ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western head women's basketball coach Luke Scheidecker announced his 2025-26 recruiting class on Monday.
Scheidecker and his staff signed 12 players in all – two freshmen, four junior college transfers and six transfers from NCAA institutions, including two from Division I schools.
The Griffons signed eight guards and four forwards. They also signed five juniors and five seniors to go with the two freshmen.
These 12 players join returning players
Kelsey Johnson and
Meredith Rieker on the team. Rieker will be a senior this coming year, while Johnson will be a junior.
Freshmen signees
Jada Smith -
5'11" Guard – Grandview (MO) High School
Smith averaged 15 ppg, 6.5rpg and three steals per game at Grandview this past season. She made 55 three-pointers this past season, and was named Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference Blue Division Player of the Year.
"Jada had a great high school career," Scheidecker said. "Jada is an incredibly long athletic skilled guard. Her shooting ability at her size allows us to add to the teams' versatility. Jada is an elite shooter and the combination of her length, athleticism and skill set is very unique and will be a big addition to the team."
LaNicia Parker -
5'9" Guard - Park Hill South High School
Parker averaged 15ppg, 7 rpg, and two steals per a game at Park Hill South this past season, helping her team to a 28-1 record in 2024-25.
"LaNicia is a proven winner as she has won throughout high school," Scheidecker noted. "She also has incredible length and athleticism as well. She has the ability to create for herself and others as well. She can get to the rim, but she's also a great shooter as well."
JUCO transfers
Taylor Horton -
5'8" Junior Guard - John A. Logan College
Horton averaged 18 points per game this past season, while making an average of three three-pointers per game while shooting 44% from downtown. Horton was a 2x All Region and 2x All Conference Honoree, and she set a school record with nine made three-pointers in a single game.
"I've had the opportunity to coach against Taylor the last two seasons, and have been able to see how talented she is," Scheidecker noted. "Taylor is an elite shooter when she steps in the gym!"
Trishena Brown -
5'9" Junior Guard - Bryant & Stratton College
Brown was an NJCAA first-team All-American and NJCAA Region 4 Player of the Year at Bryant & Stratton. As a sophomore, Brown scored over 1000 points in her JUCO career. She's also just the second player in program history to score over 1,000 points in her career. She averaged 23 ppg and 10 rpg in her sophomore year and averaged 21ppg and 11 rpg as a freshman.
"Trishena is a natural scorer, and she knows how to put the ball in the bucket," Scheidecker said. "She is smooth and can score it at all three levels. She is incredibly gifted athletically and just has a knack for being able to get to where she needs to on the basketball floor."
Nakiya Harris - 5'11" Junior Forward - Wabash Valley College
Harris averaged a double-double her sophomore year at Wabash, as she averaged 11 ppg and 10 rpg. She was an All-Conference and All-Region performer as well. Harris started every game in her sophomore year for a team that finished 31-3 and finished the year as the No. 2 seed in the National Tourney.
"I've had the opportunity to coach Nakiya the last two years and we are getting the ultimate competitor," said Scheidecker. "Nakiya is extremely talented and can do a little bit of everything on the basketball floor. She is a matchup problem with her ability to pass, dribble, shoot and post up."
Sydney Lewis -
6'0" Junior Forward - Pearl River Community College
Lewis averaged a double-double during her sophomore year at Pearl River CC on a team that finished 25-3. On the season, Lewis averaged 10 ppg and 10 rpg. Lewis was named Honorable Mention All-Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference.
"Sydney is a rebounding machine with a motor that never stops, "Scheidecker said. "Sydney has a nose for the ball and knows how to rebound and score in the post."
NCAA transfers
Tamesha Dozier -
6'1" Senior Forward - University of Evansville
Dozier started 14 of 27 games for Evansville this past year and played 20 minutes per game, averaging 3.3 ppg and 3.4 rpg. She played her freshman year at Wabash, and averaged 6.7 points per game as a freshman while shooting 48.2% from the floor.
"Tamesha played her freshman year at Wabash Valley for me, so I know exactly what she is going to bring," Scheidecker said, "and that is versatility, experience and high basketball IQ. Tamesha understands what it takes to win and understands the culture we are building. She has the ability to stretch the floor and make 3's, but also put it on the floor and post it up."
Mia Morel - 5'8" Senior Guard - Edward Waters University
Morel was named SIAC Conference Newcomer of the Year at Edward Waters. She averaged 11 ppg and 4.1 rpg in 12 starts. She also shot 93.2% from the free throw line.
"Mia is an experienced guard who has a great feel for the game," said Scheidecker. "She knows how to play the game and knows how to make plays for herself and her teammates. Mia shoots the ball at a really high level."
Ambranette Storr - 5'9" Senior Guard - Southwest Baptist University
Storr averaged 13 ppg last year at Southwest Baptist. She had season-high 24 points against Haskell and scored in double figures 17 times this past season.
"Ambranette is a proven scorer that has been scoring at a high level her entire life," said Scheidecker. "She has an extremely high basketball IQ and a great feel for the game. She can score it in a variety of ways and that makes her a hard person to guard.
Lindsey Kelderman - 5'6" Senior Guard - Northwest Missouri State University
Kelderman appeared in 91 games over her three-year career at Northwest Missouri State while making 58 starts. She averaged 7.7 ppg her sophomore year and made 128 three-pointers in her Northwest career, shooting 36.5% from long range.
"Lindsey is going to bring incredible experience and savvy to the program," Scheidecker said. "Not many players know the MIAA as well as her. She brings a high skill set and an elite shooting ability. She knows what it takes to be successful in this league and that will help the transition with a lot of new players."
Mikiya House – 6'0" Senior Forward – Queens University of Charlotte
House is a transfer from Queens University where she saw limited minutes this past season. Previously, House played at Paris JC (Texas), where she averaged 16.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. She received Region XIV All-Region recognition, was 2x All-Conference, a 3x Player of the Week and a National Player of the Week selection in her two seasons at Paris.
"Mikiya will bring incredible versatility to the program," Scheidecker said. "Being able to play on the perimeter and in the post is a unique skill set. She has the ability to make plays from all over the court."
Ana Oliveira Dias – 5'6" Junior Guard – University of Missouri-Kansas City
Oliveira Dias was named to Summit League All-Newcomer Team in 2024-25. She started in four games, came off the bench in 28 other games, averaging 19 minutes per contest. Oliveira Dias led UMKC in steals, averaging 1.8 per game, which tied for fifth best in the Summit League. She also averaged 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
"Ana is a floor general, she pushes the pace and makes plays for others as well," Scheidecker said. "Ana has played at a high level on the Brazilian National Team. She can score it and create for others and controls the tempo of the game."
Luke Scheidecker interview
