ALVA, Okla. -- The Pittsburg State women's basketball team started 2017 with a 94-62 win at Northwestern Oklahoma on Monday (Jan. 2) evening.

Two Pittsburg State sophomores recorded career highs as they led the team in scoring. Shelby Lopez led the team with 24 points, the first 20-point game of her career. She was 6-for-10 from three-point range. Madison Northcutt added 22 points and a career-high 16 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.

Athena Alvarado had the first double figure scoring game of her career with 12. Mikaela Burgess chipped in 11 points, while Brenlee McPherson added 10.

The Gorillas started the game strong, hitting each of their first four three-point attempts. Then they had a bit of a scoring drought and allowed Northwestern Oklahoma an 11-0 run, resultng in an 18-18 ties at the end of the first quarter.

Pitt State recharged at the break. The Gorilla defense did not allow the Rangers to score consecutive baskets in the second quarter and built up to a 45-29 lead at the half.

Northcutt worked to extend the Pitt State lead and her stat line at the beginning of the second half,  achieving her double-double by the five minute mark. Threes were crucial to the Gorillas 31-point lead at the end of the third quarter. Lopez, Herlocker and Burgess hit threes on three consecutive trips down the court.

Lopez continued the rain of threes by hitting another to start the final period of play. The starters stayed in only briefly before younger players came in to get some valuable experience. Freshman Athena Alvarado scored 10 of her career-high 12 points in the fourth quarter, as the team cruised to the 94-62 win.

Pitt State will return to MIAA play this week with games at Missouri Western on Thursday, Jan. 5 and Northwest Missouri on Saturday, Jan. 7.