PITTSBURG – The Pitt State women's basketball started the game hot on offense and with high pressure defense on the way to a 77-50 win on Friday (November 18) over Ferris State.

The Gorillas set the tone in the first quarter with a 26-5 lead. They allowed the Bulldogs only one made shot from the floor, while forcing 12 turnovers. On their end of the court, the Gorillas went 10-of-20 from the floor overall and 5-of-10 from three-point range. 

Although Pitt State's scoring slowed a bit in the second quarter, it was still able to hold Ferris State to just eight points. Pitt State led 39 to 13 at the half, while allowing the Bulldogs only 28 percent shooting and forcing 21 turnovers. 

Pitt State called off the press in the third quarter and had some difficulty scoring in the half court. Ferris State went to the free throw line seven times in the third quarter, while the Gorillas did not shoot a free throw. Those two factor combined allowed Ferris State to outscore the Gorillas 18-16 in the third quarter.

Younger members of the Pitt State squad saw a lot of playing time in the fourth quarter and they were able to help the team build to the 77-50 win. Ferris State did not make its first three until there was only 4:39 left in the game. 

Mikaela Burgess led four Gorillas in double figures with 20 points. She made six threes and also had three assists and three steals. Elena Flott added 13 points and shared the team lead in rebounds with Maddie Northcutt with eight a piece. Hadyn Herlocker and Shelby Lopez each added 11 points. Herlocker had a team-high five assists and five steals.

Pitt State was 29-69 from the floor overall (.420) and 14-38 (.368) from three point range. The 38 three-point attempts were the most in a single game in school history. 

The Pitt State Classic will wrap up on Saturday (Nov. 19) with Central Missouri and Ferris State at 1 p.m., while the Gorillas will take on Arkansas-Fort Smith at 3 p.m.