PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team will open its 2020-21 season Saturday (Nov. 21) by traveling to Edmond, Okla., to face MIAA rival University of Central Oklahoma. The Gorillas and Lady Bronchos will hit the court at 1:30 p.m. (CST) at Hamilton Field House.

The Pitt State action can be heard on KWXD 103.5 FM radio, online at streamdb9web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KWXD or through the KWXD app for phones or mobile devices.

The Records
Pitt State enters its third season under head coach Amanda Davied. The Gorillas posted a 17-11 overall record and a 13-6 mark in MIAA play during the 2019-20 season.

The Gorillas return three starters and seven letterwinners from last year's squad. Junior guard Tristan Gegg led the MIAA in scoring a year ago (17.9 ppg), earning third-team All-MIAA honors. Junior guard Kaylee DaMitz, a first-team All-MIAA pick, averaged 13.8 points and an MIAA leading 5.5 assists per game. Senior guard Maya Williams contributed 11.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game a year ago.

Central Oklahoma posted an 18-10 overall record (12-7 MIAA) last season. The Lady Bronchos open the 2020-21 season Thursday (Nov. 19) by hosting MIAA rival Missouri Southern State University.

Head Coach Amanda Davied
Amanda Davied enters her third year as head coach at Pittsburg State after being hired to the position on May 21, 2018. She has a 38-20 (.655) 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. The Gorillas posted a 17-11 record last year.

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 UCO will meet for the 34th time in program history Saturday. The Gorillas hold a 23-10 advantage in the series against the Lady Bronchos, including a 7-4 edge in games played at Edmond. Last year, UCO pulled out a hard fought 88-86 win over Pitt State at John Lance Arena on Jan. 11, 2020.

Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State returns three starters, including a pair of All-MIAA performers, and seven letterwinners from its 2019-20 squad.  

Senior guard Maya Williams averaged 11.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season. She posted six double doubles and shot 47.8 percent from the field (96-201) on the year.

The Carthage, Mo., native earend third-team All-MIAA honors as a sophomore in 2018-19 when she averaged a team-leading 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Williams has scored 706 points (8.8 ppg) and gragged 385 rebounds (4.8 rpg) in 80 career games for the Gorillas.

Junior guard Kaylee DaMitz garnered first-team All-MIAA honors last season. The Skyline, Mo., native averaged 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. She led the MIAA in assists and ranked 13th in the conference in scoring.

DaMitz, a two-time All-MIAA performer, was the 2018-19 MIAA Freshman of the Year after contributing 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game during her rookie campaign.

For her career, DaMitz has scored 638 points (11.2 ppg), grabbed 195 rebounds (3.4 rpg) and dished out 283 assts (5.0 apg) in 57 career games.

Junior guard Tristan Gegg averaged 17.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 2019-20, earning third-team All-MIAA honors. She scored 20 or more points 10 times on the year. The Altamont, Kan., native led the MIAA in scoring and free throw percentage (.881, 74-84) and ranked fifth in the conference in 3-point field goals (2.5 pg).

Gegg averaged averaged 8.0 points and 1.8 rebounds per game as a freshman in 2018-19.

She has scored 707 points (12.6 ppg), grabbed 173 rebounds (3.1 rpg) and made 104 3-point field goals in 56 career games.

Junior guard Sydnee Crain started nine games for the Gorillas last year, contributing 5.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

The Girard, Kan., native chipped in with 3.4 points and 1.4 assists per game during her rookie season in 2018-19.

She has scored 256 points (4.4 ppg) and dished out 102 assists (1.8 apg) in 58 career games for the Gorillas.

Redshirt sophomore guard/forward Ashton McCorry also contributed 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game last year, while junior guard Erin Davis averaged 3.1 points and 1.1 rebounds per game in 17 contests a year ago.

Junior forward Julia Johnson averaged 1.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 25 games played.

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.

Redshirt freshman forward Shania Wilson and redshirt freshman center Shayla Kohler also return for thier second seasons in the Pitt State program.

Wilson averaged 11.3 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per game as a senior at Bentonville (Ark.) West High School.

Kohler averaged six points, seven rebounds and two assists per game as a senior at Platte County (Mo.) High School.

The Gorillas also welcome key newcomers to the squad in junior forward Dana Johnson, freshman forward Abbie Dietsche and freshmen guards Jayme Jackson, Emma Martin, Chloe Martin and Jenna Shipley.

Dietsch joined the Gorillas from Highland (Ark.) High School where she earned Arkansas Class 4A All-State honors while averaging 18 points, 12 rebounds and six assists per game.

Jackson came to Pitt State from Liberty (Mo.) North High School. She was a two-time All-Conference performer and she averaged nine points, three rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game last year.

Chloe Martin signed with Pitt State out of Bartlesville (Okla.) High School. Martin was an Oklahoma Class 6A All-State performer, averaging 15.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game for the Bruins.

Emma Martin joined the Gorillas from Mountain Home (Ark.) High School where she was a two-time All-Conference selection. She averaged 14.5 points, four rebounds and five assists per game for the Bombers.

Shipley came to Pitt State from Adrian (Mo.) High School. She was a two-time Missouri Class 2A All-State performer, averaging 28.5 points and 14 rebounds per game her senior season for the Blackhawks.