Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Women's Basketball 12/30/2025 11:38:00 AM

Jennies Basketball Tips Off 2026 with Home Game vs. Emporia State New Year's Day

Game 13: Central Missouri (8-4, 2-1 MIAA) vs. Emporia State (7-4, 1-1 MIAA)
Thursday, Jan. 1 | 5:30 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center)
Radio: 1450 KOKO AM, 92.1 FM, 98.5 The BAR FM (Greg Hassler, play-by-play; Kim Anderson, analyst)
Live Video | Live Stats

UCM Game Notes | UCM Roster | | Emporia State Roster | Buy Tickets

QUICK HITS

University of Central Missouri Jennies Basketball (8-4, 2-1 MIAA) is scheduled to open the 2026 portion of its schedule with a home MIAA contest against the Emporia State Lady Hornets (7-4, 1-1 MIAA) on New Year's Day, Thursday, Jan. 1, at 5:30 p.m. inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.
The Jennies have been idle since an 83-43 victory over William Jewell on Dec. 20 in Warrensburg.
UCM Athletics is offering a New Year's Family Four-Pack for Thursday's game, which features four (4) general admission tickets for just $26 (plus fees) -- a $14 discount!
Through 12 games, Central Missouri is paced by Reese Schaaf (15.3 ppg., 7.2 rpg., 3.3 apg., 2.1 spg., .515 FG%, .462 3Pt%, .800 FT%) and Taylor Weishaar (14.2 ppg., 8.0 rpg., 2.2 apg., 1.4 bpg., .397 FG%, .289 3Pt%, .662 FT%).
Schaaf ranks fifth in the MIAA in scoring (15.3 ppg.), third in field-goal percentage (.515), ninth in rebounding (7.2 rpg.), eighth in assists (3.3 apg.), and fifth in steals (2.2 spg.) while Weishaar is sixth in rebounding (8.0 rpg.) and fifth in blocks (1.4 bpg.). Hayden Heim is seventh in blocks (1.0 bpg.).
As a team, Central Missouri is second in three-point field-goal percentage (.363), assists (16.9 apg.) and field-goal percentage (.438), third in rebounding (41.5 rpg.) and blocked shots (3.9 bpg.), and sixth in scoring (71.8 ppg.).

NEW FACES

The Jennies have seven newcomers for 2025-26, including six high school freshmen and one junior college transfer.
The new high school freshmen are G Amaria Musick (Bixby, Okla.), G Makenzie Farmer (De Soto, Kan.), G/F Jayla Griffith (Columbia, Mo.), G/F Hayden Heim (Paxico, Kan.), G Neely Schaaf (El Dorado Springs, Mo.), and F Olivia Robben (Olathe, Kan.). G Elysa Martinez (Ackerly, Texas/Cowley County CC) is UCM's lone transfer.

REESE SCHAAF, TAYLOR WEISHAAR AMONG JENNIES' CAREER LEADERS

Reese Schaaf is ranked fifth in career rebounding for the Jennies with 9.3 rebounds per game in 44 career contests. In addition, she is fourth in free-throw percentage at .831 (147-of-177) and sixth in scoring average at 17.7 points per game.
Taylor Weishaar is 10th in career blocks for the Jennies with 83 swats in 44 career games.

LAST TIME OUT: JENNIES TROUNCE WILLIAM JEWELL SATURDAY, 83-43

University of Central Missouri Jennies Basketball shut out William Jewell in the fourth quarter, 19-0, helping it roll to an 83-43 victory over the Cardinals on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 20, inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center.
After leading by two points, 21-19, at the end of the first quarter, UCM put up 27 points in the second quarter while limiting William Jewell to just 12 points, gaining a 48-31 lead at halftime.
Central Missouri went on to outscore the Cardinals in the third and fourth quarters, 35-12, to secure the 40-point win.
Neely Schaaf (14 points), Makenzie Farmer (13 points), and Jolie Bonderer (10 points) all scored career highs, while Reese Schaaf (10 points) and Jayla Griffith (10 points) also reached double-digit scoring in the game.
The Jennies shot 48 percent from the field (28-of-58), 42 percent from three-point range (11-of-26), and were 73 percent at the free-throw line (16-of-22) in the victory. UCM outrebounded William Jewell, 39-25, and outscored the Cardinals in the paint, 32-8, and off turnovers, 24-11.

PRESEASON PICKS

The Jennies were voted fourth in both the 2025-26 MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll and MIAA Preseason Media Poll. UCM received 138 points and one first-place vote in the preseason coaches' poll and 271 points and four first-place votes in the preseason media poll.

JENNIES INK PAIR OF HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUTS

University of Central Missouri Jennies Basketball head coach Dave Slifer announced Tuesday, Nov. 25, the signing of two high school standouts to the program's 2026 recruiting class.
Regan Becker, a 6-foot-1 guard out of Blue Valley Northwest High School, and McKinli Mays, a 5-foot-7 guard out of El Dorado Springs High School, have signed to continue their education and compete at the University of Central Missouri beginning in the fall of 2026.

FAMILY CONNECTION

The Jennies have two siblings on the 2025-26 roster in El Dorado Springs natives senior Reese Schaaf and freshman Neely Schaaf.

SLIFER AMONG THE BEST

Jennies Basketball 22nd season head coach Dave Slifer is ranked fifth in career victories in all of NCAA (Division I, II, III) with his 830 career wins in 36 years. In Division II, Slifer is second in career victories, trailing only Tom Shirley of Jefferson, who posted 905 victories in 43 years.

UP NEXT

The Jennies travel to Maryville, Mo., for a MIAA game at Northwest Missouri State on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 5:30 p.m. inside Bearcat Arena.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Jolie Bonderer: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#23 Reese Schaaf: G/F; 5' 11"; Senior

#20 Taylor Weishaar: G/F; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#4 Amaria Musick: G; 5' 10"; Freshman

#5 Elysa Martinez: G; 5' 5"; Junior

#10 Makenzie Farmer: G; 5' 11"; Freshman

#21 Jayla Griffith: G/F; 5' 8"; Freshman

#22 Hayden Heim: G/F; 6' 3"; Freshman

#24 Neely Schaaf: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

#52 Olivia Robben: F; 6' 5"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#1 Jolie Bonderer
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#23 Reese Schaaf
: 5' 11"; Senior
: G/F

#20 Taylor Weishaar
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: G/F

#4 Amaria Musick
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G

#5 Elysa Martinez
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G

#10 Makenzie Farmer
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: G

#21 Jayla Griffith
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G/F

#22 Hayden Heim
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: G/F

#24 Neely Schaaf
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G

#52 Olivia Robben
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: F