PITTSBURG,Kan. -- The No. 2 Pittsburg State women's basketball team (16-2, 6-1 MIAA) used an 11-0 run to start the second half to pave the way to a 60-40 win over No. 18 Washburn (12-4, 4-4 MIAA) on Saturday afternoon in John Lance Arena.

The 20-point win ties for the largest margin of victory over the Ichabods. The Gorillas also earned a 20-point, 72-52 win on Jan. 28, 1978 in Topeka. It was also the fewest points scored by Washburn in the history of the series.

The Gorillas led by only five, 25-20, after a low scoring first half. Both team shot under 35 percent for the opening half and neither had much luck from the three point line, as the Gorillas went 1-for-11 and Washburn was held to 0-for-10. Pitt State ended the half on a 8-0 run, with all eight of the points by Jeronimus, six of them from back-to-back old fashioned three-point plays.

Pitt State extended that run to 10-0, as Kylie Gafford took the opening inbound pass of the second half to the basket for a layup. An Honor Duvall layup cut the Gorilla lead to four. Gafford started the 11-0 Gorilla run with a traditional three-point play. A steal and a layup by Hailey Roderique and a three from freshman Elena Flott pushed the Gorilla lead to double figures with a 37-25 lead. The Pitt State run continued on free throw shots by Jeronimus and Morgan Westhoff, as the defense was able to hold the Ichabods scoreless for just under six minutes. 

Free throws by Cathy Brugman gave the Gorillas their biggest lead of the game, 55-31 with 4:34 to go. Neither team hit a shot from the floor from 3:03 on thoguh several free throws were made, settling on the final 60-40 score.

Jeronimus recorded a double-double to lead the Gorillas with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Gafford and Mikaela Burgess each scored seven, with Burgess making two of the Gorillas three threes on the afternoon. Brugman, Antqunita Reed and Flott each scored six. Flott also grabbed six rebounds. Pitt State comitted only nine turnovers in the game.

The Gorillas were able to hold all three of Washburn's double digit scorers to less than 10 on the night. Duvall scored seven, Taylor Ignoto, six, and Casyn Buchman, two. They had been averaging 12.9, 15.3 and 13.7 points per game, respectively.