MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The Bethel Pilots Women’s Basketball team opened the 2024-25 season with the Judson Eagles after a 6-22, 1-17 season in 2023-24.
Senior Abby Williams entered the season named to the Crossroads League Preseason All-Conference team after ending the 23-24 season shooting 58% from the floor and averaging seven points per game. Off the boards, Williams averaged four rebounds per game with 2.3 offensive rebounds and 2.5 defensive boards.
Maiah Shelton was the leading scorer averaging 12.3 points per game with 43% shooting from the floor and 37% from beyond the arc. Shelton is one of the key losses for the Pilots but returns the next leading scorer Junior Mariah Claywell who averaged 8.1 points per game and shot 38% from the field and 88% from the charity stripe. Nyla Asad was another leading scorer for the Pilots averaging 12.8 points per game and 4.7 rebounds-per-game and graduated last season.
NEWCOMERS
Justyce Williams comes to the Pilot program from Jimtown High School in Jamestown, Ind. as a 5’7 Guard who played Volleyball and basketball and was a Track Athlete for the Jimmies. Williams was a four-time team MVP and two-time captain, The Elkhart Truth 1st Team All-NLC honoree, Kiwanis Athlete of the Year, IBCA All-State Honorable Mention, ICGSA Third-Team All-State, Hoosier Basketball Magazine Top-60 honoree. At Jimtown, she averaged 13.8 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, 3.3 assists per game, and 2.6 steals per game. Williams’s mother was a Bethel alum and will study Business Management at Bethel University.
Olivia Nickerson comes from Twin Lakes High School in Monticello, Ind. as a 5’6 Shooting Guard and ran Cross-Country for four years, Basketball for four years, and Tennis for a year. Nickerson is the Indiana record holder for most threes made in a career for Girl’s Basketball along with being honored as the IGCSA All-State First Team and Twin Lakes leading scorer. At Twin Lakes, Nickerson averaged 19.9 points per game, 2.5 assists per game, 4.7 rebounds per game, and 2.4 steals per game. She will study Nursing at Bethel University.
Isabel Scales joined the Bethel Pilots from Caston High School in Rochester, Ind. as a 5;8 Forward and was a three-sport athlete, playing four years of Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball. She was a three-time All-Conference honoree in all three sports along with being First-Team All-State in Basketball, 2nd Team All-State another year in Basketball, and 2nd Team All-State in Softball. Scales averaged 15 points per game, 1,415 career points, 8.9 rebounds per game, and 3.4 steals per game. Scales will study Elementary Education at Bethel.
Gracie Lambes comes to Mishawaka, Ind. from Parkview Christian Academy in Sandwich, Ill. as a 5’4 Point Guard studying Exercise Science and played Basketball and Volleyball in her high school career. At Parkview Christian Academy she was a four-time All-Conference honoree and two-time All-District. In her senior year, Lambes averaged 23.7 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, 5.4 assists per game, and 4 steals per game.
Dominique Stilley is a 5’11 forward who did her prep work at Concord High School in Dunlap, Ind., and plans to study Exercise Science. Stilley was a three-year Volleyball player and four-year Basketball player for the Minutemen and was named All-NLC her senior year in Basketball and All-NLC Honorable Mention for Volleyball her senior year. Stilley is the school record holder of 54 blocks in a season and averaged 11 points per game.
The Pilots will open the 2024-25 season with the Judson Eagles in the Gates Gymnasium on Thursday, Oct. 31 at 6 p.m.