The William Jewell College men’s and women’s basketball teams competed Sunday, March 1  in the first round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) tournament. Only the top 12 of the 16 GLVC teams make the tournament. This year marks the third year in a row both teams qualified.

Both teams have appeared at the tournament each year since the transition to NCAA Division II in the academic year ending spring 2013.

The women’s team received the number seven seed in the tournament and hosted 10th seeded Maryville University Saints in the Mabee Center. The Cardinals hit a 3-pointer to start the game, but that was the only lead they would see on the day. The Saints shot 55 percent from the field in the first half. Jewell’s six 3-pointers in the first half helped keep them in the game, trailing by a score of only 46-41 at halftime. The Cardinals went cold from beyond the arc in the second half going 1-14. The Cardinals continued to battle but came up short with a final score of 79-75. The women ended the season with a final record of 15-12 (10-8).

“Our pressure was pretty good. No matter how much pressure we put on them they were making a lot [of shots],” Hayli Jo Smith, senior, said. “I would have loved to win. I don’t think we went out on a bad note, though. We worked hard. We fought. It was a battle.”

The men received the number nine seed in the tournament and traveled to St. Louis, Mo., to take on the number eight seed University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). The Cardinals shot 51 percent from the field in the first half and led the game 41-40 at halftime. Jewell went scoreless for six minutes in the second half to allow UMSL to gain a 14-point lead with 12 minutes left in the game. The Cardinals chipped away at the lead and trailed by only three points with 3:39 left to go in the game. UMSL scored on their next three possessions, forcing Jewell to foul and allowing UMSL to extend their lead. The final score was 80-68. The men finished the season with a record of 13-14 (9-9).

“It was a back and forth battle all game. We played well. We fought hard. They just had a little more firepower than us that day,” Jordan Lewis, senior, said.

Although both teams’ seasons ended in the first round of the GLVC Championship Tournament, Smith said the Jewell basketball program as a whole is on track for success.

“I definitely feel like [the women’s basketball program] is moving in the right direction. I feel like the girls that [Head Basketball Coach Cress] has now have the potential to keep going in the right direction. Coach Cress knows how to put a program in a great situation to win,” Smith said.

Lewis expressed his excitement for the future of the men’s team.

“We kind of all bought in. The seniors and some of our veterans kind of showed the younger guys what it means to really buy in and trust one another, but also trust the coaching staff,” Lewis said. “I’m excited to see what the younger guys can do in the years coming up. I think they have what it takes to bring this program into more of a winning program in the years to come.”

Two members of the Jewell basketball teams made GLVC All-Conference teams. For the women, Aerial Smith, senior, made 1st team all-conference by unanimous decision and the all-defensive team. For the men, D’Vante Mosby, sophomore, made 2nd team all-conference.

The men will lose four seniors: Jordan Lewis, Cyril Bilong, Christian Hildebrandt and Clint McCullough. These players provided almost 47 percent of the total scoring for the men this season.

This offseason, the Cardinal women will look to replace two seniors: four-year starting point guard Aerial Smith and starter Hayli Jo Smith. Aerial averaged 13.6 points per game (ppg) and 4.6 assists per game while Hayli Jo Smith contributed 10.4 ppg.

Hayli Jo Smith and Lewis are satisfied with the time they have spent on the Hill, both in the classroom and on the court.

“Being in this area and being at Jewell has opened me up to so many new things and new opportunities,” Hayli Jo Smith said. “To further my career here in basketball and to get my education was one of the biggest steps I’ve taken in my life.”

Lewis acknowledged the challenge of being a student-athlete at WJC.

“It wasn’t always easy. Like any player I had ups and downs. Overall, I’m definitely pleased with individually how I stuck it out and continued to work. That’s kind of what I like to be about: overcoming adversity,” Lewis said. “If you’re prepared for when you get your opportunity and you work, then good things are going to happen.”

It is almost the end of February and both the men’s and women’s basketball teams for William Jewell College (WJC) have played 26 games a piece as they near the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Tournament.

The women’s basketball team, led by Head Coach Jill Cress, ended the regular season with an overall record of 15-11, with a record of 10-8 in conference play.  WJC women’s basketball is averaging 70.5 points per game (ppg).  A large part of WJC’s scoring comes from Aerial Smith, senior guard, with 13.3 ppg, Maddie Nelson, sophomore guard, with 11.1 ppg and Hayli Jo Smith, senior forward, with 10.2 ppg.

