The University of Central Missouri Jennies took on the Emporia State University Hornets in the MIAA tournament on March 5, 2025 for the right to take on Fort Hays State on March 6, 2025. The game was the first of the day to feature both schools’ pep bands and cheer teams.
The Jennies had a strong first quarter. Despite starting off slowly, they came out of the quarter carrying a 19-12, seven point lead into the quarter break. They were led in this effort by Reese Schaaf, who had nine points for the Jennies.
The Jennies built on their lead in the second quarter, growing their lead to 25-12 by 8:07 on the clock. The Jennies could not maintain the pace, however, as the lead fell to five at 3:15 left in the second quarter. The Jennies extended the lead at the end, going into the half leading by 11, with the score being 35-24. Reese Schaaf continued her form, getting to 16 points heading into halftime. Emporia State’s leading scorer going into the half was Gracie Gilpin with six points.
The Jennies started the second half slowly, allowing the Lady Hornets to cut the lead to six. This was largely due to a scoreless run for the Jennies that lasted three minutes and seven seconds in which Emporia scored seven unanswered. The Jennies, however, picked it up towards the end of the half, extending the lead to 12 before a pair of Gilpin three-pointers for Emporia State cut it to six at the end of the period. UCM exited the third quarter with both Schaaf and Lauren Frost on the verge of a double double.
The Jennies extended the lead to 11 to start the fourth quarter, going on a five point unanswered run. The Jennies continued to build off the momentum from the run even after Emporia’s offence came alive, ultimately extending the lead to 13. While Emporia was able to claw it back to eight at one point, the Jennies ultimately won the day with a lead of 11. A big part of the win for the Jennies was how they impressed from the free throw line, going 11 of 13 in the fourth quarter. Alongside the on-court action, this half also saw some interesting banter between the two pep bands.
Both Frost and Schaaf had double doubles. For Frost, it was yet another double double for the MIAA leader in that category.
“I just play my game,” said Reese Schaaf on her double double. “I just have a lot of confidence, so I use that confidence on the floor, and I just do what I do. I leave everything out that’s outside of the court and I just focus on my teammates, coaches and then just being able to go out there and perform.”
Frost, who led the Jennies in assists, also gave credit to Schaaf for her performance.
“I’m always looking for Reese because I know she can score, so I’m just telling her, ‘cut to the hoop, because I’m looking for you.’ I think we work really well together. We read each other pretty well. So it’s just good to have someone else that can control the ball,” said Frost.
Coach Slifer was also very proud of the team’s performance.
“I’m proud of the whole team, and these two guys played extremely well during this contest. It was a fun contest. I thought we guarded pretty well, I thought we did a lot of things very well and they slowed us down. Their zone slowed us down in the second half a little bit, but we ground through it,” said Coach Slifer on the win.
