The Lowdown: No. 23 Friends University at University of Saint Mary

Location: Leavenworth, Kan.       

When: Wednesday, Jan. 28 @ 6 pm

Broadcast

Live Stats

Flying with the Falcons: The No. 23-ranked Friends University Falcons snapped a brief two-game losing skid with a thrilling 81-79 victory over the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes Monday evening (Jan. 26) inside the Garvey Center. After Lauryn McIver scored to put the Falcons on top with four seconds left, the Coyotes Emma Gertken's potential game-winning three-pointer was reviewed and determined that it was after the buzzer to allow the Falcons to escape with the win. Read the full recap of the dramatic victory over KWU HERE!

Rayland Garner is tied for the KCAC lead in scoring (19.3 ppg) while ranking fifth in the league in rebounding (7.9 rpg) and fourth in steals (2.6 spg). Lauryn McIver is averaging a solid stat line of 14.5 ppg and 6.3 rebounds with a team-high 5.4 assists that is third in the KCAC. Katie Weiss has hit a team-leading 52 threes and is fourth in the KCAC with a solid 38.8 percent shooting clip from three-point distance.  Abigail Barr is also scoring in double-figures at 14.1 ppg and is fourth in the conference in field-goal percentage (57.5).

The Falcons currently rank second in the KCAC in both points per game (76.8 ppg) and field-goal percentage (46.3) and are fourth in the league in field goal percentage defense (38.6).

Scouting the Spires: The University of Saint Mary Spires have dropped two straight games at Ottawa University and Bethany College and are now 13-7 overall and 10-4 in the KCAC.

Addison Tower leads the Spires in scoring at 12.6 ppg, with Keely Barnard averaging 12.4 ppg and Abby Wendte scoring 11.8 ppg. Saige Grampsas is tops on the team in both rebounding (6.1 rpg) and assists (4.7 apg) this season.

The Series: The Falcons defeated the Spires 72-67 at home in the lone matchup last season, but Saint Mary has won six of the past eight matchups. Friends is 34-11 overall vs. Saint Mary since 2005, with a 13-8 mark on the road during that span.

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.

Defensive Stoppers: The matchup between the Falcons and Spires will feature two of the top five defensive teams in the KCAC. The Falcons (38.6) are fourth in field-goal percentage defense, followed closely by the Spires (39.2) in fifth.  

70 or Below: The Falcons are undefeated at 12-0 when holding the opposition under the 70-point mark but are a bit more pedestrian 5-3 when allowing 70 or more points.

Boarding School: The Falcons are a perfect 15-0 when leading in rebounding but are 2-3 when trailing on the boards.

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 are 17-1 when leading in field-goal percentage but have lost both games that the opposition shoots a better percentage from the floor.

2 X 1000: Senior guard Lauryn McIver scored 16 points recently at Oklahoma Wesleyan (Jan. 10) 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). 

Falcons by the Numbers

Overall record: 17-3

KCAC: 11-3

Home: 8-2

Road: 9-1

Neutral: 0-0

When scoring:                                         

Under 50 points: 0-0

50-59 points: 1-1

60-69 points: 4-1

70-79 points: 2-0

80-89 points: 8-1

90+ points: 2-0

When allowing:

Under 50 points: 1-0

50-59 points: 2-0

60-69 points: 9-0

70-79 points: 4-2

80-89 points: 0-0

90+ points: 1-1 

When leading at halftime: 11-1

When trailing at halftime: 6-2

When tied at halftime: 0-0

When committing fewer turnovers: 5-2

When committing more turnovers: 10-0

When turnovers are even: 2-1

When leading in field-goal percentage: 17-1

When trailing in field-goal percentage: 0-2

When field-goal percentage is even: 0-0

When leading in three-point percentage: 9-1

When trailing in three-point percentage: 8-1

When three-point percentage is even: 0-1

When leading in rebounding: 15-0

When trailing in rebounding: 2-3

When rebounding is even: 0-0

When leading in assists: 12-0

When trailing in assists: 3-2

When assists are even: 2-1

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.

Andy Kelly is in his fifth season as head coach of the University of Saint Mary women's basketball program. Kelly has guided the Spires to their only two NAIA National Tournament berths in school history during the past three years along with the program's first-ever KCAC tournament championship in the 2022-23 campaign.

Kelly came to USM from Baker University, where he was an assistant coach for four seasons and helped the Wildcats to three NAIA National Tournament appearances along with a Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season and tournament title in 2017.

Up Next: The Falcons will host Avila University Saturday afternoon (Jan. 31) at 1 pm inside the Garvey Center.