Game Notes
PITTSBURG, Kan. -- Pitt State opens the 2012-13 season hosting Missouri Southern, Southwest Minnesota State and Mary (N.D.) in the PSU Tipoff Classic. The tournament format is for the two MIAA schools to play the two schools from the Northern Sun. Missouri Southern will play its games at 1 p.m. each day and the Gorillas will follow at 3 p.m. Pitt State plays SMSU on Friday and Mary on Saturday. Both of these games will help in the post-season as they are regional games based on the regional realignment.
Scouting Southwest Minnesota State
The Mustangs were 6-20 last season and have been picked to finish 14th of 16 teams in the Northern Sun Conference in 2012-13. The team played two exhibition games, falling to Division I Creighton, 90-60, and defeating Bethel, 76-45.
SMSU returns nine letterwinners, including one senior from the 2011-12 season. Senior guard Bree Holleman was named one of the NSIC’s players to watch after averaging 10 points and 3.8 rebounds per game last season. She hit 47 threes on the year and led the team with 54 assists. In addition to Holleman three additional top scorers and rebounders from a year ago return in Hope Bonlander, Hannah Beeler and Jessie Watts.
Scouting Mary
The Marauders are coming off a season that saw them make the first NCAA Tournament in school history and the school’s best season since joining the NCAA in 2006. The team finished with a 19-10 overall record and a 15-7 record in Northern Sun Conference play.
The team returns three starters and seven letterwinners from a year ago. One thing that is very new for the Marauders is their head coach. Though Rick Neumann has been an assistant for the last nine years he has just recently stepped into the head coach role. Mary would be returning four starters, but all-conference post Linda Murray suffered a season-ending injury in the offseason.
The top starters returning are guards Ali Collins, an All-NSIC selection, and Laura Peterson and forward Shaunna Knife. Collins led the team in assists and steals a year ago and averaged 11.1 points per game. Peterson is a three-year starter that averaged 7.2 points per game in 2011-12. Knife averaged 8.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season.
Scouting Pittsburg State
Pitt State is coming off the best season in school history. The 2011-12 Gorillas started the season on a school-record 14-game win streak and finished with a 27-6 overall record and a 17-3 record in MIAA play.
Not only did the team make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998, they also won the program’s first NCAA Tournament game and charged through the South Central Regional to reach the Elite Eight.
Pitt State returns three starters and seven additional letterwinners from 2012. Joining the mix are redshirt sophomore Y’Cedria Devers and redshirt freshman Cathy Brugman who have experience in the Pitt State system. Five freshmen also join the 2012-13 squad.
Pitt State in Season Openers
Pitt State is 23-15 in season opening games. The Gorillas are 16-4 in home openers at John Lance Arena and have won each of the last three. November 12 is the second-earliest date the team has opened the season and they have opened on that date each of the last two seasons. The Gorillas have also opened the season on Nov. 11.
