Jewell women's basketball opened their season at NCAA Division I Western Illinois University on Thursday night, dropping an exhibition game to the Leathernecks 71-63 in Macomb, Illinois.

The Cardinals scored the first basket of the game, but Western slowly built as much as a 14 point lead in the first half, and led 35-23 at intermission.

In the second half, however, good outside shooting got the Cardinals back into the game, as Hayli Jo Smith went 5-9 from beyond the arch and Meagan Paul added another two treys early in the second half, cutting the lead down to nine at three different points, and eventually down to six with just minutes remaining.  Western was able to counter with 21-27 shooting from the free-throw line in the game to eventually win by eight.

The Cards had only nine attempts at the line, hitting six; the teams each had 42 rebounds and 19 turnovers.  Jewell shot 34% from the field and Western shot 40%.

Hayli Jo Smith had 17 points and seven rebounds to lead Jewell, and Aerial Smith had 12 points.  Maddie Nelson contributed seven  assists and three steals. Both the Cardinals and the Leathernecks played all players suited up in the exhibition contest.

The Jewell women and men will next host Livin' the Dream on Saturday, November 15 starting at 1:00 in the Mabee Center.