KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team knocked down 16 3-point field goals and the Gorillas exploded for a 94-81 season-opening victory against Northern State University Friday (Nov 9) in the first game of the Central Region Challenge at Municipal Auditorium.

The Gorillas (1-0) ushered in the inaugural game for first-year head coach Amanda Davied by connecting on the third-highest 3-point field goal total in program history against the Wolves (0-1).

Shelby Lopez converted five of six trifectas in the contest, leading five Gorillas in double figures with 15 points. Maya Williams added 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds for Pitt State, while Tracy Sydney (13), Tristan Gegg (12) and Kaylee DaMitz (11) all scored in double figures as well.

The Gorillas trailed 28-21 with 6:31 to play in the second quarter, before Pitt State close out the stanza on a 28-5 run to secure a 44-33 halftime advantage. The Gorillas ballooned their margin to as many as 27 points, 68-41, on a 3-pointer by Williams with 3:17 to play in the third quarter.

Brooke Luitjens led all scorers with 8 points for NSU. The Wolves shot 50 percent from the field in the game (26-52) and knocked down 22 of 29 free throws in the contest, but Pitt State forced NSU in 21 turnovers.

Pitt State will close out action in the two-day, 10-team Central Region Challenge with an 11:30 a.m. match-up Saturday against Minnesota State University Moorhead, which claimed a 65-51 win over Arkansas Tech University Friday.