JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Pitt State women's basketball team improved to 15-4 on the season with a 77-63 win over Lincoln (7-12, 3-10  MIAA) on Saturday (January 23) afternoon.

Despite a late scoring drought, the Gorillas finished the game shooting 49 percent overall and 35 percent from three. Pitt State outrebounded Lincoln, 35-27.

Cathy Brugman led all scorers and three Gorillas in double figures with 23. She also pulled down a team-high 5 rebounds. She was 7-of-7 from the free throw line. Mikaela Burgess added 18 points and was 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Elena Flott scored a career-high 11 in her first career start. She was 4-for-4 overall, including two threes. Paige Lungwitz was just under double figures with eight, while Kylie Gafford and Brenlee McPherson each scored six. Gafford blocked three shots and Hadyn Herlocker dished out a team-high four assists.

The Gorillas only allowed Lincoln to score eight first quarter points, while putting up 17 of their own.

Lincoln did not score back-to-back baskets until after the three minute mark in the second quarter. It looked as if the Blue Tigers would end the first half on an 8-0 run, but Brugman grabbed the rebound off a Kylie Gafford missed three and put it back at the buzzer and end the run. Pitt State led 38-24 at the half.

The Gorillas shot well in the first half, hitting 40 percent overall and 38 percent from three-point range, hitting six threes.

Lincoln outscored the Gorillas 20-19 in the third quarter. Both teams struggled with turnovers and some shooting woes late in the quarter, though the Blue Tigers shot much better than they did in the first half. After a 36 percent first half percentage, Lincoln shot 56 percent in the third quarter.

Lincoln went on a run to start the second half and were able to cut Pitt State's lead to single digits, as they held the Gorillas scoreless for over two minutes and without a shot from the floor from 9:20 to 5:34. A Brugman three ended that drought and sparked an 11-2 Gorilla run. From there, Pitt State kept control to end the game with the 77-63 win.

Pitt State will return to John Lance Arena next week for a Wednesday game against top 10 ranked Missouri Western at 5:30 p.m.