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Pitt State takes on two GLVC member schools on Wednesday (Nov. 28) and Saturday (Dec. 1) in William Jewell and Quincy. The game against the Cardinals tips at 5:30 p.m. with a 6 p.m. tip against Quincy.
Scouting William Jewell
William Jewell is 3-1 on the year, with their lone loss coming in the first game of the season against Upper Iowa. Since then the Cardinals gave defeated Missouri Valley (75-47), Northwest Missouri (59-55) and Calvary Bible (79-23).
The team ranks is averaging 72.5 ppg while holding their opponents to 51.8 ppg. The Cardinals are shooting .394 (102-of-259) from the field, including .304 (21-69) from beyond the arc. WJC is shooting .730 (65-89) from the charity stripe as well. They are getting out rebounded by their opponents 37.5-40.0 per contest. The team plays pressure defense as they force their competition into 26.5 turnovers per game while only committing 15.8 turnovers themselves per contest.
Chelsea Meeks is the team’s top player, averaging 15.7 points, 5.6 steals, 4.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game. She is 25-for-30 from the charity stripe through the first four games. Holly Switzer is the second-leading scorer and the only other Cardinal averaging over double-digits with 14.0 points per game. She is shooting .444 (12-of-27) from the field this season. Switzer is also third on the team in rebounding, averaging 4.3 rpg. Jessie Wheeler chips in with 8.8 ppg while primarily coming off the bench for William Jewell.
Scouting Quincy
After falling to eventual national runner-up Ashland in the regional semifinals last season the Hawks are off to a 1-3 start. The team fell to Northwest Missouri (50-65), Lincoln (62-75) and Truman (52-62). Quincy’s lone victory came against NAIA Lindenwood-Belleville (71-50).
The team is shooting .368 from the field, .275 from three point range and .750 from the free throw line. The Hawks average 58.8 ppg while surrendering 63.0 ppg to their opponents. The team out rebounds their competition 37.5-32.8 rpg.
Quincy currently has one player scoring in double figures, Lucy Cramsey. She is leading the team in scoring (10.3 ppg), rebounding (8.8 rpg) and assists (3.0 apg). Cramsey is also tied for the team-high with six steals on the season. Erin Mennemeyer is the second leading scorer for the Hawks (8.0 ppg). In Quincy’s last outing against Truman she was the team’s leading scorer with 13 points. Cierra Young and Maggie Cunningham come off the bench and add 7.8 ppg and 7.5 ppg, respectively.
Scouting Pittsburg State
The Gorillas opened the season with two wins against regional opponents in the Pitt State Tip-Off Classic. Pitt State defeated both Southwest Minnesota (97-51) and Mary (80-60). Last weekend PSU took on two NAIA opponents at the MSSU Thanksgiving Classic. The team defeated Evangel (68-40) and Avila (65-41).
PSU has averaged 77.5 points and 38.5 rebounds per game in their first four games. The team is shooting .498 overall and .324 from three point range. They have hit 59 percent of its shots from the charity stripe. PSU’s defense has been able to hold its opponents to 48.0 ppg and 36.2 rebounds per game. The Gorillas have forced their competition into 87 turnovers while only committing 53 so far this season.
Lizzy Jeronimus has opened her sophomore campaign averaging 20.8 points and 6.5 rebounds. She also leads the team with ten assists. Lauren Brown is the only other Gorilla averaging double figures with 10.5 ppg. She also leads the team with 7.0 rpg and a team eight blocked shots. Brown is shooting .655 (19-of-29) from the field. Drew Roberts is averaging 9.3 points. She is coming off a season-high 15 points in the teams last game against Avila. Morgan Westhoff has added 8.0 points per game, as she hit 12-of-26 shots from the floor overall. Hailey Roderique chips in with 6.3 ppg and 5.0 rpg. She is leading the team with eight steals.
PSU vs. William Jewell
The Gorillas and Cardinals have met two times with William Jewell claiming both games. The first meeting between the two teams on December 15, 1990 resulted in the Gorillas’ falling by a score of 92-95.
The second meeting between the two sides resulted in a William Jewell victory by a score of 74-61 in Liberty, Mo.
PSU vs. Quincy
Pitt State is a2-1 all-time against Quincy. The last time the two teams met was Nov. 23, 2007. Pitt State won the game 81-77, a 4 point margin of victory, the largest in the series between the two teams. The series is tied 1-1 in Pittsburg, Pitt State leads 1-0 in Quincy and the teams are yet to meet at a neutral site.
Last Time Out
The Pitt State women’s basketball team held Avila scoreless for 11 minutes in teh second half to lead them to a 65-41 win over the Eagles in the final game of the MSSU Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday (Nov. 24) afternoon.
From 14:07 to 3:02 in the second half, the Gorilla defense pressured Avila enough to forced missed shots and several turnovers, 22 for the entire game. During that time Pitt State put up 19 points to push a 62-33 advantage.
Lizzy Jeronimus led the Gorillas with 16 points, Drew Roberts was just behind her with15, 13 of which she scored in the first half. Lauren Brown added 12 points, including eight in the second half. Brown was just a rebound short of a double-double as she finished with nine rebounds. She and Kylie Gafford each blocked three shots. Hailey Roderique was the team’s second-leading rebounder with eight. Cathy Brugman was just under double figures with nine points on perfect 3-for-3 shooting from three-point range.
Pitt State shot .455 overall and .375 from three-point range. They held Avila to 29 percent shooting overall, including only 20 percent in the second half. The one area where Pitt State had a little trouble was on the glass, as they were outrebounded 39-33.
Pitt State will return to action on Wedensday, Dec. 28 at 5:30 p.m. against William Jewell at John Lance Arena
Up Next
The Gorilla men and women will play their first MIAA double header of the season on Thursday, December 6 against conference newcomer, Central Oklahoma.
All-Tournament Honors
Missouri Southern announced its five-member all-tournament team at the conclusion of the Thanksgiving Classic. Pitt State Women’s Basketball players Lizzy Jeronimus and Lauren Brown were both named to the team, voted on by participating coaches and media members.
Jeronimus was a unanimous selection as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. The sophomore averaged 22.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game in the Gorillas’ two games in the tournament. She shot .543 (19-for-35) from the floor and .857 (6-for-7) from the charity stripe for the tournament. She also added four assists, two blocks and four steals on the weekend.
Brown averaged just under a double-double with 10.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. She shot .643 (9-of-14) from the floor and added an assist four blocks and three steals over the two games.
In the Polls
Pitt State holds its No. 3 ranking in the second week of the season after opening the season 4-0.
Week 1: No. 3
Week 2: No. 3
