PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State women's basketball season is literally off and running. The Gorillas' fast-paced, hard-nosed style of play led them to a 70-38 win over University of Mary in their season opener Friday (November 11) in John Lance Arena.
The energy on the court was helped by the energy of the 3,271 fans in the stands, including over 2000 local elementary students. To honor veterans prior to the game, the crowd recited the Pledge of Allegiance and a giant flag that covered the court was unfurled and held by members of the PSU ROTC and Kiwanis Kids Club during the National Anthem. At halftime, Retired Colonel Timothy Senecaut talked about the importance of our country's veterans and veterans in the crowd were honored at the Armed Forces Medley played.
In the 20 minutes between the National Anthem and halftime, the Gorillas surged to a 40-17 halftime score and only allowed the Mauraders four points in the second quarter. Senior Hadyn Herlocker was a catalyst for the energy on the court with three steals and three assists in the first three minutes of the game. Pitt State was up 13-4 with 6:22 to go in the quarter. Mary answered with a run of their own to come within one, 13-12. The Gorillas added on an 8-1 run, capped by a Shelby Lopez three to end the quarter.
Elena Flott completed a layup with 8:38 to go in the second quarter to give Pitt State its first double-digit lead of the game. The high-pressure PItt State defense forced nine more Mary turnovers in the quarter. The Mauraders made layups with 6:56 and 5:36 to go, but the rest of the second quarter scoring belonged all to the Gorillas, resulting in a 40-17 lead.
Pitt State never led by less than 22 for the rest of the game. The final 32-point lead was the largest of the game first coming off a Lopez three with 3:28 to go, and again as Lopez hit a jumper with 44 seconds left.
Mikaela Burgess led the Gorillas with 19 points. She also added four assists and three steals. Lopez came off the bench to be the Gorillas' second-leading scorer with 11 points. Lopez and Burgess were each 3-for-9 from behind the arc, as Pitt State was 8-for-29 from three-point range for the game. Flott, Madison Northcutt and Paige Lungwitz each contributed 10 points. Lungwitz and Northcutt led the team with eight rebounds a piece. Herlocker finished the game with seven assists and six steals, along with two points and four rebounds.
Pitt State will host Concordia-St. Paul tomorrow (November 12) at 1 p.m. in the second game of the MIAA/NSIC Challenge.
