WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team opened the second half on a 16-2 run to turn a four-point deficit into a 10-point lead. The Gorillas rode that third-quarter momentum to a 68-64 victory over the University of Central Missouri Wednesday (Feb. 17) at the UCM Multipurpose Building.

The Gorillas (22-4, 16-4 MIAA) posted their 11th straight victory on the night Pitt State debuted at No. 2 in the initial set of NCAA Division II Central Region rankings. The top eight teams qualify for the NCAA Division II National Tournament in March.

Mikaela Burgess scored a game-high 21 points to lead three Pitt State players in double figures. Kyle Gafford added 17 points and a game-high nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Gafford exited the game with 989 career points. Hadyn Herlocker also chipped in with 14 points for the Gorillas.

Pitt State led by just two points, 54-52, with 7:30 to play in the game, but the Gorillas took control with a 7-0 run. Gafford scored on an inside basket, Herlocker banked in a 3-pointer and Paige Lungwitz made a pair of free throws to stretch the margin to 61-52 with 5:05 to go.

Pitt State shot 50 percent (11 of 22) in the second half to finish the game 23 of 50 (.460) from the floor.

Shelby Winkelman paced the Jennies (9-15, 8-11 MIAA) with 20 points, while Tayler Weiks and Ashley Duffy added 12 apiece.

The Gorillas will return to action Saturday (Feb. 20) when they travel to Bolivar, Mo., to face Southwest Baptist University at 1:30 p.m. (CST) at the Meyer Sports Center.