HAYS, Kan. — The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team rallied from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to almost pull even with No. 3 Fort Hays State University before the host Tigers pulled away late for a 74-65 victory in the first round of the Central Regional in the 2019 NCAA Division II National Tournament Friday (Mar. 15).

The Tigers (31-1) advance to the Central Regional semifinals Saturday (Mar. 16) where they will face the winner of Friday's late game between the No. 4 seed Minnesota Duluth and the No. 5 seed Minnesota State-Moorhead on their home floor at Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Pitt State (21-9) fell behind by as many as 10 points against FHSU, before the Gorillas used a furious fourth quarter comeback bid to try to claw back into the contest.

Tristan Gegg's layup with 1:36 to play got Pitt State within two points, 65-63, but the Tigers got a bucket, a turnover and a three-point play in a fast sequence to push their margin back to seven and regain control.

Maya Williams led Pitt State with 17 points and five rebounds, while Gegg added 16 points. Shelby Lopez chipped in with nine points.

FHSU got a team-high 17 points from Belle Barbieri and 16 points from Taylor Rolfs.