The William Jewell women's basketball team has been selected to finish in 10th place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, as announced by the league office Wednesday. The poll was voted on by league head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own team, and ranks all 16 teams in predicted order of finish. 

This is the second consecutive season that the Cardinals have been selected 10th, after picking up 89 points in the poll. Jewell is coming off a seventh place finish in the conference last season and qualifying for their sixth GLVC tournament. 

2019 national semifinalist Drury was unanimous predicted to defend their title after going 35-1 and a perfect 18-0 in league play last season. Lewis University followed in second while Bellarmine was picked third, Southern Indiana fourth, and newcomer Lindenwood fifth. 

The Cardinals lost 2018 All-GLVC pick Kayla Harrell along with forward Natalie Closser to graduation but do return a solid line, including first team All-GLVC selection Kiara Bradley. As a sophomore, Bradley averaged 13.7 points per game, and improved that number to 15.0 in conference play. In addition, she led the Cardinals with 5.6 rebounds while shooting 46.4 percent from the floor. Also back is redshirt junior Sydney Offield who started 26 games and averaged just under 10 points per contest, along with Natalie Denzer, Macyn Wilbers, Lea Finn, and Claire Burch who each appeared at least than 20 games. 

Jill Slominski enters her 24th season at the helm of the Jewell program and owns more than 400 wins during that span. The Cardinals open the season on November 9-10 as they travel to Romeoville, Ill. for the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover, hosted by Lewis University.