WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons jumped on the Ottawa University Braves early and went on to a comfortable 71-42 victory in a KCAC matchup today (Feb. 8) inside the Garvey Center. The Falcons are now just one game behind Kansas Wesleyan University for first place in the KCAC with a 14-4 league record.
It's the second consecutive game the Falcons didn't trail, who also dispatched of the Tabor College Bluejays Wednesday evening (Feb. 5) in a wire-to-wire win 63-54.
The Falcons again started quickly, getting five points from Kyla Frenchers and four points by Lauryn McIver to take an early 11-4 lead.
A three by Jadyn Glasgow made it a double-digit edge and Rayland Garner converted a three-point play to give the Falcons a 21-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Falcons kept up the pressure, with KK Peeler scoring off a turnover to finish a run of six straight points to open the second period and push the lead up to 19.
A three-point play by Taylor Jackson made it a 20-point game at 30-10 and another score from Jackson gave the Falcons a commanding 36-14 lead at the break.
Much like the first half, Frenchers opened the second half with a score before a bucket by Abigail Barr stretched the lead up to 26 points.
Another score by Jackson capped a 14-4 overall burst to begin the third quarter and put the Falcons ahead by 32 points at 50-18 at the 5:53 mark.
That would prove to be the biggest lead of the game, with the Falcons putting it on cruise control the rest of the way.
McIver fueled the Falcons (16-8, 14-4 KCAC) with 20 points, five assists and three steals, while Barr chipped in with 11 and Jackson tallied 15 rebounds and five blocks.
Abbie Sextro paced the Braves (8-16, 5-12 KCAC) with 13 points and Nora Ford had eight boards and three steals.
The Falcon defense was stifling throughout, holding the Braves to just 22.9 percent (16-of-70) shooting from the field and 9.1 percent (2-of-22) from beyond the arc.
Friends also outrebounded Ottawa 49-41 overall.
The Falcons will now hit the road for three straight games, starting Wednesday evening (Feb. 12) at Sterling College. Tip-off will be at 6 pm in Sterling, Kan.
