WINFIELD, Kan. – The Southwestern College women's basketball team returns to the friendly confines of Stewart Field House on Wednesday, Jan. 14, as the Lady Builders continue Conference play against longtime rival Friends University. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. and the contest marks the first meeting between the two programs during the 2025–26 season.
Southwestern enters the matchup looking to snap a tough conference stretch and build momentum during the heart of the KCAC schedule. The Lady Builders are 4–12 overall and still searching for their first league win, but several recent performances, including a narrow 67–64 loss at McPherson on Saturday, show a team continuing to compete late into games.
Offensively, Southwestern is averaging 60.9 points per game and has relied on a balanced scoring attack. Senior Macey Pond leads the team at 15.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per contest, ranking among the KCAC leaders on the glass. Guards Breanna Goad (10.8 ppg) and Kennedy Ford (10.2 ppg) provide perimeter scoring and shooting depth, while Martha De La Rosa contributes 9.8 points per game and has knocked down a team-best 28 three-pointers this season.
Friends University arrives in Winfield as one of the top teams in the conference and the NAIA, sporting a 15–1 overall record and a 9–1 mark in KCAC play. The Falcons average 77.7 points per game while holding opponents to 67.7, and they lead the league in field-goal percentage at 46.8 percent.
The Falcons are led by All-KCAC candidate Rayland Garner, who averages 20.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Abigail Barr (14.8 ppg) and Lauryn McIver (14.3 ppg, 5.2 assists) give Friends multiple scoring options, while the Falcons' depth and ball movement are evident in their 17.2 assists per game.
Wednesday's contest renews one of the KCAC's longest-running rivalries. Southwestern holds an 18–25 all-time record against Friends, including an 11–9 mark at home. The Lady Builders claimed the most recent meeting, edging the Falcons 82–78 at Stewart Field House on Feb. 19, 2025, snapping a lengthy losing streak in the series and earning their first win over Friends since 2015.
Despite Friends winning nine of the last 10 meetings, Southwestern has proven capable of protecting its home floor against the Falcons, and last season's victory remains fresh motivation entering Wednesday night.