Aerial Smith, senior, also leads the team in three other signifiant categories averaging 6.0 rebounds a game, 4.6 assists a game and 2.5 steals a game.

“This year we have had really good chemistry and have been able to use that to our advantage on the court,” Smith said.

The men’s basketball team, led by Head Coach Larry Holley, ended the regular season with an overall record of 13-13, with a record of 9-9 in conference play. WJC men’s basketball averaged 72.2 ppg while allowing 72.3 ppg from their opponents.  Key scorers for the WJC men’s squad include Jordan Lewis, senior guard, with 13.4 ppg, followed by D’Vante Mosby, sophomore forward, with 12.8 ppg, Christian Hildebrandt, senior guard, with 11.8 ppg and Darius Tomlin, junior guard, with 11.4 ppg.

Along with his scoring contribution, Mosby also grabs 8.5 rebounds a game, nearly averaging a double-double every game. A “double-double” is a performance in which a player achieves a double digit in a single game in two of the following categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots.

“I’m feeling good about how we are playing.  If we play as a team, play as a unit, and move the ball around, we are pretty hard to beat.  We are heatin’ up at the right time, sort of reminds me of the Royals,” Mosby said.

Men’s big win against Drury

The men came away with the “W” against a very tough opponent on the road, beating Drury 73-59.  This win put the team in a better position to be in the conference tournament. The Cardinals led by eight at halftime despite losing starting shooting guard Jordan Lewis to injury five minutes into the game.  Lewis hit the only shot he took but did not return to the lineup.  William Jewell hit 20-26 free throw opportunities in the second half.  Hildebrandt had 15 points, Tomlin played 35 minutes and had 13 points and Mosby had 12 points before fouling out late in the second half.  Austin Reiger, sophomore forward, had a tremendous effort on the boards, pulling 13 rebounds for Jewell.

“Drury plays very well at home,” Mosby said. “We got out on them early and were able to sustain our lead; we had the momentum throughout the whole game and never let them back in it, which is very tough to do at their place.”

Women lose to Drury

“We lost to the #11 team in the nation, so even though we beat them earlier this year, they’re a really tough team to play especially in their gym,” Smith said.

The Cardinals led by three 90 seconds into the game, but it was the only lead they would have.  Drury shot 60 percent in the first half building a 21-point lead.  The Cardinals shot 44 percent for the game, committing 21 turnovers to the Panthers’ 10.

WJC Basketball squads top Missouri S&T

The men’s team came away with a big 95-91 overtime win this last weekend over GLVC opponent Missouri University of Science and Technology (Mo. S&T).  Tomlin had 34 points off the bench in 33 minutes of play. Mosby had 12 points and 12 rebounds in posting a double-double.  Hildebrandt had 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

“S&T had a good run on us. It’s conference and anything can happen. We took them into overtime and our team gutted it out and came away with the win.  Came home with two good wins [against Drury and S&T],” Mosby said.

The Cardinal women also had a 72-69 win over Missouri S&T. Chris Keys provided 22 points and seven rebounds for the Cardinals, and Maddie Nelson had 15 points and 11 rebounds posting a double-double.  Smith had 11 points, five rebounds and five steals.

“It’s always good to pick up a road win,” Smith said.

Finals thoughts

As the season wraps up, both the men’s and women’s teams look to finish strong and gain momentum into tournament play.  Last regular season game is against Rockhurst University at home.  Men’s are looking to come away with a win at their house.

“It’s a conference game and, it’s kind of a rivalry game for us. I expect them to come out and play well against us, they want to beat us and we want to beat them,” Mosby said.

The WJC women’s team are also hoping for a win at home against Rockhurst.

“Rockhurst is a big game for us because when we win we will likely get to host the first round game in the tournament. So we expect to win, but they’re a pretty good team and we’re going to have to play well. I think if any team can get in the conference tournament and make a run, it’s us. So we have high expectations for the tournament and are hoping to get in there and pull off some upsets,” Smith said.

On Feb. 26, both teams were able to come away with wins against Rockhurst University. The women won the game in overtime 85-78. The men were able to pull away from the Hawks in the second half to win 87-64.

The women will host Maryville University on Mar. 1 in the first round of the GLVC tournament. The game will be at 1:00 pm in the Mabee Center.

The men will travel to St. Louis, Mo. to take on the University of Missouri – St. Louis Tritons in the first round of the GLVC tournament on Mar. 1 at 3:00 pm.

*For more WJC Men’s and Women’s Basketball statistics, news, etc. visit the William Jewell Athletics website.