Friends Athletics
Levi Convirs, Sports Information Director
Leavenworth, Kan. – The No. 16-ranked and defending KCAC regular season champion Friends University Falcons showed that they don’t intend to give up the throne easily by winning big at the University of Saint Mary Spires, 85-67 in the conference opener for both teams tonight (Nov. 15) in Leavenworth, Kan.
The Falcons were buoyed tonight by career efforts from both Yowana Posey and Mackenzie Vining.
Posey exploded for a career-high 36 points, with Vining also setting her career-best with 23 points.
Friends controlled the game throughout, as Vining scored to give the Falcons an early 7-6 lead they wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the way.
The Falcons led 22-17 after one period and quickly built on that edge when Posey (eight) and Laramie Edens (six) combined to score 14 points that sparked an 18-6 burst to begin the second quarter and put Friends on top 40-23.
Leading 44-27 at the break, the Spires made a run in the third quarter and came within seven at 49-42 on a pair of free throws from Tiani White.
But three straight free throws from Macy Lozen and a bucket from Posey extended the lead back to 12 and Friends maintained a double-figure edge of 61-51 heading into the fourth quarter.
With the lead still at 10, a three by Vining and a score from Betty Akathiotou was sandwiched around two more scores from Posey that stretched the lead to 19 and effectively put the game away for the Falcons.
Posey shot 14-of-19 from the field and 8-of-12 at the foul line in registering her 36 points. She also tied her career-high with a team-best 12 rebounds for the Falcons (3-3, 1-0 KCAC). Posey and Akathiotou also dished our four assists.
Vining was 9-of-14 from the floor and knocked in four treys and her only free throw attempt for her 23 points.
Candy De Los Reyes led the Spires (2-3, 0-1 KCAC) with 25 points, while Ashley Hinkle scored 15 along with a team-high eight boards.
The Falcons’ solid execution of their press helped them force 21 miscues that led to a 30-11 edge in points off turnovers.
Friends also outrebounded the Spires 40-34 that fueled advantages of 44-14 in points in the paint and 20-11 in second chance points.
The Falcons will next play Saturday evening (Nov. 18) at Bethel College, with tip-off scheduled for 5 pm in North Newton, Kan.