[Women's Basketball] Falcons Get Back on Track with Road Win over Bethel

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — The Friends University Falcons got back in the win column Wednesday (Jan. 19), taking down the Bethel College Threshers 60-57 in North Newton, Kan. 

Taylor Jackson (FR/Houston, Texas) scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed 21 rebounds to notch her ninth double-double of the season, while McKenzie Shippy (JR/Woodbine, Kan. ) finished with a career-high 12 rebounds.

The Falcons trailed 28-23 at halftime but opened the second half on a 13-1 burst, sparked by back-to-back layups from Jackson. Alexa Chairs (SR/St. Charles, Mo.) joined the party with a pair of layups of her own, then Gracie Sammons (JR/Aubrey, Texas) knocked down two free throws to cap the run. 

Bethel answered with a 9-2 run that included two threes by Kendall Michalski to tie the game, then LaShawn Sweet (SR/Omaha, Neb.) drilled a trey late in the quarter that gave the Falcons a 43-40 advantage with ten minutes to play.

The Falcons pushed the lead to 49-42 with 6:14 to play after a jumper by Carrie Lacy (JR/Victoria, Texas) and a triple by Bridget Busbee (JR/Grand Prairie, Texas), but a 7-0 run by the Threshers again tied the game.

After another three by Michalski later gave the Threshers a 52-51 edge, Jackson grabbed an offensive rebound and laid it in to put the Falcons on top for good. 

Sammons hit another trey on the next possession to make it a 56-52 Falcon lead, then Friends made their free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Chairs added 14 points, three rebounds, and two assists for the Falcons (16-5, 11-4 KCAC), who have won ten of their last 12 games. Jackson finished with five blocks and a steal, on top of her 20-point performance.

Michalski paced the Threshers (6-14, 4-10 KCAC) with a game-high 21 points behind seven threes. Alex Bearup added nine points and six rebounds.

Friends held Bethel to 26.6 percent (17-for-64) from the field and 28.1 percent (9-for-32) from beyond the arc. Friends outrebounded the Threshers 55-37 with an 18-14 advantage on the offensive end. 

The Falcons get the weekend off before returning to the Garvey Center on Monday (Jan. 24) for a KCAC matchup against York. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m.