Salina, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons just wouldn't be denied and found a way to advance to Tuesday night's KCAC championship game with a 64-62 victory at the top-seeded Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes tonight (Mar. 1) in Salina, Kan.
The fifth-seeded Falcons will now host the sixth-seeded Sterling College Lady Warriors Monday night in the title bout after Sterling upset second-seeded Tabor College.
Garner the Great: After a nearly 40-minute battle, it all came down to the final possession with the game knotted at 62-62. Rayland Garner rose to the occasion, driving to the hoop and putting in a shot as time expired to send the Falcons into euphoria and into the conference tournament championship game.
Closing Statement: Things looked bleak for the Falcons down 62-53 with 4:06 left, but Friends had plenty of fight left and it was fueled on the defensive end. The Falcons forced two straight misses and then stifled the Coyotes into five turnovers on their final five possessions. Taylor Jackson scored four straight points to begin the push and then three points to tie the score with 47 seconds left.
Babcock is Enough: Kori Babcock hit all three three-pointers tonight for the Falcons and has now hit all six of the Falcons' threes through the first two games of the KCAC tournament.
Overcoming the Odds: The Falcons managed to win at KWU tonight despite being outshot from the field and being outrebounded. Coming into tonight, the Falcons were just 2-8 when trailing in field-goal percentage and 1-6 when being outrebounded.
Breakthrough: The Falcons had dropped both meetings this season to KWU, with both matchups close heading into the fourth quarter. The game was tied in Wichita heading into the final period and KWU led by one in Salina. Tonight, Babcock hit a three to tie the score going to the fourth and this time, it was the Falcons finding a way to break the trend and finish on top.
Friends Women's Basketball Head Coach Dean Jaderston on the Falcons' win at Kansas Wesleyan: "When you reach the postseason, the pressure and tension ratchet up another notch. Our team had their backs against the wall tonight down 10 with four and a half minutes to go. We executed as well as we have all season at both ends. When we play together our defense can carry us a long way. It was a great team win, and now we get to turn our attention to win the championship game. It will be great to be back at the Garvey Center for one more game this year."
Up Next: The Falcons will square off with Sterling College with the KCAC championship on the line Monday night (Mar. 4) at 7 pm inside the Garvey Center. The two teams split the season series this year, with each team winning at home.
Falcons' Top Performers
Kori Babcock – 19 points (3-of-4 threes), five rebounds, four steals (career-high tying)
Taylor Jackson – 19 points, seven rebounds, two blocks
Rayland Garner - seven points (game-winner), three steals
Coyotes' Top Performers
Hampton Williams – 13 points, 14 rebounds, four assists
Jill Stephens – 13 points (4-of-7 threes)
Angel Lee – 12 points
