The Lowdown: Sterling College at No. 20 Friends University
Location: Garvey Center
When: Wednesday, Feb. 11 @ 6 pm
Broadcast
Live Stats
Flying with the Falcons: The No. 20-ranked Friends University Falcons are now 20-4 overall and in a three-way for second in the KCAC at 14-4 in the league following a 72-62 road setback at Ottawa University last Saturday (Feb. 7). Read the full recap of the loss at Ottawa HERE.
Despite recently missing time with an injury, Rayland Garner leads the Falcons and is second in the KCAC in scoring (18.6 ppg) while ranking fifth in the league in rebounding (7.7 rpg) and fifth in steals (2.4 spg). Lauryn McIver is averaging a solid stat line of 14.9 ppg and 6.3 rebounds with a team-high 5.5 assists that is third in the KCAC. Katie Weiss has hit a team-leading 58 threes on a 36.0 percent shooting clip from three-point distance. Abigail Barr is third on the team in scoring (14.5 ppg) and ranks second in the conference in field-goal percentage (59.4).
As a team, the Falcons are currently second in the KCAC in field-goal percentage (46.9) while ranking tied for third in the league in points scored per game (77.5) and third in field-goal percentage defense (39.2).
Scouting the Lady Warriors: The Sterling College Lady Warriors are coming off a 62-52 win over Oklahoma Wesleyan University that snapped a four-game losing skid. Sterling is now 15-9 overall and are sixth in the KCAC with an 11-7 mark.
Kali Briar is tops on Sterling and fourth in the KCAC with 17.9 ppg, with McKenna Vogl second in scoring (14.3 ppg) and first in the league in blocks per game (2.6 bpg). Karlee Jacobs is scoring 14.1 ppg along with a league-leading 3.5 steals and a team-high 3.2 assists. Nevaeh Johnson is also scoring in double-figures with 11.1 ppg and Bailey Young is leading the team and is second in the KCAC in rebounding with 9.7 rpg.
The Lady Warriors are currently fifth in the KCAC in field-goal percentage defense (39.9).
The Series: The Falcons won 84-72 on the road in the first matchup this season between the two schools but are 15-35 overall against the Lady Warriors since 2004. Friends is 10-14 at home vs. Sterling during that stretch, including falling 86-76 in overtime in last season's KCAC postseason tournament championship game. Friends had won the previous two home matchups prior to the tourney title tilt.
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.
Assisting in History: Senior guard Lauryn McIver currently has 367 career assists, just 15 shy of Megan Vinzant's modern-era career record of 382.
70 or Below: The Falcons are undefeated at 13-0 when holding the opposition under the 70-point mark this season but are a bit more pedestrian 7-4 when allowing at least 70 points.
Boarding School: The Falcons have won all 16 games when leading in rebounding but are 4-4 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 11-1 this season when committing more turnovers than the opposition, with last Saturday's setback at Ottawa University representing he first time all season the Falcons lost when committing more turnovers.
Make or Miss League: The Falcons are 20-1 when leading in field-goal percentage but have lost all three 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: 20-4
KCAC: 14-4
Home: 9-2
Road: 11-2
Neutral: 0-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 1-1
60-69 points: 4-2
70-79 points: 3-0
80-89 points: 10-1
90+ points: 2-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 1-0
50-59 points: 2-0
60-69 points: 10-0
70-79 points: 5-3
80-89 points: 1-0
90+ points: 1-1
When leading at halftime: 12-1
When trailing at halftime: 8-3
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 6-2
When committing more turnovers: 11-1
When turnovers are even: 3-1
When leading in field-goal percentage: 20-1
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 0-3
When field-goal percentage is even: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 11-1
When trailing in three-point percentage: 8-2
When three-point percentage is even: 1-1
When leading in rebounding: 16-0
When trailing in rebounding: 4-4
When rebounding is even: 0-0
When leading in assists: 13-1
When trailing in assists: 5-2
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.
Evan Belk is in his first season as head coach of the Sterling College women's basketball program. Belk played for the Warriors and current Friends women's head coach Dean Jaderson in 2012.
Belk's coaching career started in 2021 at Cottey College in Nevada, Mo., where he was the assistant coach and assistant sports information director until taking over as head coach in 2024. At Cottey, Belk guided the team to their best record (19-10) since 2011.
Additional duties for Belk have included serving as the Regional Director of Rain Makers Christian Sports Ministry from 2014-2024 and overseeing the ministry and athletic endeavors of Northwest Arkansas.
Up Next: The Falcons will continue their three-game homestand and celebrate Senior Day Saturday (Feb. 14) vs. McPherson College. Tip-off inside the Garvey Center is set for 3 pm.
