WICHITA, Kan. – Following a brief two-game losing skid, the No. 20-ranked Friends University Falcons shot a sizzling 58.3 percent (35-of-60) for their best shooting performance of the modern era (since 2003-04) in a wire-to-wire 84-67 victory over the Avila University Eagles today (Jan. 31) inside the Garvey Center. The Falcons have won three straight games and are now 19-3 overall and remain in second place in the KCAC with a 13-3 league record.

The Falcons jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead behind back-to-back baskets from Abigail Barr and still led by seven at 20-13 after one period.

A three by Raegan Bugaj at the 4:29 mark of the second quarter stretched the lead up to 35-19 before the Eagles clawed within 44-33 at the break.

Friends maintained its distance throughout much of the second half, but Avila managed to come within five at 66-61 with 7:21 left in the game.

From that point, a bucket and a three-point play by Lauryn McIver bookended an 11-0 burst that put the Falcons back in complete command up 77-61 lead at the 4:08 mark.

The Falcons twice built the lead up to a game-high 18 points down the stretch before settling for the comfortable 17-point margin of victory.

McIver fueled the Falcons with a near triple-double of 15 points, a career-high 12 assists and seven boards along with three steals and two blocks. Barr had a team-high 17 points and also had seven rebounds while Heaven Gilbert delivered a career-best 14 points and a pair of blocks. KK Peeler had another strong game of 10 points and seven assists, with Katie Weiss also adding 10 points.

Madilyn Melton paced the Eagles with 17 points and Ashlyn Kuhlman chipped in with 14 points.

The Falcons outrebounded the Eagles 38-34 overall and had a 36-32 edge in points in the paint. Avila narrowly outscored Friends 14-12 in second chance points.

Friends will now 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.