The Lowdown: Ottawa University at (RV) Friends University
Location: Garvey Center
When: Saturday, Jan. 3 @ 1 pm
Broadcast
Live Stats
Flying with the Falcons: The (RV) Friends University Falcons stayed hot behind a career-high 34 points from Rayland Garner and won their eighth straight by handing (RV) Columbia College its first loss of the season Wednesday (Dec. 31) to run their own record to 12-1 on the year. Friends is 6-1 in the KCAC, one game behind conference unbeatens Evangel University and Sterling College. Read all about the Falcons' rally in the fourth quarter to win at Columbia HERE!
Garner reached 1,000 career points earlier this season and leads the Falcons and ranks second the KCAC in scoring (20.7 ppg) while ranking fourth in the league in rebounding (8.4 rpg) and fifth in steals (2.6 spg). Abigail Barr is second on the Falcons in scoring (15.2 ppg) and is second in the league in field-goal percentage (61.4) along with 6.5 rebounds per game. Lauryn McIver is averaging a solid stat line of 14.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg and a team-high 4.8 apg that ranks fourth in the KCAC. Katie Weiss has hit a team-leading 32 threes on a solid 37.6 percent shooting clip from three-point distance.
The Falcons currently rank third in the KCAC in points per game (77.8 ppg) and second in field-goal percentage (46.1).
Scouting the Braves: The Ottawa University Braves are 8-5 overall and have lost their last three conference games following a three-game winning streak in the KCAC to check in at 3-4 overall in league play.
Dominique Schutte leads the Braves in scoring (11.2 ppg), followed closely by McKinley Kruger (11.0 ppg), who leads the team in assists (2.4 apg). Aaliyah Brown is tops on the Braves in rebounding (7.2 rpg).
Ottawa is the KCAC's second leading scoring team this season with 78.4 ppg.
The Series: The Falcons have won 10 of 11 and 18 of the past 20 meetings vs. the Braves. Friends is 34-13 against Ottawa overall since 2004, with a 21-3 record in Wichita during that stretch.
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.
Expect Offense: The matchup between the Falcons and Braves will feature two of the top three scoring teams in the KCAC, with Ottawa ranking second at 78.4 ppg and Friends right behind in third with 77.8 ppg.
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 season. Friends is a perfect 7-0 this season when committing more turnovers than the opposition.
Make or Miss League: The Falcons have won all 12 games this year when leading in field-goal percentage but lost 95-88 to Evangel in the only game they've been outshot this season.
Welcome to the Club: Senior forward Rayland Garner became the eighth member of the Falcons' 1,000 career point club during the modern era with a game-high 28 points to help the Falcons win 65-59 over Oklahoma Wesleyan University back on Nov. 19.
Falcons by the Numbers
Overall record: 12-1
KCAC: 6-1
Home: 6-1
Road: 6-0
Neutral: 0-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 1-0
60-69 points: 3-0
70-79 points: 1-0
80-89 points: 5-1
90+ points: 2-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 1-0
50-59 points: 2-0
60-69 points: 6-0
70-79 points: 2-0
80-89 points: 0-0
90+ points: 1-1
When leading at halftime: 8-0
When trailing at halftime: 4-1
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 3-0
When committing more turnovers: 7-0
When turnovers are even: 2-1
When leading in field-goal percentage: 12-0
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 0-1
When field-goal percentage is even: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 7-1
When trailing in three-point percentage: 5-0
When leading in rebounding: 11-0
When trailing in rebounding: 1-1
When rebounding is even: 0-0
When leading in assists: 9-0
When trailing in assists: 2-1
When assists are even: 1-0
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.
Hunter Bondurant is in his third season as head coach of the Ottawa University women's basketball team.
In his debut season, Bondurant guided the Braves to a 15-14 record for the team's first consecutive winning seasons since 2013-15.
Before taking over head coaching duties, Bondurant was an assistant coach for Ottawa and helped the Braves win 18 games in 2022-23, the programs most since the 2016-17 campaign.
Prior to joining the Ottawa women's basketball staff, Bondurant had a familiarity on campus after serving as the Assistant Recruiting Coordinator and Director of Social Media for the Braves' men's basketball team for two years.
Before that, Bondurant spent the 2019-20 season as the head coach for the Central High School girls' varsity basketball team in Allentown, Fla.
Bondurant also has experience working with the Auburn University men's basketball program from 2010-12 and played collegiately at Millsaps College.
Up Next: The Falcons will hit the road for three straight games, starting Wednesday evening (Jan. 7) for a big matchup at KCAC co-leader Sterling College at 6 pm in Sterling, Kan.
