North Newton, Kan. – The Bethel College Threshers broke the game open in the second half to win 72-59 over the No. 23-ranked Friends University Falcons this evening (Jan. 21) in North Newton, Kan.  After ripping off 12 straight wins, the Falcons have now dropped consecutive games to fall to 16-3 overall and into a three-way tie for second place in the KCAC at 10-3 in the league.

The Falcons fell behind 12-4 at the 3:50 mark of the first quarter and trailed 16-11 after the first period.

Friends managed to battle back and tie the game twice but were unable to take the lead and a three by Caryn Yoder pushed the Bethel edge back to five at 31-26 at the break.

It was the third quarter that the Threshers began to pull away, getting a three-point play by Madyson McKinzie to stretch the lead to double-figures at 37-26 just 1:27 into the second half.

After the Falcons closed within seven, the Threshers created more separation and ended the third quarter on a 13-5 run over the final 4:31 to take a 15-point lead into the fourth period.

The Threshers put it away in the final period and led by a game-high 23 points on a score by McKinzie that made it 68-45 just past the midway point of the fourth quarter.

Friends ended the game on a 14-4 spurt to create the final 13-point margin for Bethel.

Lauryn McIver led the Falcons with 16 points and five assists and Abigail Barr scored 13. Rayland Garner pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for Friends.

Yoder paced the Threshers (12-7, 9-4 KCAC) with 17 points and Emersyn Eischen had 14 points and seven boards. McKinzie added 13 points and Kendall Locke scored 12 with seven rebounds. Karlee Locke also had seven rebounds for the Threshers.

The Falcons outshot the Threshers 41.1 percent to 37.3 percent, marking their first loss all season when leading in field goal percentage.

Due to the forecasted major winter storm this weekend, the Falcons will now host Kansas Wesleyan University next Monday evening (Jan. 26) at 6 pm inside the Garvey Center.