The Lowdown: No. 22 Friends University at Bethany College
Location: Lindsborg, Kan.
When: Saturday, Feb. 21 @ 5 pm
Broadcast
Live Stats
Flying with the Falcons: Lauryn McIver set a new modern-era career assist mark (385) in the No. 22-ranked Friends University Falcons 94-36 romp of Southwestern College Wednesday evening (Feb. 18) inside the Garvey Center. History wasn't limited to McIver, as the Falcons' 61.9 percent field-goal percentage was 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. It was also the second straight wire-to-wire victory for the Falcons, who are now 22-5 overall and tied for second place in the KCAC with Bethel College at 16-5 in the league. Read the full recap of the victory over Southwestern HERE!
Prior to her injury, Rayland Garner led the Falcons in scoring with 18.6 ppg. McIver is averaging a solid stat line of 15.2 ppg, 6.3 rebounds and a team-high 5.5 assists that is third in the KCAC. Katie Weiss has hit a team-leading 62 threes and Abigail Barr is third on the team in scoring (14.7 ppg) and ranks second in the conference in field-goal percentage (59.7).
As a team, the Falcons are second in the KCAC in both scoring (77.1 ppg) and field-goal percentage (47.2) and are now ranking tops in the league in field-goal percentage defense (38.2) after holding Southwestern to just an 18.8 percent shooting clip on Wednesday.
Scouting the Swedes: The Bethany College Swedes enter Saturday's contest on a three-game losing skid and are now 16-10 overall and 14-7 in the KCAC.
Colbi Rignell is leading the Swedes in both scoring (13.6 ppg) and assists (3.2 apg), with Janae Black-Harmon next in scoring (12.3 ppg) and ranking third in the KCAC in rebounding (9.3 rpg) and first in field-goal percentage (61.9). Becca Unruh is also scoring in double-figures this season for the Swedes at 10.5 ppg.
The Swedes are second in the KCAC in field-goal percentage defense (38.8) this season.
The Series: The Falcons dropped the first matchup this season at home to the Swedes but have won the last three meetings in Lindsborg, Kan. Friends has lost two straight overall after winning five straight in the series. The two schools have split the last 10 matchups.
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 History: Senior guard Lauryn McIver recorded five assists in Wednesday's (Feb. 18) victory over Southwestern College to set a new modern-era career assists record (385) for the Falcons. This adds to McIver's historic senior campaign as the Phoenix, Ariz. native set a new single-season assist mark (144) in last 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 earlier this season on Jan. 31.
Stingy Defense: Saturday's matchup will feature the two toughest teams to shoot against in the KCAC, with the Falcons tops in the league in field-goal percentage defense (38.2) and the Swedes right behind in second (38.8).
Straight Shooters: Making a high percentage of shots is ideal for any team, and the Falcons and Swedes have the two best in the KCAC in doing just that. The Swedes' Janae Black-Harmon is first in the league in field-goal percentage (61.9), followed by the Falcons' Abigail Barr in second (59.7).
70 or Below: The Falcons are 15-1 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 are 18-1 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 11-2 this season when committing more turnovers than the opposition, with the last two losses at Ottawa University (Feb. 7) and vs. Sterling College (Feb. 11) representing the only two games all season the Falcons lost when committing more turnovers.
Make or Miss League: The Falcons are 22-1 when leading in field-goal percentage but have lost all four 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 for the Women's Basketball Falcons. Garner reached the mark earlier this season, also against Oklahoma Wesleyan (Nov. 19).
Falcons by the Numbers
Overall record: 22-5
KCAC: 16-5
Home: 11-3
Road: 11-2
Neutral: 0-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-1
50-59 points: 1-1
60-69 points: 4-2
70-79 points: 3-0
80-89 points: 10-1
90+ points: 4-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 2-0
50-59 points: 2-1
60-69 points: 11-0
70-79 points: 5-3
80-89 points: 1-0
90+ points: 1-1
When leading at halftime: 14-1
When trailing at halftime: 8-4
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 8-2
When committing more turnovers: 11-2
When turnovers are even: 3-1
When leading in field-goal percentage: 22-1
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 0-4
When field-goal percentage is even: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 13-1
When trailing in three-point percentage: 8-3
When three-point percentage is even: 1-1
When leading in rebounding: 18-1
When trailing in rebounding: 4-4
When rebounding is even: 0-0
When leading in assists: 15-1
When trailing in assists: 5-3
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 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.
Sarah Able is in her third season as head coach of the Bethany College women's basketball team. Able has led the Swedes to a 15-14 overall record and a 13-9 mark in the KCAC in each of her two seasons at the helm.
Able was already familiar with the program, having served as an assistant coach for the Swedes for two seasons along with occupying the role of Resident Director and Administrative Assistant for the Athletic Department.
Prior to arriving at Bethany, Able was an assistant coach at Coffeyville Community College for two years.
Up Next: If the standings hold, the Falcons would be the third seed in the KCAC postseason basketball tournament and host sixth-seeded Sterling College Wednesday night (Feb. 25) at 7 pm inside the Garvey Center. For the Falcons to move up to the second seed, they'd need to win at Bethany and have Bethel lose to York.
