JOPLIN, Mo. -- The game went down to the wire and hung on the Pitt State defense. The defense won out as Missouri Southern's last second shot missed to give Pitt State a 62-61 win in the last regular season game of the 2015-16 season. The Gorillas improve to 24-4 on the season and extend their win streak to 13 games heading into the MIAA Tournament in Kansas City on Thursday (March 3).

With under a minute to go, Kylie Gafford hit a layup to tie the game 61-61. She was fouled on the way up and completed the three point play at the foul line to give the Gorillas the 62-61 lead. Missouri Southern's Sharese Jones turned the ball over, but the Gorilla offense was not able to convert, Missouri Southern got the rebound off a missed Pitt State shot and immediately called a timeout. After the timeout the ball advanced to the Southern end of the court with 13 seconds to go. The Gorillas had only two fouls in the quarter, so used two to stop the clock and any possible Lion momentum. After the second foul, the Gorillas had to hold on for just five more seconds. Missouri Southern's Kenya Wilson-Brown threw up a shot as time expired, but it rimmed off to give the Gorillas the win.

Gafford led the Gorillas with 24 points, as she was 10-for-13 from the floor in the game. Fifteen of her points came in the second half, and 10 in the fourth quarter alone. Hadyn Herlocker added 12 points and led all players with seven assists. She did not commit a turnover in the game. Paige Lungwitz added 10 points, all in the first half. Mikaela Burgess was just under double figures with nine. 

Pitt State shot almost 55 percent for the game, including 43 percent from three-point range. Missouri Southern held a 26-15 rebounding advantage over the Gorillas. 

Pitt State earned its largest lead of the game, 26-18, with 6:44 left in the second quarter. Though Missouri Southern never led by more than two, they were able to come back and take over the lead once in the third quarter and four times throughout the fourth quarter. Luckily, each time the Gorillas answered quickly to take the lead back.

The Gorillas have earned the second seed in the MIAA Tournament and will play at 2:15 p.m. against the winner of the Central Missouri and Washburn game that will take place on Monday night.