LIBERTY, Mo. - The 2024-2025 William Jewell women's basketball season opens on Friday night as the Cardinals host Avila University. The roster looks significantly different this winter as Jewell welcomed in 10 newcomers while returning five letter winners. 

CARDINAL NOTES

• Headlining the list of returners is Ayden Shannon. The junior is back after earning All-GLVC Third Team honors and finishing the 2023-2024 season fourth in the league in scoring with more than 17 points per game. Shannon is expected to once again carry a large load of the offensive output but this time with hopefully more support. A primary focus on in the offseason and on the recruiting trail for second year head coach Kyley Bachand was to arm her squad with more offensive weapons. 
• One of the options the Cardinals will turn to early will be a familiar face in senior Kate Hillyer. The Eureka, Mo. native finished the year, averaging 9.3 points per game, including more than 14 over the second half of the season. Hillyer is the only fourth year senior on the squad, and will look to complete her career on a high note. Bachand says that her senior is well respected by the youngsters and brings an unmatched fire and energy to the floor. 
• For the first time under Bachand, the Cardinals will boast a true five player on the roster with the addition of rookie Asa Fanning. An All-State performer at Moberly High School (Mo.), she won two conference and district titles during her prep career. 
• A big area of improvement this season will need to be rebounding as Jewell was out-rebounded by an average of 13.2 per game. Fanning, along with freshmen Maja Komaszynska and Paris Opelt will combine with Hillyer and redshirt freshman Ella Bockenstdt to help put a dent in that deficit.  
• Bree Shannon is back to run the offense this winter after averaging more than 25 minutes with 5.8 points and 1.7 assists per game. The Cardinals will have some much-needed depth at the point guard position this season with the addition of Morgan Ives. An All-State performer out of Horizon High School (Colo.), Ives is expected to play fast and take pressure off Shannon early in her career.
• Head coach Kyley Bachand welcomed not only 10 newcomers to her on-court team this fall but also a new addition to her family with the arrival of daughter Hazley on October 23. She is expected to return to the sideline for the Cardinals quickly while first year assistant coach Carson Huelle has taken on a large role in the early season preparation.