By MATT PIKE
The University of Central Missouri women's basketball team are off to a good start on the season and are being led by two local athletes, along with former Missouri Western head coach Dave Slifer.
The Jennies lost just one key player from last year's squad, and this year look to senior and Maryville alum Rylee Vierthaler along with junior and Riverside alum Taylor Weishaar to step into larger roles in helping to lead the team back to the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Vierhalter says last season, where the Jennies made it to the MIAA tournament championship and fell in the second round of the NCAA tournament, gave this team a mission to do that again.
"Last season was awesome, we obviously did really well and got to go to the tournament and that was fun, and it was something that really, really made us want that, we want to do it again," Vierhalter told reporters at MIAA Media Days. "So that's kind of our focus, is every single practice, every single game, is we want to make it back to the national tournament."
Vierhalter is the lone senior on the Jennies squad who has been at Central Missouri for her entire career, which has put her focus this season on being more of a leader for the team.
"Really trying to help the team, lead the team with Taylor, and making sure we have another great year," Vierhalter explains.
One player from northwest Missouri, the other from northeast Kansas, but over the years together the two have built quite the bond both on the court and off.
"It's awesome to have her, obviously we're from the same area and we've been roommates for at least last year so getting close with her has been awesome," Vierhalter says. "We obviously share a lot of the same things, we've all gone to St. Joe a lot, she's been to Maryville, so we've grown really close over the last three years and excited to have one more with her."
"It's awesome we have some local ties, and we get along really well," Weishaar adds of playing with Vierhalter. "So, it's really fun to play with her."
Weishaar was a force last season for the Jennies, averaging just over 14 points a game, nearly eight rebounds a game, and almost two assists per game as well. Coming into this year, the Jennies look to replace the scoring threat of the key player they lost Reese Schaaf, who averaged nearly 20 points a game during her senior season.
Weishaar says her biggest goal, much like Vierhalter, is to be a better leader for this team heading into the season
"Just being more vocal with my teammates, especially more encouraging but also holding them accountable, is important for me to do this year," Weishaar says.
Slifer says a player like Schaaf was a generational type of player, leaving big shoes to fill on his squad, but he knows he has the players to fill into that role, such as Weishaar.
"Taylor is ready for it, that's why she's here, that's why she's back, she wants to help get us to where we want to go, and she's going to have to have a much bigger role this year than she had last year," Slifer says. "And she had a great year last year, but instead of 14, 15 points, it needs to be more, we need to have 19, 20."
Slifer also says he is seeing a large role for Vierhalter, who he says is playing with great confidence, and could contribute big minutes for a Jennies squad looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament.
Central Missouri is off to a solid start to the season, going 3-1 thus far. Just last night, the Jennies beat No. 25 UMSL 52-38 in Warrensburg. Their one loss this season, in the Midwest Tipoff Challenge, is to No. 1 Grand Valley State.
Interviews
UCM Head Coach Dave Slifer
Taylor Weishaar
Rylee Vierthaler