LIBERTY, Mo. - The William Jewell women's basketball team hits the road this weekend as they travel to the University of Indianapolis on Friday followed by a trip to Southern Indiana on Sunday to open the 2020-2021 season. In response to the ongoing global pandemic, Jewell will play a 22-game, conference-only schedule. 

ADMISSION ❌
At this time fans are not permitted to attend games per Great Lakes Valley Conference policy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This policy will be reevaluated in early January by the Council of Presidents.

BROADCAST 🎥 
All games this season can be seen live, for free, on the GLVC Sports Network at GLVCSN.com/Jewell. 

LIVE STATS 📊
• Friday vs. UIndy
• Sunday vs. Southern Indiana

SERIES INFORMATION

• Indianapolis leads the NCAA-era series 5-4, with the Cardinals taking last year's matchup by a final of 72-56. It is usually feast or famine when these two teams get together as only three times has the game been decided by less than 10 points.  
• Southern Indiana leads 7-2 in the NCAA era, including taking the previous five meetings. Jewell's most recent victory was back in January of 2016 but the Screaming Eagles barely escaped the Mabee Center last season, hitting a last second shot to win 79-78.

CARDINAL NOTES

• William Jewell will tip off its 48th season of women's basketball on Friday with a visit to Indianapolis. The Cardinals are 773-580 all-time. 
• Jewell will be one of the deepest teams in the GLVC this season with seven seniors, including three redshirt seniors, to go along with four other players who appeared in at least 20 games last year. The Cardinals graduated four, but only one of those players saw action in 10 games, with the rest out due to injury. 
• Senior Kiara Bradley quickly became one of the best players in the GLVC when she transferred to Jewell as a sophomore in the fall of 2018. She is already a two-time All-GLVC selection and is now closing in on her 1,000th career point, in just her third year with the Cardinals. The Pella, Iowa native needs 168 points to surpass the 1,000 mark for her career and become just the second women's player to do so while playing entirely in the NCAA era, joining now-assistant coach Maddie Nelson. Bradley will also become the fastest player to reach this mark, surpassing Nelson, who joined the club in January of her fourth season. 
• Both Jewell and the Greyhounds were picked to finish third in their respective divisions with the Cardinals selected behind Drury and Southwest Baptist in the West while UIndy were behind Southern Indiana and Lewis in the East. 
• The Cardinals return a large portion of last year's production: scoring (97%), rebounding (86%), assists (97%) and steals (97%) including the top 10 scorers from a year ago. 
• Junior Lea Finn could see an increased role in 2020-2021 after leading all returners in field goal percentage (49.2%) and three-point field goal percentage (39.7%). Finn, who is the younger sister of former All-GLVC guard Katie Finn, '18, has appeared in 49 career games and shooting better than 45% from the field during that time. 
• Four players have the opportunity to see their first collegiate action this weekend. Three freshmen, Libby Arnold, Elizabeth Ernsting and Aleah Asare, along with redshirt freshman Courtney Wille, a transfer from Independence Community College (KS) are all looking for their first minutes. 
• Head coach Jill Slominski is entering season No. 25 and is the most veteran coach in the GLVC. Slominski owns 442 wins and her 2005 team owns the program record for wins in a season with 28.

ABOUT UINDY

• Indianapolis was selected third in the GLVC East Division and is coming off a 19-10 season, including 12-8 in league play. 
• The Greyhounds return three starters but lost two-time All-GLVC guard Laura Thomas to graduation, along with 2019 All-GLVC performer Emma Benoit. 
• UIndy does return All-GLVC Third Team selection McKenzy Telfair who averaged nearly 10 points and over six boards per game. 
• Also back for the Greyhounds is Mickey Sasson and Paige Barrett who combined for 15.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. 
• The Greyhounds are led by fifth-year head coach Kristin Wodrich who is 55-61 overall.

ABOUT SOUTHERN INDIANA

• The Screaming Eagles are coming off a 18-9 campaign a year ago, including 14-6 in the GLVC and have been picked to win the GLVC East in the preseason poll. 
• USI is led by Rick Stein, now in his 22nd season with his alma mater. Stein is 377-226 during his career as a head coach. 
• The Eagles are led by two All-GLVC picks in senior guard Emma DeHart and sophomore Hannah Haithcock. DeHart scored 11.1 points as a junior, good for second on the team, while Haithcock added 11. 
• Southern Indiana was fourth in the GLVC last season in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 65.6 points per game.