KCAC

[Women's Basketball] Falcons Finish Trip to Texas with Thrilling Victory at SAGU

WAXAHACHIE, Texas — The Friends University Falcons wrapped up a road trip to Texas Friday evening (Dec. 17) with a hard-fought 69-66 victory over the Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lady Lions in Waxahachie, Texas. The win gives the Falcons their fourth victory in the last five attempts, with the lone setback against Sterling College earlier this week. Leading 34-31 at the break, the Falcons pushed that advantage to 13 on the heels of a 12-2 burst to open the third quarter. The Lady Lions roared back with a 16-2 run to take a 51-50 lead heading into the final period.   A jumper from Hannah Fellinger extended the lead to 53-51 early in the period, but a basket by Alexa Chairs (SR/St. Charles, Mo.) sparked a 12-2 spurt that included layups by Carrie Lacy (JR/Victoria, Texas) and Taylor Jackson (FR/Houston, Texas), along with a runout by Maddie Jessepe (SR/Ada, Okla.), putting the Falcons on top 62-55 with 4:35 to play. The Lady Lions stormed back with an 8-0 run to grab a 63-62 edge, but another basket by Jackson halted the run. Lacy knocked down a pair of free throws with 37 seconds remaining to give the Falcons a brief 66-63 advantage, but Jaycie Brisco tied the game with a three from the left wing on the very next possession. With overtime seemingly inevitable, Bridget Busbee (JR/Grand Prairie, Texas) drove to the basket and was fouled with 5.9 seconds left on the clock. Busbee went 1-for-2 from the line, but an errant pass Neeley Tilley-Bedick gave the Falcons possession with three seconds left. Lacy iced the game with a pair of free throws. Lacy scored 18 points and swiped four steals to help the Falcons (10-4, 6-3 KCAC) to their second victory in as many days. Jackson notched her fourth double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds while swatting five shots. The Falcons jumped out to a 6-0 lead early in the first quarter, but back-to-back triples by Brisco and Mary Jo Parker helped the Lady Lions respond with an 8-0 run of their own. The opening quarter was back-and-forth from there, with neither team able to create separation. The Lady Lions took their largest lead of the contest in the second quarter after a Tilley-Bedick three put SAGU ahead 29-24. The Falcons closed out the half on a 10-2 spurt that included layups by Jackson, Lacy, and Busbee. Brisco paced the Lady Lions (4-7) with a game-high 19 points, while Tilley-Bedick and Jazra Williams added ten points. The Falcons shot 44.1 percent from the field but just 14.3 percent from the perimeter. Friends heads into the holiday break before returning to the hardwood on Dec. 30 with a trip to McPherson, Kan. to take on Central Christian College.