[Women's Basketball] Roland Earns KCAC Defensive Player of the Week Nod

WICHITA, Kan. – Friends University senior guard HaLee Roland has been selected as the KCAC Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced today (Feb. 24).

With multiple players on the team battling illnesses during the past week, including herself, Roland stepped up in a big way defensively and recorded four steals while tying for team-high honors with four defensive rebounds to help the Falcons grind out a tough 68-63 victory over Southwestern College on Senior Night this past Saturday (Feb. 22).

The four thefts are just two shy of Roland's career-high mark.

"Halee has been the point of our defensive pressure all season," Friends head coach Dean Jaderston said.  "She picks up the ball in every possession, and really distorts the opponent's offensive schemes by forcing them to start out of position.  She is relentless in her defense, and has guarded the best perimeter players in our league all season with a high level of effectiveness.  This is a well-deserved award!"

A Wichita native, Roland has contributed on both ends of the floor during her senior campaign, averaging 1.5 steals per game while also leading the team in assists (2.1 apg) and ranking third in scoring (10.6 ppg).

Roland and the Falcons are gearing up to play in the KCAC Postseason Tournament Wednesday night (Feb. 26) at third-seeded Bethany College. Tip-off is set for 7 pm in Lindsborg, Kan. The two teams split in the regular season, with the Falcons edging the Swedes 50-45 at home before Bethany escaped with a 55-53 win with a buzzer-beating three on their home floor.