[Women's Basketball] WBB Gameday Preview: Falcons Host Bethel Tomorrow Night in Key KCAC Tilt

The Lowdown: Bethel College at Friends University

Location: Garvey Center

When: Saturday, Jan. 5 @ 5 pm

Broadcast: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/friends/

Flying with the Falcons: The Friends University Falcons are now 6-9 overall and 6-4 in the KCAC following an 87-77 setback to No. 24 (NAIA D-I) Central Methodist University last Sunday afternoon (Dec. 30).

Laramie Edens (SR/Ada, Okla. ) is pacing the Falcons in points (13.4 ppg), rebounds (9.2 rpg) and blocks (3.1 bpg). She is tops in the KCAC and second in the NAIA in blocks per game, while ranking fourth in the league in rebounds.

Lexi Evans (SR/Austin, Texas) is second in scoring with 11.7 ppg and leads the team in threes (31) and assists (2.5 apg). Her three-point total ranks third in the KCAC. 

Aryanna Brown (JR/Garland, Texas) is also scoring in double-figures this season for Friends with 11.1 ppg and leads the KCAC with 2.6 steals per game.

Scouting the Threshers: The Bethel College Threshers are coming off a 77-70 win over Southwestern College Wednesday (Jan. 2) to snap a three-game skid and improve to 11-4 overall and 6-4 in the KCAC.

Abby Schmidt is anchoring the Threshers' efforts both offensively and defensively this season, leading the team and ranking within the top five of the KCAC in points (14.3 ppg), rebounds (10.6 rpg) and blocks (1.8 bpg).

Jade Brown is second in scoring for Bethel (11.4 ppg) and is first on the team and third in the league with 3.9 assists per game.

The Series: The Falcons have won 11 of the past 12 meetings against Bethel, with a 5-1 mark vs. the Threshers at home over that stretch.  Bethel's last win in Wichita came on Feb. 21, 2015.

High Stakes: Sole possession of fourth place in the KCAC is on the line as the Falcons and Threshers each stand at 6-4 in the KCAC. The top four teams in the final regular season standings will host a conference postseason tournament quarterfinal game.

Block Party: The matchup between the Falcons and Threshers will highlight the two top shot blockers in the KCAC.  Laramie Edens is pacing the league with 3.1 blocks per game, followed by Schmidt's 1.8 blocks.

She is 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 leading the league with 3.1 blocks per game. She is also fourth in the KCAC in rebounds per game (9.2) and tied for second in double-doubles (six).

Falcons by the Numbers:

When scoring:

Under 50 points:

50-59 points: 0-5

60-69 points: 1-2

70-79 points: 5-1

80-89 points: 0-1

90+ points:

When allowing:

Under 50 points:

50-59 points: 3-1

60-69 points: 3-1

70-79 points: 0-3

80-89 points: 0-3

90+ points: 0-1

When leading at halftime: 3-0

When trailing at halftime: 2-9

When tied at halftime: 1-0

When winning the turnover battle: 4-7

When losing the turnover battle: 2-2

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.

Drew Johnson is in his second season at the helm of the Bethel College women's basketball program. Before coming to Bethel, Johnson coached in high school for nine years, with stops at Valley Center, Derby and Clay Center.

Johnson is an alumni of Friends University and was a four-year starter and two-year captain for the Falcons' football team, where he earned All-KCAC honors as a punter.

Up Next: The Falcons will turn around and host conference newcomer Avila University Monday evening (Jan. 7) at 6 pm inside the Garvey Center.