PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team will open up the 2019-20 season with a pair of exhibition game match-ups against NCAA Division I foes with the Gorillas meeting the University of Arkansas Thursday (Oct. 24) and the University of Kansas Sunday (Oct. 27). Pitt State and Arkansas will take the court at 7 p.m. (CDT) Thursday at Bud Walton Arena at Fayetteville, Ark., while the Gorillas and Jayhawks will meet at 2 p.m. (CDT) Sunday at Allen Fieldhouse at Lawrence, Kan.

The Records
Pitt State enters its second season under head coach Amanda Davied. Davied became the first head coach in program history to lead the Gorillas to a 20-win season and a postseason berth in her initial campaign. Davied, who served as the program's assistant coach for 14 seasons before becoming head coach, guided the squad to a 21-9 record (13-6 MIAA) and a berth in the Central Regional of the 2018-19 NCAA Division II National Tournament.

The Gorillas return four starters and eight letterwinners from last year's squad. Junior guard Maya Williams leads Pitt State's returning contingent. Williams averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2018-19.

Head Coach Amanda Davied
Amanda Davied enters her second year as head coach at Pittsburg State after being hired to the position on May 21, 2018. She has a 21-9 (.700) record leading her alma mater. Davied guided her alma mater to a berth in the 2018-19 NCAA Division II National Tournament in her debut season, becoming the first Pitt State head coach in program history to enjoy a 20-win season in year one of their tenure.

Davied, who served the previous 14 seasons as the assistant coach for her alma mater, replaced her former mentor, Lane Lord, who accepted the head coach position at NCAA Division I member University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

As the Gorillas top assistant the previous 14 years, Davied served as the team's recruiting coordinator and was highly involved in all aspects of the administration of the women's basketball program.

During her tenure on the Pitt State staff (2004-19), the Gorillas have compiled a 304-169 overall record (.643), capturing an MIAA regular season title in 2017 and making six trips to the NCAA Division II National Tournament (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019) including a pair of Elite Eight appearances (2012, 2016).

Davied began her coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Gorilla women's basketball program in the 2003-04 season, after completing a decorated playing career for Pitt State the previous season. She was hired as a full-time assistant in July 2004 by former head coach Steve High and remained to serve as the top assistant on Lord's staff when he took over the program in April 2007.

Series History
Pitt State and Arkansas will meet for the first time since 1980 and the first time in exhibition action. The Razorbacks hold a 3-0 advantage in the series. Arkansas claimed a 60-59 win in the last meeting Jan. 5, 1980, in Pittsburg. 

Pitt State and Kansas will meet for the sixth time Sunday – the second time in an exhibition match-up. The two teams met most recently on Nov. 5, 2017, with the Jayhawks claiming an 57-50 exhibition game win over the Gorillas. KU has a 4-0 record in its previous four regular season meetings vs. Pitt State.

Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State returns four starters, including three All-MIAA performers, and eight letterwinners from its 2018-19 squad.  

Junior guard Maya Williams averaged a team-leading 11.9 points as well as 6.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2018-19. The Carthage, Mo., native earned third-team All-MIAA honors last year. Williams shot 43.0 percent from the field (119-277) and made 21 3-point field goals on the year. She also shot 76.0 percent from the free throw line, making 98 of 129 charity shots.

Williams has scored 438 points (7.7 ppg) and grabbed 216 rebounds (3.8 rpg) in 57 career games for the Gorillas.

Senior Athena Alvarado contributed 10.6 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds per game last year, earning honorable mention All-MIAA honors. The Wichita, Kan., native shot a team-leading 56.3 percent from the field, making 129 of 229 attempts. She also paced the team with 60 offensive rebounds and she blocked 40 shots on the season.

Alvarado has scored 691 points (7.8 ppg), grabbed 378 rebounds (4.2 rpg) and posted 101 blocked shots (1.1 bpg) in 89 career games for the Gorillas. Her 101 blocked shots rank fourth in school history. She ranked seventh in the MIAA in blocked shots and 11th in the conference in rebounding last year.

Sophomore guard Kaylee DaMitz garnered MIAA Freshman of the Year honors in her rookie campaign for the Gorillas last year. The Skyline, Mo., native averaged 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while also earning honorable mention All-MIAA recognition. DaMitz ranked second in the MIAA in assists.

Senior forward Meghan Maher averaged 5.9 points and 2.0 rebounds per game for the Gorillas last year. The Raymore, Mo., native converted 42 of 101 3-point field goals (.416) on the year. Maher has scored 464 points (4.4 ppg) and grabbed 111 rebounds (1.3 rpg) in 83 career games.

Two additional returners – sophomore guards Tristan Gegg and Sydnee Crain – also saw significant action for the Gorillas last year.

Gegg, an Altamont, Kan., native, averaged 8.0 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. She knocked down 40 of 107 3-point field goal attempts on the year (.374). Crain, from Girard, Kan., chipped in with 3.4 points and 1.4 assists per game  in 12.9 minutes of action.

Sophomore guard Josie Fortney also contributed 2.7 points in 18 games played in 2018-19, while senior forward Marina Bauza Rubert averaged 1.9 points and 1.7 rebounds per game in 19 contests a year ago.

The Gorillas also welcome key newcomers to the squad in sophomore forward Julia Johnson, freshman forward Shania Wilson, freshman guard Madison Ferrara and freshman center Shayla Kohler.

Johnson joined the Gorillas from Johnson County Community College. The DeSoto, Kan., native, averaged 5.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while starting 29 of 32 games for the Cavaliers as a redshirt freshman in 2018-19.

Wilson came to Pitt State from Bentonville West High School. A native of Centerton, Ark., Wilson averaged 11.3 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per game as a senior for the Wolverines. She was a two-time All-Conference performer and a three-year starter at BWHS.

Ferrara joined the Gorillas from Stewarts Creek High School in Smyrna, Tenn., where she played her senior season. The Hendersonville, Tenn., native averaged 15.8 points and 4.6 assists per game as a junior for the Davidson Academy in Nashville, Tenn.

Kohler was a stand-out prep performer at Platte County (Mo.) High School.

Pitt State Probable Starters

F 15 Athena Alvarado, 6-0, Sr., Wichita, Kan. 
F 35 Meghan Maher, 6-0, Sr., Raymore, Mo.
G 1 Maya Williams, 5-9, Jr., Carthage, Mo.
G 2 Kaylee DaMitz, 5-4, So., Preston, Mo.  
G 10 Tristan Gegg, 5-7, So., Altamont, Kan.