The Lowdown: Baker University at Friends University
Location: Garvey Center | WIchita, Kan.
When: Tuesday, Oct. 27 @ 6 pm
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Flying with the Falcons: The Friends University Falcons will look to maintain their position among the KCAC's top teams after finishing second in the conference standings and hosting an NAIA Opening Round game in 2025-26. The Falcons will need to replace three All-KCAC selections, including their top three scorers from last season. Friends was recently picked to finish fourth in the 2026 KCAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Read the full season preview HERE!
The Falcons opened the 2026-27 season with a 92-47 road loss to the No. 18 Hastings College Broncos last Friday (Oct. 23) and will look to bounce back tonight against the Baker University Wildcats.
Scouting the Wildcats: The Baker University Wildcats will open their season tonight against the Falcons under first-year head coach Andy Kelley. Baker is coming off a 4-23 season, including a 2-18 record in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, and was picked to finish 12th in the 2026 conference preseason poll. Kelley returns to his alma mater after spending the past five seasons as head coach at the University of Saint Mary, where he led the Spires to three NAIA National Tournament appearances and the program's first KCAC Tournament Championship in 2023. The Wildcats return several key players from last season, including leading scorer Gabby Rose, who averaged 14.4 points per game, along with Corrine Cole (6.1 ppg) and Rihanna Blanchard (4.3 ppg).
The Series: Tonight marks the 12th meeting between the two programs, with the Falcons holding a 6-5 advantage in the all-time series. Friends claimed an 88-67 road victory in the teams' last matchup in Baldwin City, Kan., last season. The last meeting at the Garvey Center came during the 2018-19 season, when the Wildcats defeated the Falcons 76-63. However, Friends holds a 4-1 record against Baker at home.
Familiar Faces: Junior guard Katie Weiss is the leading returning scorer this year for Friends after scoring 8.3 points per game and immediately providing a consistent threat from three-point distance by nailing 35.3 percent (71-of-201) as a high-volume perimeter shooter.
The Falcons' lone returning All-KCAC performer is junior guard KK Peeler, an Edmond, Okla. native that contributed across the board with 6.6 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals while also emerging as a strong perimeter threat with a 37.0 percentage on 73 three-point attempts last season. Another guard that will be counted on is sophomore Raegan Bugaj, who appeared in 30 contests and contributed 5.5 ppg and hit a solid 21-of-54 from beyond the arc.
In the frontcourt, a pair of returning forwards in Heaven Gilbert and Anna Sant'Anna will provide a veteran presence inside. Gilbert played in 31 games and Sant'Anna saw action in 30 games, so each should be primed for bigger roles in the upcoming season.
Jillian Buckmiller and Zuzana Pechova are also a pair of junior forwards that each played in seven games last year and should provide more veteran depth this year.
Fresh Faces: The Falcons welcome a talented group of newcomers who bring scoring, defensive versatility, rebounding and length to the lineup. Kennadi Jackson adds an explosive scoring presence on the wing, while Bella Slocum strengthens the frontcourt with her rebounding and athleticism. Ciarra Shaw provides versatility and shooting ability, and freshmen Julia Schlessinger and Brynleigh Graham bring 6-foot-2 size and length in the post.
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.
Falcons by the Numbers (2025-26)
Overall record: 24-7
KCAC: 17-5
Home: 12-5
Road: 12-2
Neutral: 0-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-2
50-59 points: 1-1
60-69 points: 4-2
70-79 points: 4-1
80-89 points: 11-1
90+ points: 4-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 2-0
50-59 points: 2-2
60-69 points: 12-0
70-79 points: 6-3
80-89 points: 1-0
90+ points: 1-2
When leading at halftime: 15-2
When trailing at halftime: 9-5
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 9-3
When committing more turnovers: 12-3
When turnovers are even: 3-1
When leading in field-goal percentage: 23-1
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 0-6
When field-goal percentage is even: 1-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 14-2
When trailing in three-point percentage: 9-4
When three-point percentage is even: 1-1
When leading in rebounding: 18-2
When trailing in rebounding: 6-5
When rebounding is even: 0-0
When leading in assists: 17-1
When trailing in assists: 5-5
When assists are even: 2-1
In OT: 1-0
The Coaches:
Dean Jaderston is in his eighth season at the helm of the Friends University women's basketball program. The Falcon women's basketball program has seen considerable growth and consistency under his leadership both on and off the court. Their consistency and competitiveness have led to an 105-50 record over the past five years. Twice during that time they played in the KCAC tournament championship game, and last year they qualified for the NAIA national tournament, finishing the season ranked 23rd in the nation.
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, earning All-America and Academic All-America awards along the way. 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 39 years. 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.Skip Ad
Andy Kelley is in his first year as head coach of the Baker Wildcats, returning to his alma mater after spending the past five seasons at the University of Saint Mary. Kelley led the Spires to three NAIA National Tournament appearances, including the program's first KCAC Tournament Championship in 2023, and recorded three 20-win seasons. Prior to his time at Saint Mary, Kelley spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Baker, helping the Wildcats reach the NAIA Fab Four and finish as the national runner-up in 2017.
Up Next: The Falcons will hit the road next Wednesday (Nov. 4) to take on Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City, Okla. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
