The Lowdown: Avila University at No. 20 Friends University
Location: Garvey Center
When: Saturday, Jan. 31 @ 1 pm
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Flying with the Falcons: For the second straight contest, the No. 20-ranked Friends University Falcons secured a victory in the final second, this time winning 87-86 at the University of Saint Mary thanks to a three-point play by Abigail Barr with .3 seconds remaining. The Falcons are now 18-3 overall and in second place in the KCAC with a 12-3 league record. Read the full recap of another thrilling Falcon win HERE!
Rayland Garner leads the Falcons and is third in the KCAC in scoring (18.6 ppg) while ranking fifth in the league in rebounding (7.7 rpg) and tied for fourth in steals (2.4 spg). Lauryn McIver is averaging a solid stat line of 14.3 ppg and 6.2 rebounds with a team-high 5.3 assists that is tied for third in the KCAC. Katie Weiss has hit a team-leading 53 threes with a solid 38.1 percent shooting clip from three-point distance. Barr is also scoring in double-figures at 14.0 ppg and is fourth in the conference in field-goal percentage (58.1).
The Falcons currently rank second in the KCAC in both points per game (77.3 ppg) and field-goal percentage (46.3) and are third in the league in field goal percentage defense (38.7).
Scouting the Eagles: The Avila University Eagles come in on a hot streak with five straight wins and are now 12-9 overall and above .500 in the KCAC at 8-7.
Madilyn Melton is tops on the Eagles and fifth in the KCAC in scoring (17.2 ppg) while also leading the team in rebounding (6.6 rpg). Marlie Wright is second on the Eagles in scoring (15.2 ppg) and has dished out a team-high 5.3 assists per game that is tied for third in the league. The Eagles are also getting 10.1 ppg from Kathleen Stanley, who ranks third in the KCAC in three-point percentage (41.7).
Avila ranks third as a team in the KCAC in both field-goal percentage (45.2) and points allowed per game (66.5).
The Series: The Eagles won 68-61 in Kansas City in the lone meeting last season, but the Falcons are 10-5 overall in the series since 2004. Friends is also 8-5 since Avila joined the KCAC for the 2019-20 season and have won five of six matchups in Wichita.
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.
Something's Gotta Give: It'll be an intriguing clash of styles in the matchup between the Falcons and Eagles, as Friends ranks second in the KCAC in points per game (77.3) while Avila is allowing the third fewest points per game (66.5) in the league.
Distribution Center: Two of the better offensive facilitators in the KCAC will be on display when the Falcons face the Eagles on Saturday. Friends' Lauryn McIver and Avila's Marlie Wright are each tied for third in the KCAC with 5.3 assists per game.
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 6-3 when allowing 70 or more points.
Boarding School: The Falcons have won all 15 games when leading in rebounding but are 3-3 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 18-1 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 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: 18-3
KCAC: 12-3
Home: 8-2
Road: 10-1
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: 9-1
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: 1-0
90+ points: 1-1
When leading at halftime: 11-1
When trailing at halftime: 7-2
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 5-2
When committing more turnovers: 10-0
When turnovers are even: 3-1
When leading in field-goal percentage: 18-1
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 0-2
When field-goal percentage is even: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 10-1
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: 3-3
When rebounding is even: 0-0
When leading in assists: 12-0
When trailing in assists: 4-2
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.
Remy Wolfe is in her fourth season as head coach of the Avila University women's basketball program. Wolfe is was familiar with the team, having served as the Eagles' top assistant coach for three seasons prior to taking the head coach position.
Wolfe's coaching career started as a graduate assistant at Truman State University in the 2018-19 season.
Up Next: The Falcons will be on the road for two straight games, starting Wednesday evening (Feb. 4) at Tabor College for a 6 pm tip-off in Hillsboro, Kan.
