But a three by Bearup extended the lead back to two possessions on the Lady Warriors' next possession.
The Falcons twice clawed back within two, including on a score by Lauryn McIver that cut the deficit to 82-80 with 11 seconds remaining.
Bearup then split two free throws, but a last second three-point shot was off the mark as Sterling escaped with the win.
The Falcons started off strong, taking a six-point lead of 24-18 into the second quarter.
Alissa Heskamp then scored five straight points of a 6-0 spurt for Sterling to tie the score to begin the second period.
McIver scored to temporarily put the Falcons back on top, but Korynn Clason put the Lady Warriors back in front and Friends wouldn't lead again the rest of the night.
With the score tied at 41-41 late in the first half, Kali Briar hit a three to give Sterling a 44-41 lead at the break.
The Lady Warriors expanded the lead in the third quarter, twice stretching the edge to 14 before settling for a 61-51 lead heading to the fourth period.
McIver led the Falcons (16-9, 14-5 KCAC) with a career-high tying 25 points, with Jackson recording a double-double of 17 points and 17 rebounds. Garner chipped in with 13 points and Kyla Frenchers led Friends with four assists.
Heskamp paced five Lady Warriors (16-9, 12-7 KCAC) in double-figures with 25 points, while Bearup contributed 14 points, 10 boards and eight assists.
The Falcons managed to outrebound the Lady Warriors 40-34, highlighted by a 15-6 edge on the offensive glass. But Sterling outshot Friends 49.2 percent to 41.7 percent from the field, with an even bigger 54.5 percent to 37.5 percent advantage from three-point distance.
Friends will try to get back into the win column Saturday evening (Feb. 15) at McPherson College for a 5 pm tip-off in McPherson, Kan.
