HAYS, Kan. -- The Pittsburg State women's basketball team (27-6) earned a spot in the Central Region semifinal with a win over Northern State (26-7), 60-53. The Gorillas will now face Emporia State at 5 p.m. on Saturday (March 14).

The Gorillas used tough defense and outstanding team play to secure the win over the Northern Sun Tournament Champion Wolves. Nine of the 10 Pitt State players in the game scored and grabbed at least one rebound. MIkaela Burgess led the team with 12 points and three steals, while also sharing the team lead in assists (three) with Haydn Herlocker. Kylie Gafford scored 11 points, all in the first half, and led the team with seven rebounds and five blocks. Three of her blocks came in the last three minutes of the game. Antqunita Reed and Lizzy Jeronimus each had nine points. They each scored seven of their nine points in the second half. Hailey Roderique scored four points and pulled down five rebounds, four off the offensive glass.

The two teams were very evenly matched. Pitt State shot at a slightly higher percentage .407 (22-for-54) to .367 (22-of-60) for Northern State. The Gorillas made three threes, while the Wolves made only one. Neither team made a three in the second half. Northern State won the rebounding battle, 40-35. Both teams took care of the ball well with onyl nine turnovers for the Wolves and 10 for Pitt State. The biggest difference in the game was the Gorillas defense which produced eight blocked shots and six steals.

There were six ties and seven lead changes in the game, with all of the ties and five lead changes in the first half. Northern State scored the first points of the game, but Burgess quickly answered with a three and that would set the tone for the first half. An and-one by Gafford gave the Gorillas thelir largest lead of the half, six points, with 15:36 to go in the half. Northern State would cut the lead, but Pitt State would quickly answer until a 10-2 run by the Wolves gave them a 19-17 lead with 9:46 remaining. Burgess hit a layup, was fouled and made the ensuing free throw to put the Gorillas up again. That started a 9-1 run, giving Pitt State back its six-point lead, 26-20, with 8:21 to go. The Wolves were able to tie the game twice more in the half, but the Gorillas never reliquished the lead and went into the locker room up three, 36-33.

Pitt State held Northern State to just 29 percent shooting in the second half, including an 0-for-9 performance from long range. The Wolves scored the first six points of the second half to take a three point lead just over 90 seconds in. There were no worries for the Gorillas though as the locked in and went on an 11-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, eight points, 47-39.

The Wolves were able to cut Pitt State's lead to one, 52-51, with 5:23 to go. Roderique answered for the Gorillas as she drove the lane for a layup as the shot clock expired. The Wolves cut the lead again with 4:39 remaining, but that shot would be the last they would make in the game. Jeronimus replied with a laup on the other end. Two Burgess free throws would be the only scoring until the last four seconds. With nine seconds to go, Gafford blocked a Northern State three attempt for her fifth block of the game. Jeronimus scooped up the rebound and threw it down court to Brugman for the fast break layup and the final 60-53 score.

Northern State was led by Rachel Krogman with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Sadie Stotesbery added 14 points.