LIBERTY, Mo. - The William Jewell women's basketball team steps out of GLVC play briefly on Friday night as they host Ottawa University before jumping back into conference action against Rockhurst on Saturday. 

THE SERIES
The Cardinals are 13-2 against Ottawa since 1999, but have not met since December 2015 in a 78-55 Jewell win. Meanwhile, Rockhurst is a familiar foe, meeting 29 times over the last two-plus decades with the Cardinals leading 16-13 during that time, but dropping both games last season.   
 

CARDINAL NOTES

• Jewell put together a solid showing in two games against nationally ranked Alaska Anchorage last weekend, falling 87-83 and 75-56 with just one quarter of cold shooting in each contest standing between them and two potential upsets. 
• The Cardinals put together three straight games of better than 41% shooting for the first time this season, including a season best 55.6% in the opener against Alaska Anchorage, where they also hit 52% from long range, their best mark since February 20, 2020 against Missouri-St. Louis (53%). 
• Jewell enters the week ranked among the best in the GLVC in field goal percentage defense (40.2%) and defensive rebounds (26.8), ranking fourth in both categories. Emree Zars is second in the league with an average of 6.4 defensive rebounds per game and 93 total boards.
• The Shannon sisters gave Alaska Anchorage lots of problems last week, putting together back-to-back career high performances. Bree Shannon came off the bench in game one to pour in 19 points, 13 more than her previous career best, to go along with five assists. Ayden Shannon followed in the second game with 18 points on 7-of-9 from the floor with four rebounds. 
• Kate Hillyer has hit 25 three point field goals through 12 games, matching her total from all of last season. The sophomore enters the week tops in the GLVC and 21st in Division II, shooting 49% from behind the arc and has connected on at least three triples in six contests. 
• Zars grabbed her fourth double-double of the season last weekend on a career best 23 points with 10 rebounds. The freshman is second in the conference in and top-20 nationally in double doubles. She is already fourth in a single season and career in Jewell's NCAA era. 
• The Cardinals have improved both offensively and defensively from behind the three point line as of late. Jewell has hit at least seven threes in five of the last six games while also holding opponents to 29% from behind the arc, third best in the GLVC.

LUNCH WITH THE COACHES

• Join Cardinal head coaches Jill Slominski and Chris McCabe for lunch every Friday during non-travel weeks, including this Friday, December 16, at Wahlburgers at HyVee in Liberty at 12 p.m. Come catch up and talk Jewell basketball, past, present and future.

CARDINAL HAPPY HOUR

• Catch up with Jewell coaches and the Athletics Director on the first Tuesday of every month at Cardinal Happy Hour at Conrad's Alehouse & Restaurant in the Liberty. The next Cardinal Happy Hour is coming up on January 3 at 5:30.