[Women's Basketball] WBB Gameday Preview: Falcons Look to Keep Win Streak Intact Tomorrow vs. ...
The Lowdown: McPherson College at Friends University (KCAC Game of the Week)
Location: Garvey Center
When: Saturday, Dec. 8 @ 5 pm
Broadcast: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/friends/
Radio Broadcast: KKLE 1550 AM
Flying with the Falcons: The Friends University Falcons are flying high with three straight victories, cruising to a 77-50 victory at Southwestern College Wednesday (Dec. 5) after knocking off No. 16-ranked Tabor College 72-62 last Saturday (Dec. 1). The wins move the Falcons to 5-2 in the KCAC, with a 5-6 overall record.
Aryanna Brown (JR/Garland, Texas) keyed the win at Southwestern with a career-high 24 points along with a team-high four assists. Daija Styles (SR/Carrollton, Texas) contributed 14 points and Laramie Edens (SR/Ada, Okla. ) had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Khadijah Kelly (SO/Arlington, Texas) also had 11 points for the Falcons.
Edens is leading the Falcons in points (13.4 ppg), rebounds (9.7 rpg) and blocks (33) on the season. She is tops in the KCAC and fourth in the NAIA in blocks per game (3.0 bpg), while ranking fourth in the league in rebounds and sixth in points.
Lexi Evans (SR/Austin, Texas) is second on the team in scoring (11.8 ppg), with a team-leading 27 threes that ranks third in the KCAC. Styles is averaging 10.3 ppg, while Brown scores 9.9 ppg and is tied for the league-lead with 29 steals.
Thanks in large part to Eden and Brown's efforts, the Falcons are third in the NAIA in blocks per game (4.8) and 12th in steals per game (12.6).
Scouting the Bulldogs: The McPherson College Bulldogs dropped their first five games in the KCAC, but have since won their last two with home victories over Southwestern College and York College to come in at 7-5 overall and 2-5 in the league.
Sonerka White is leading McPherson with 13.0 ppg, while Brittany Roberts is averaging a double-double of 10.6 ppg and a team-high 10.7 rpg. Asya Tims also scores in double-figures at 10.0 ppg and leads the Bulldogs with 25 assists.
McPherson is the ninth best rebounding team in the NAIA at 44.5 per game, paced by Roberts' 7.5 defensive boards per game that is also ninth in the nation.
The Series: The Falcons have dominated McPherson of late, winning the past 13 meetings. Friends won all three matchups last season, including a victory in the KCAC postseason quarterfinal round.
She's so Defensive: Laramie Edens has established herself as the one of the top defenders in the country, and the league is taking notice. Edens has won two KCAC Defensive Player of the Week awards this season and is pacing the league with three blocks per game. She is also fourth in the KCAC in rebounds per game (9.7) and tied for fourth in double-doubles (four).
Falcons by the Numbers:
When scoring:
Under 50 points:
50-59 points: 0-5
60-69 points: 1-1
70-79 points: 4-0
80-89 points:
90+ points:
When allowing:
Under 50 points:
50-59 points: 3-0
60-69 points: 2-1
70-79 points: 0-3
80-89 points: 0-1
90+ points: 0-1
When leading at halftime: 3-0
When trailing at halftime: 1-6
When tied at halftime: 1-0
When winning the turnover battle: 3-5
When losing the turnover battle: 2-1
In OT: 1-0
The Coaches:
Heather Howard is in her first season as head coach of the Friends University women's basketball program.
Howard comes to Friends from Northwest Missouri State University (NWMSU), where she served as the interim head coach in March of this past season following a two-year stint as assistant coach for the NCAA D-II program in Maryville, Mo.
As the assistant coach at NWMSU, Howard handled the duties of recruiting, scouting and player development.
Howard's run at Northwest was preceded by a two-year tenure as assistant at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa.
While at Cornell, Howard was in charge of recruiting and player development along with serving as the strength and conditioning coordinator. She coached a four-time first-team all-conference and second-team all-region player while recruiting the 2017 Conference Newcomer of the Year.
Howard began her coaching career at the same spot she wrapped her playing career, at Missouri Western State University (MWSU) in St. Joseph, Mo.
She was both a graduate assistant coach and compliance graduate assistant at MWSU in the 2013-14 season.
Her one season on the hardwood at MWSU was impactful, as she averaged 13.1 points per game along with 9.1 rebounds per game for the Griffons in the 2012-13 campaign.
Howard started her collegiate career at Oklahoma State University, earning three varsity letters and helping the Cowgirls capture the 2011-12 WNIT championship.
She was also successful in the classroom at OSU, picking up a pair of Academic All-Big 12 first-team honors.
Howard completed her Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from OSU in 2012 before earning a Master of Science degree in Sports Fitness and Management at MWSU in 2014.
Josh Nichols is in his first season as head coach at McPherson College after a three-year stint in the same position at Bacone College. Nichols led Bacone to 36 wins during his tenure and three SAC tournament appearances. Before taking over at Bacone, Nichols was the assistant coach for five seasons at Iowa Wesleyan University.
Up Next: The Falcons will remain at home and host Kansas Wesleyan University Wednesday evening (Dec. 12) at 6 pm inside the Garvey Center.