PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team will make its home debut this week when the Gorillas host a pair of MIAA games.
The Gorillas will entertain Rogers State University Thursday (Dec. 3) at 5:30 p.m. (CST) at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court and Pitt State will close out the week by hosting Northeastern State University Saturday (Dec. 5) at 1:30 p.m.
The Pitt State action can be heard on ESPN 100.7 FM radio, online at espn1007.com/go or through the ESPN 100.7 or KSHQ app for phones or mobile devices.
The Records
Pitt State is 1-2 on the season. The Gorillas, who opened the season with a trio of road games, split a pair of contests last week. Pitt State picked up a 61-49 victory over Newman University at Wichita on Nov. 24, before the Gorillas dropped a 78-61 decision to the University of Central Missouri at Warrensburg on Nov. 28.
Rogers State is 0-2 on the year. The Hillcats last played on Nov. 21 when they dropped a 70-62 home decision to Northwest Missouri State University.
Northeastern State is 2-1 on the season heading into a Thursday (Dec. 3) road game against Missouri Southern State University. The RiverHawks dropped a 78-64 home decision to Emporia State University the last time out on Nov. 28.
Head Coach Amanda Davied
Amanda Davied is in her third year as head coach at Pittsburg State after being hired to the position on May 21, 2018.
She has a 39-22 (.639) 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 322-182 overall record (.639), 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
Thursday's action will be the second all-time meeting between Pitt State and Rogers State. The two squads met for the first time on Jan. 29, 2020, with the Gorillas scoring a 91-73 victory.
On Saturday, Pitt State and NSU will meet for the 33rd time overall. The Gorillas hold a 21-11 advantage in the series, including a 14-4 mark in games played in Pittsburg. Pitt State has won nine straight home games against the RiverHawks and 11 of the last 12 match-ups at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court. The Gorillas rolled to an 86-56 win last year.
Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State has two players averaging in double figures early in the season: junior guards Kaylee DaMitz (14.7 ppg) and Tristan Gegg (13.0 ppg).
DaMitz is averaging a team-leading 14.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.7 steals per game.
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 scored a team-leading 22 points against the Lady Bronchos last Saturday.
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 682 points (11.4 ppg), grabbed 208 rebounds (3.5 rpg) and dished out 297 assists (5.0 apg) in 60 career games.
Gegg is contributing 13.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game thus far. She scored a season high 22 points the last time out vs. UCM (Nov. 28).
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). She scored seven points against UCO.
Gegg averaged averaged 8.0 points and 1.8 rebounds per game as a freshman in 2018-19.
She has scored 746 points (12.6 ppg), grabbed 186 rebounds (3.2 rpg) and made 108 3-point field goals in 59 career games.
Additionally, three players are scoring between 5.3 and 6.3 points per game: senior forward Maya Williams, junior forward Dana Johnson and freshman guard Jayme Jackson.
Williams is chipping in with 6.3 points and a team-leading 5.7 rebounds per game this season.
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. Williams scored nine points in the season opener against UCO.
The Carthage, Mo., native earned 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 725 points (8.7 ppg) and grabbed 402 rebounds (4.8 rpg) in 83 career games for the Gorillas.
Johnson is contributing 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game and shooting 87.5 percent from the field on the year (7-8).
Johnson transferred to Pitt State from Butler Community College. She helped the Grizzlies to a pair of Kansas Jayhawk Conference titles and regional crowns. Johnson averaged 4.1 points and 3.4 reboudns per game during her sophomore campaign.
Jackson has averaged 5.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in her first three collegiate contests.
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. Jackson scored three points and grabbed four rebounds vs. UCO.
Junior guard Sydnee Crain is contributing 3.7 points and 2.0 assists per game on the season.
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 267 points (4.4 ppg) and dished out 108 assists (1.8 apg) in 61 career games for the Gorillas.
Junior forward Julia Johnson has contributed 3.0 points ad 4.5 rebounds per game to date. She scored four points and grabbed six rebounds against UCO on Nov. 21.
Johnson averaged 1.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 25 games played in 2019-20.
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 also has averaged 3.0 points per game this season, while junior guard Erin Davis and sophomore guard/forward Ashton McCorry have contributed 2.0 points per game.
Wilson averaged 11.3 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per game as a senior at Bentonville (Ark.) West High School.
Davis averaged 3.1 points and 1.1 rebounds per game in 17 contests a year ago, while McCorry contributed 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game last year.
Pitt State Probable Starters
F 1 Maya Williams, 5-10, Sr., Carthage, Mo.
F 24 Dana Johnson, 6-1, Jr., Chicago, Ill.
G 2 Kaylee DaMitz, 5-5, Jr., Preston, Mo.
G 10 Tristan Gegg, 5-7, Jr., Altamont, Kan.
G 23 Sydnee Crain, 5-8, Jr., Girard, Kan.
