PITTSBURG -- A late third quarter surge by the Lopers erased a 15-point Gorilla lead that resulted in a touch and go fourth quarter. It took an overtime period for the Gorillas to come away with the 84-80 victory on Thursday (December 1). 

Pitt State led by 15, its largest lead of the game, with 2:55 to go in the third quarter. Nebraska-Kearney went on a 7-0 to close the gap to eight, 56-48. Mikaela Burgess made a layup with 56 seconds remaining in the third quarter to take the lead back to 10, but that would be the last basket for the Gorillas until Hadyn Herlocker knocked down a three with 5:05 left in regulation. That basket tied the game at 64-64. From there, there were three more ties, in the midst of which the Lopers took their largest lead of the game, 72-68, with 2:21 to go. 

Burgess drilled a three to cut the lead to one. Pitt State took the lead again with 56 seconds to go as Paige Lungwitz drove in for a layup and was fouled. She hit the free throw for a 74-72 lead. A layup by the Lopers' Nieka Wheeler tied the game with only eight seconds remaining, sending the game into overtime. 

There were two more ties early in the overtime before a put back by Elena Flott gave the Gorillas the lead for good. Madison Northcutt hit two free throws to extend the lead to four. UNK scored once more, but Burgess made two more free throws for the 84-80 win. 

Burgess and Lungwitz led the Gorillas with 27 points a piece. Twenty-two of Burgess' 27 points came in the second half. With 4:07 remaining in the third quarter, Burgess went in for a layup that resulted in the 1,000th point of her career. Lungwitz was 9-for-10 from the floor, including 2-for-2 from long range. She also added a 7-for-8 performance from the free throw line. Her 27 points was a new career high. 

Elena Flott contributed a double-double, the first of her career, with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Both totals were also career highs. Madison Northcutt pulled down an additional eight rebounds. 

As a team, the Gorillas shot 48 percent (27-56) from the floor overall and 53 percent (9-17) from three point range. Pitt State outrebounded the Lopers 36-27. 

Michaela Barry led the Lopers with 27 points. Wheeler also added 14 points. 

The Gorillas will play at home again on Saturday (December 3) at 1:30 p.m. The game will be a top 25 matchup between the No. 4 Gorillas and No. 25 Fort Hays State Tigers.