WICHITA, Kan. – Senior guard Lauryn McIver dished out five assists to become the No. 22-ranked Friends University Falcons' modern-era career assist (385) record holder in a 94-36 romp of the Southwestern College Lady Builders tonight (Feb. 18) inside the Garvey Center. This adds to McIver's historic senior campaign as the Phoenix, Ariz. native set a new single-season assist mark (144) in Saturday's win over McPherson College and broke her own single-game assist record with 12 helpers in an 84-67 victory over Avila University back on Jan. 31.
Tonight was the second straight wire-to-wire victory for the Falcons, who are now 22-5 overall and are tied for second place in the KCAC with Bethel College at 16-5 in the league.
History wasn't limited to McIver tonight, as the Falcons' 61.9 percent field-goal percentage is the highest of the modern era as well as the 33 assists generated for the second straight game. The 58-point margin of victory is also the most for the team since winning 90-31 over Barclay College early in the 2023-24 season.
The Falcons were never threatened in this one, with threes by McIver and KK Peeler igniting an 18-0 burst to end the second quarter and making it 26-5 after one period.
With the lead at 19, a three by McIver again kicked off a blitz to end the second quarter that featured four points from Maddy Hildebrand and threes from Jillian Buckmiller and Zuzana Pechova that finished a 22-4 close to the period and put the Falcons up 53-16 at the break.
Friends eventually led by as much as 61 following a basket by Ella Brown with 1:14 left before settling for the 58-point win.
"Any time you get 39 baskets on 33 assists you know your team is playing unselfishly and sharing the ball," said Friends women's basketball head coach Dean Jaderston. "I loved the energy our bench brought tonight! Also, congrats to Lauryn McIver on becoming the all-time assist leader at Friends (in only three years) and Abigail Barr on reaching over 1600 points and 750 career rebounds (counting both her two years at Friends and JUCO career). Both are amazing athletes and even better people and we're all proud of them."
McIver finished with a typical, all-around stat line of 20 points, six rebounds and five assists. Barr had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Heaven Gilbert chipped in with 10 points and six boards. Raegan Bugaj was strong defensively with a team-high three steals.
Breanna Goad paced the Lady Builders with 12 points.
As evidenced by the final score, the Falcons dominated all facets, including outrebounding the Lady Builders 47-30 and holding a 42-8 edge in points in the paint.
The Falcons will now hit the road for the 2025-26 regular season finale Saturday (Feb. 21) at Bethany College. Tip-off is set for 5 pm in Lindsborg, Kan.
