WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons took control early and then withstood a push from the Avila University Eagles to win 70-61 in a KCAC matchup tonight (Nov. 28) inside the Garvey Center. The Falcons rebounded from a setback last Tuesday (Nov. 22) at Kansas Wesleyan University and move to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the KCAC.
The Falcons led from the outset, getting six points from Taylor Jackson (SO/Houston, Texas) in a 13-2 run to open the game.
The lead ballooned to 15 points when buckets by Bridget Busbee (SR/Grand Prairie, Texas) and Rayland Garner (FR/Kingfisher, Okla.) closed the first quarter and gave the Falcons a commanding 19-4 edge.
After a three by Gracie Sammons (SR/Aubrey, Texas) stretched the Falcon lead to 26-10, Hannah Smith hit a pair of threes and scored eight points to fuel an 11-4 push that brought the Eagles within single-digits late in the second quarter.
Jackson then scored again inside to give the Falcons a 32-21 lead at the break.
The Eagles continued to chip away behind another trey by Smith that whittled the lead down to just 38-36 at the midway point of the third period.
With the Falcons hanging on to a three-point lead, a three by McKenzie Shippy (SR/Woodbine, Kan. ) helped Friends score the final five points of the third quarter to take a 52-44 edge into the fourth.
The Falcons continued to expand the lead as a three by Busbee along with buckets from Sammons and Garner capped a 14-2 burst that bridged the final 1:51 of the third quarter and the opening 3:43 of the fourth period.
This time, the Falcons never flinched as the closest the Eagles could come from that point was nine points, including the final margin of victory.
"Sometimes you have to win a game when you're not at your best," said Friends women's basketball head coach Dean Jaderston. "Our free throw shooting (13-29) and turnovers (15) kept Avila in the game, and they never quit. We had a good run early in the fourth which opened the lead, and made enough defensive plays to win comfortably. We were trying to save some legs early with a three game week, and unfortunately we gave Avila some momentum in that second quarter. Now we get to go to OKWU and get a win streak going on Thursday!"
Garner led the Falcons with 20 points and also pulled down seven rebounds, while Jackson had a powerful double-double of 15 points and 11 boards. Busbee added 14 points and dished out four assists for Friends.
Smith paced all scorers with 25 points for the Eagles (1-7, 1-3 KCAC), with London Foster scoring eight points along with recording team-highs of seven rebounds and seven assists.
The Falcons were outrebounded 41-40 overall, but outscored the Eagles 26-14 in the paint and 13-11 in second chance points.
Next up, the Falcons will tangle with Oklahoma Wesleyan University Thursday evening (Dec. 1) at 6 pm in Bartlesville, Okla. Friends will then host Ottawa University Saturday evening (Dec. 3) starting at 5 pm inside the Garvey Center.
