EMPORIA, Kan. -- The No. 3 Pittsburg State women's basketball team fell to No. 9 Emporia State, 77-67, in White Auditorium. The Gorillas are now 16-2 overall and 8-1 in MIAA play.

Brenlee McPherson came off the bench to lead the Gorillas with 18 points, including 14 in the second half. Mikaela Burgess added 16, 12 in the second half. Paige Lungwitz and Hadyn Herlocker each added 11. Madison Northcutt led the team with eight rebounds.

Emporia State committed 21 turnovers in the game to just 15 for the Gorillas. Pitt State had 14 steals. The Gorillas were also successful in keeping Emporia State off the offensive glass, only allowing the Lady Hornets five offensive rebounds. The thorn for Pitt State was its free throw shooting, as the team made only 18 of 34 charity shots.

Everything seemed to go the Gorillas' way in the first quarter. The team used 12 Emporia State turnovers and six steals to build up a 17-7 lead at the end of the quarter. Pitt State was able to hold the Lady Hornets without a made shot from the floor from 8:51 to 2:50.

The tides started to turn late in the second quarter. Emporia State used an 8-0 to come within two, 25-23, with 2:43 to go in the first half. The lead got down to one, but Pitt State did not surrender it, taking a tenuous 31-29 lead into the locker room at the half.

The Lady Hornets started the second half on an 8-0 run to take a 37-31 lead. Pitt State was able to cut the lead to four several times, but was never able to overcome that initial run.

Pitt State will travel to Washburn for a 5 p.m. game on Saturday (Jan. 21) at Lee Arena in Topeka.