No. 5 Jennies Basketball Travels to Miami Shores, Florida, for Barry University Classic Nov. 24-25

Barry University Classic
Game 4: No. 5 Central Missouri (3-0) at Barry (2-1)
Friday, Nov. 24 | 2 p.m. CT | Miami Shores, Fla. (Heath & Sports Center)
Live Video | Live Stats

Game 5: No. 5 Central Missouri vs. Lynn (2-1)
Saturday, Nov. 25 | noon CT | Miami Shores, Fla. (Heath & Sports Center)
Live Video | Live Stats

UCM Game Notes (PDF)

Tip-Off

No. 5-ranked Central Missouri Jennies basketball (3-0) is scheduled to travel to Miami Shores, Fla., for a pair of non-conference games in the Barry University Classic Nov. 24-25. UCM is slated to face Barry (2-1) Friday, Nov. 24, at 2 p.m. CT before taking on Lynn (2-1) Saturday, Nov. 25, at noon CT.
The Jennies are coming off an 83-66 win over Augustana (S.D.) in their 2023 home opener Thursday, Nov. 16, in Warrensburg.
Through three games, the Central Missouri is paced by Olivia Nelson (18.3 ppg., 5.3 apg., 2.7 spg., 4.0 rpg.), Brooke Littrell (17.3 ppg., 10.3 rpg., 2.3 spg.), Allie Clevenger (9.3 ppg., 1.3 rpg.), Graycen Holden (9.3 ppg., 6.3 rpg., 1.7 apg.) and Ashley Tull (9.3 ppg., 6.7 rpg.).
As a team through three contests, the Jennies are shooting 41.5 percent from the floor, 29.4 percent from three-point range and 69.2 percent at the free-throw line. UCM is outscoring its opponents, 72.3-59.3, and outrebounding adversaries, 38.0-33.7.

Storylines

UCM finished the 2022-23 season with an overall record of 25-5 and a MIAA mark of 19-3, placing second in the final conference standings. Central Missouri advanced to the NCAA-II Central Regional Tournament in Duluth, Minn., before falling in the first round to Minnesota State.
The Jennies return four of five starters from last season's team, including defending MIAA Player of the Year and WBCA Coaches All-American Brooke Littrell and All-MIAA Defensive Team selection Olivia Nelson.

Welcome to the 'Burg!

Central Missouri has four newcomers on its 2023-24 roster, including one high school freshman (Rylee Vierthaler, G), one junior college transfer (Jada Devine, F), one Division II transfer (Allie Clevenger, G) and one Division I transfer (Shannon Karlin, G).

Weekly Honors

Redshirt junior guard Olivia Nelson was named the MIAA Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week on Monday, Nov. 20.
Nelson scored a career-high tying 29 points on 10-of-15 (66.7 percent) shooting from the floor and a 9-of-10 (87.5 percent) performance at the free-throw line in the Jennies 83-66 win over Augustana Thursday, Nov. 16. The redshirt junior guard also had five assists, seven rebounds and two steals.

Last Time Out for UCM

No. 10-ranked Central Missouri Jennies basketball outscored the Augustana Vikings in the second half, 53-31, to turn a 35-30 halftime deficit into an 83-66 victory in the 2023-24 home opener Thursday, Nov. 16, inside the UCM Multipurpose Building.
Olivia Nelson tied her career-high with 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and a 9-of-10 showing at the free-throw line and dished out five assists, while Brooke Littrell added her second consecutive double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds and Allie Clevenger and Graycen Holden each netted 12 points, pacing UCM in the win.
The Jennies outscored the Vikings, 25-16 in the third quarter and 28-15 in the fourth quarter enroute to the triumph.
For the game, Central Missouri shot 47 percent from the field (31-of-66), 44 percent from three-point range (4-of-9) and 81 percent from the free-throw line (17-of-21). UCM outrebounded Augustana, 45-32, and dominated the Vikings in points in the paint, 48-14.

Individual Milestones

UCM head coach Dave Slifer earned his 400th win at Central Missouri in the 66-64 overtime MIAA tournament semifinal win over Fort Hays State March 4, 2023. Slifer is an impressive 403-170 in his now 20 seasons as the Central Missouri women's basketball head coach. He's already the winningest head coach in both UCM and MIAA women's basketball history, and the second-winningest coach in NCAA Division II history (787 career victories in 33 seasons).

Jennies in the Rankings

Central Missouri was picked first in both the 2023-24 MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls. UCM received 167 points and 11 first-place votes in the coaches poll and 283 points and four first-place votes in the media poll.
Central Missouri is ranked No. 5 in the first regular season WBCA Division II Top-25 Coaches Poll released Nov. 21.

Jennies Basketball Inks High School Standout Taylor Weishaar During Signing Period

University of Central Missouri Jennies basketball head coach Dave Slifer announced the signing of Riverside High School standout Taylor Weishaar to a National Letter of Intent during the 2023-24 signing period Friday, Nov. 17.
Weishaar: 2023 Sports in Kansas 2A Player of the Year…First Team All-State as a junior…Two-time unanimous first team all-league…Second Team All-State as a sophomore…All-State Honorable Mention and all-league honorable mention as a freshman…four-year letterwinner…Averaged 17.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.5 blocks per game as a junior…Helped her team to a Kansas 2A Substate Championship and Kansas 2A State Runner Up finish…Was also a four-year letterwinner in volleyball…First team all-league volleyball as a junior and senior…Daughter of Russell and Lori Weishaar…Plans to major in exercise science at UCM.

Returning Scoring