WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons scored the first 13 points of the game and never looked back in knocking off the Tabor College Bluejays 63-54 this evening (Feb. 5) inside the Garvey Center to take sole possession of second place in the KCAC. The Falcons are now 15-8 overall and 13-4 in the conference, two games behind front-runner Kansas Wesleyan University.

The Falcons set the tone early on the defensive end, stifling the Bluejays into missing their first 12 shots of the field.

Friends built the lead up to 16-2 and led 20-9 at the end of the first quarter.

The second period saw the Falcons continue to expand the edge, with five straight points from Rayland Garner pushing lead up to 35-13. 

The Falcons carried a 39-23 lead into the break.

A three by Kori Babcock then gave the Falcons their largest lead of the night of 53-27 at the 4:36 mark of the third quarter.

Tabor made a push in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Falcons 18-6 to create the final nine-point margin of victory for Friends.

"That was the most dialed in defensively I've seen us in long time," said Friends women's basketball head coach Dean Jaderston. "We got off to a great start at both ends of the court. Our communication was good, the ball was moving, and players trusted each other. It was also good to see us leave a bad game behind and refocus."

Lauryn McIver fueled the Falcons with 12 points and a career-high tying 12 rebounds, with Taylor Jackson recording a double-double of 10 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. Abigail Barr scored 11 and Garner reached 10 points. Kyla Frenchers led the Falcons with four assists.

The Bluejays' (14-8, 12-5 KCAC) top two scorers both came off the bench, with Alyvia Owens scoring 15 and Ivy Preusser adding 13.

Friends outrebounded Tabor 47-37 while limiting the Bluejays to just 29.4 percent (20-of-68) from the field.

The Falcons will next remain at home and host Ottawa University Saturday afternoon (Feb. 8) at 1 pm.