Bradley Tyer Jones, Sports Editor
“They’re both phenomenal people, the people you want to be in your program. They do things the right way. Whatever slows them down sets them up to be better, and I am impressed how they have faced adversity.”
Sewanee Women’s Basketball Coach, Jaylynn Stewart, says this about the two seniors on the team when discussing their impact. Faith Humphrey (C ‘25) and Lilly Phillips (C ‘25) are “dedicated” and “driven.” Stewart finds Humphrey to be “resilient,” while she sees Phillips as someone who is “authentic.”
These two seniors have an interesting dynamic, one that has made one of their season’s best victories even more special. Humphrey transferred to Sewanee after playing at Berry for a year. She shares what attracted her here:
“I wanted to attend a college that allowed me to be an athlete, but also encouraged me to excel outside of my sport. Sewanee gave me the perfect opportunity to play basketball, but get involved in so many other organizations that would prepare me for my future.”
Phillips was originally planning on going to Wofford, but decided to give Sewanee a shot once she got into the school. She told loved ones around her hometown, Spartanburg, South Carolina, and received nothing but great feedback about the school. She said, “the primary thing I noticed was the passion in which they talked about Sewanee, and how much they loved it. Like actually loved it.”
The persistent duo worked together to achieve a victory against Berry not only once, but twice this year- something never done in their entire college career. Phillips shares that alongside this game, one of her most memorable moments on the team was in a game against Oglethorpe her sophomore year where she heaved the ball from half court, and made it within the last couple seconds of the game:
“I felt like I was on top of the world, my teammates ran out onto the court to celebrate”
This feeling of support within the team is something that Humphrey and Phillips not only cherish but also create. Coach Stewart shares more about such a united team dynamic, and how Humphrey and Phillips incorporate themselves into such a beloved leadership role: “Being a great teammate builds a great culture. Faith and Lily are the epitome of that. They’re always locked in, super coachable. Pinnacle of what we want in our program.”
Finally, I asked the two seniors what advice they would give their freshman year selves. Phillips shared that it’s okay to change positions in the sport, “you don’t have to be the best or the superstar of the team to make your team better.” Humphrey added onto this, saying that “everything happens for a reason.” Her transfer journey taught her to trust the process in everything she does, and to realize the importance of patience.
Humphrey will be attending UGA for veterinary school in the fall, while Phillips is still on the job hunt. They will both carry the humility, kindness, and confidence that they learned from Sewanee Basketball with them, and cherish the lessons they learned from on the court when they transition into the real world.