The Lowdown: Bethany College at No. 23 Friends University
Location: Garvey Center
When: Saturday, Jan. 17 @ 3 pm
Broadcast
Live Stats
Flying with the Falcons: The No. 23-ranked Friends University have had a variety of heroes during the current 12 game win streak, with Katie Weiss getting in on the act by scoring a career-high 23 points to lead the way in a 87-66 victory at Southwestern College Wednesday evening (Jan. 14). The Falcons are now 16-1 overall and 10-1 in the KCAC, one game behind No. 22-ranked Evangel University for the top spot in the league. Read the full recap of the Falcons' win over the Lady Builders HERE!
Rayland Garner has missed the past two games but still leads the KCAC in scoring (20.1 ppg) while ranking fifth in the league in rebounding (8.0 rpg) and tied for fourth in steals (2.6 spg). Lauryn McIver is averaging a solid stat line of 14.4 ppg and 6.7 rebounds with a team-high 5.4 assists that is third in the KCAC. Weiss has hit a team-leading 46 threes on a solid 39.0 percent shooting clip from three-point distance, while Abigail Barr is scoring in double-figures at 14.1 ppg and is currently third in the conference in field-goal percentage (59.2).
The Falcons currently rank second in the KCAC in both points per game (78.2 ppg) and field-goal percentage (47.0) and are tied for second in field goal percentage defense (38.0).
Scouting the Swedes: The Bethany College Swedes have won three of their last four games following Wednesday's 83-68 win at Sterling College and are now 9-7 overall and 7-4 in the KCAC.
Colbi Rignell is first on the Swedes in scoring (14.1 ppg), with Janae Black-Harmon second at 13.1 ppg while ranking first in the KCAC in field-goal percentage (61.9) and second in rebounding (9.9 rpg). Becca Unruh leads the Swedes in assists (3.2 apg) and is also scoring in double-figures with 11.9 ppg.
Bethany ranks fourth in the league in field-goal percentage defense (38.5).
The Series: The Falcons and Swedes' recent series has featured a major back-and-forth effect, with Bethany winning the second meeting last year to snap a five-game winning streak for the Falcons. Prior to that, the Swedes had won six straight in the series.
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.
On Target: Saturday's meeting between the Falcons and Swedes will feature two of the most accurate shooters in the KCAC, with Bethany's Janae Black-Harmon leading the league in field-goal percentage (61.9) and Friends' Abigail Barr third at 59.2 percent.
Stingy Defense: Two of the KCAC's stingiest defenses will be on display Saturday, as the Falcons (38.0) are second in the league in field-goal percentage defense and the Swedes (38.5) are not far behind in fourth.
2 X 1000: Senior guard Lauryn McIver scored 16 points in last Saturday's victory (Jan. 10) at Oklahoma Wesleyan to join teammate Rayland Garner as the ninth member of the modern era to reach 1,000 career points at Friends University. Garner reached the mark earlier this season, also against Oklahoma Wesleyan (Nov. 19).
Cleaning the Glass: The Falcons have outrebounded the opposition in 14 of 17 games this season, with a perfect 14-0 record in those outings. Friends has also won two of three games in the rare occurrences that the opposition leads in rebounding.
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 year. Friends is a perfect 10-0 this season when committing more turnovers than the opposition.
Make or Miss League: The Falcons have won all 16 games when leading in field-goal percentage but lost 95-88 to Evangel in the only game they've been outshot this season.
Falcons by the Numbers
Overall record: 16-1
KCAC: 10-1
Home: 7-1
Road: 9-0
Neutral: 0-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 1-0
60-69 points: 4-0
70-79 points: 2-0
80-89 points: 7-1
90+ points: 2-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 1-0
50-59 points: 2-0
60-69 points: 9-0
70-79 points: 3-0
80-89 points: 0-0
90+ points: 1-1
When leading at halftime: 11-0
When trailing at halftime: 5-1
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 4-0
When committing more turnovers: 10-0
When turnovers are even: 2-1
When leading in field-goal percentage: 16-0
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 0-1
When field-goal percentage is even: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 9-1
When trailing in three-point percentage: 7-0
When leading in rebounding: 14-0
When trailing in rebounding: 2-1
When rebounding is even: 0-0
When leading in assists: 12-0
When trailing in assists: 2-1
When assists are even: 2-0
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.
Sarah Able is in her third season as head coach of the Bethany College women's basketball team. Able has led the Swedes to a 15-14 overall record and a 13-9 mark in the KCAC in each of her two seasons at the helm.
Able was already familiar with the program, having served as an assistant coach for the Swedes for two seasons along with occupying the role of Resident Director and Administrative Assistant for the Athletic Department.
Prior to arriving at Bethany, Able was an assistant coach at Coffeyville Community College for two years.
Up Next: The Falcons will play at Bethel College Wednesday evening (Jan. 21) at 6 pm in North Newton, Kan.
