The Braves won their second straight game with a 65-64 win over Bethel College in North Newton last Saturday night. Kennedy Bankett made the game winning basket with five seconds on the clock. Ottawa shot 34.8 percent from the floor, 33 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and was a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line. Bankett scored 23 points on 10-for-19 shooting from the floor.

This season, the Braves are averaging 73.5 points, 37.6 rebounds, and 12.3 assists per game. OU is shooting 40.1 percent from the floor, 34.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 74.5 percent from the free throw line.

OU is ranked 48th in the NAIA in points (1,617), 41st in field goal attempts per game (65.6), 22nd in 3-pt field goals made per game (8.5), 42nd in 3-pt field goals attempted per game (24.5), 21st in 3-pt field goal percentage (.347), 32nd in free throw percentage (.745),  and 29th in blocks per game (3.7).

Kennedy Bankett leads the Braves in scoring, averaging 14.9 points per game. She is shooting 55.6 percent from the floor and 47.2 percent from behind the 3-pt line. Bankett also leads OU in rebounding, averaging 5.2 rebounds per game. In KCAC play, Bankett is averaging 16.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Jayla Johnson and Kennedy Bankett lead the team in assists (1.6) and steals (1.4) per game.

Ottawa is 9-3 in Wilson Field House this season. Ottawa is outscoring opponents 81-68 and shooting 41.7 percent from the floor and 34.8 percent from behind the 3-pt line. Opponents are also turning the ball over 23 times per game in Wilson Field House.

OU is 8-8 in KCAC games this season. In those 16 games, the Braves are averaging 70.5 points per game and shooting 39.6 percent from the floor. Conference opponents are scoring 71.1 points per game and shooting 40.8 percent from the floor.

When leading at halftime this season, the Braves have a record of 9-3. Ottawa is also 8-1 when shooting between 40-49% from the floor.

Hailey Henry has 11 blocks in her last two games. She finished with five against Oklahoma Wesleyan University last Wednesday and then had a career high six in OU's win over Bethel College last Saturday.

Wednesday is the 97th meeting between Ottawa University and Friends University. The Falcons lead the series, 72-24 and have a record 7-1 in the last eight games between the two teams. Friends is on a two game winning streak against the Braves. Ottawa's last win over the Falcons was on Feb. 1, 2023 in Wilson Field House. OU won the game 60-45. Friends won the first meeting this season at the Garvey Center on Dec. 2, defeating OU 77-61. The first game between the two team happened on Feb. 10, 1909 in Wichita. The Braves won the game, 30-21.

In the loss to the Falcons on Dec. 2 at the Garvey Center, the Braves shot 34.4 percent from the floor, 32.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 90 percent from the free throw line. Kennedy Bankett scored 19 points and Abby Dietsche finished with 14 points.

Friends University has an overall record of 17-5, a KCAC mark of 14-2, has won nine straight games, and is 7-3 away from home this season.

The Falcons are averaging 73.9 points, 44.5 rebounds, and 15.5 assists per game this season. They are shooting 43.2 percent from the floor, 31.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 62.7 percent from the free throw line.

Friends is ranked 47th in the NAIA in points (1,625), 49th in points per game (73.9), 41st in field goals made per game (27.6), 40th in field goal percentage (.432), 29th in offensive rebounds per game (14.6), 15th in defensive rebounds per game (29.9), ninth in total rebounds per game (44.5), 42nd in rebound margin (6.5), 10th in blocks per game (4.5), 46th in points allowed per game (60.5), and ninth in opponent field goal percentage (.340).

Rayland Garner leads Friends in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game. She is shooting 51.5 percent from the floor. Garner has only attempted 13 3-pt field goals and is 1-for-13 from behind the arc this season. Taylor Jackson leads the team in rebounding, averaging 10.7 rebounds per game. She is averaging a double-double 14 points and 10.7 rebounds.

Lauryn McIver leads the Falcons in assists (4.8) and Garner is the team's leader in steals (2.4) per game.

Away from the Garvey Center this season, Friends is averaging 69.9 points per game and shooting 41.4 percent from the floor and 28.2 percent from behind the 3-pt line.

In their five losses this season, the Falcons are scoring 53.4 points per game and shooting 34.4 percent from the floor and 25.2 percent from behind the arc.