Jenna Slates ranked as one of the top freshmen in NCAA Division II throughout the 2025-26 season.
On Friday (March 6) afternoon, the Ashland University forward was named the 2025-26 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year – following a season in which she is ranked eighth in NCAA Division II in rebounds per game (11.4) and tied for 10
th in double-doubles (17).
Slates paced all D-II rookies in both categories this season.
In starting all 27 games this winter, Slates also averaged 16.1 points and 1.4 assists per game, while making 49.6 percent from the floor.
She is Ashland women's basketball's sixth all-time conference Freshman of the Year, and the Eagles' second in the Great Midwest in the last three seasons.
Slates also is a first-team all-conference selection, while sophomore point guard
Ashley Mullet is a second-team all-league pick. Mullet went for 11.9 points, 3.2 assists and 1.4 rebounds per game, and made 82.1 percent from the free-throw line, this past season.
Ashland women's basketball finished 2025-26 at 14-13 overall and 10-10 in the Great Midwest.
ALL-TIME ASHLAND UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CONFERENCE FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR
2025-26 –
Jenna Slates (Great Midwest Athletic Conference)
2023-24 –
Lexi Howe (Great Midwest Athletic Conference)
2016-17 –
Jodi Johnson (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)
2014-15 –
Andi Daugherty (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)
2013-14 –
Suzy Wollenhaupt (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)
2003-04 –
Amber Rall (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)