PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team will travel to Jefferson City, Mo., Thursday (Dec. 10) to take on MIAA rival Lincoln University. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. (CST) at Jason Gymnasium.

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 2-3 on the season. The Gorillas split a pair of home games last week, dropping an 80-76 decision to Rogers State University on Dec. 3 and claiming an 84-82 victory over Northeastern State University last Saturday (Dec. 5).

Lincoln is 0-3 on the year. The Blue Tigers were swept in a pair of MIAA road games last week against Missouri Western State University (62-55) and Northwest Missouri State University (85-55).

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 40-23 (.635) 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 323-183 overall record (.638), 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 mark the 38th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Blue Tigers. Pitt State holds a commanding 35-2 advantage in the series, including a 17-0 mark in games played at Jefferson City, Mo. The Gorillas swept a pair of games against the Blue Tigers last year, including an 84-63 win at Jason Gymnasium on Jan. 18, 2020.

Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State has three players averaging in double figures early in the season:  junior guards Kaylee DaMitz (15.8 ppg) and Tristan Gegg (13.0 ppg) and senior forward Maya Williams (10.2 ppg).  

DaMitz is averaging a team-leading 15.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game. She currently ranks third in the MIAA in assists and ninth in the conference in scoring.

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 season high 22 points against UCO on Nov. 28.

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 717 points (11.6 ppg), grabbed 212 rebounds (3.4 rpg) and dished out 308 assists (5.0 apg) in 62 career games.

Gegg is contributing 15.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game thus far. She scored a season high 24 points against RSU on Dec. 3. Gegg leads the MIAA in free throw percentage (.955, 21-22) and ranks 11th in the conference in scoring to date.

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 783 points (12.8 ppg), grabbed 190 rebounds (3.1 rpg) and made 113 3-point field goals in 61 career games.

Williams is chipping in with 10.2 points and a team-leading 6.2 rebounds per game this season. She scored a season high 19 points the last time out vs. NSU.

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 757 points (8.9 ppg) and grabbed 416 rebounds (4.9 rpg) in 85 career games for the Gorillas.

Additionally, four players are scoring between 4.4 and 6.0 points per game:  freshman guard Jayme Jackson(6.0 ppg), junior forwards Dana Johnson (5.6 ppg) and Julia Johnson (5.0 ppg) and junior guard Sydnee Crain (4.4 ppg).

Jackson has averaged 6.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game through her first five 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.

Dana Johnson is contributing 5.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game and shooting 81.3 percent from the field on the year (13-16).

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 rebounds per game during her sophomore campaign.

Julia Johnson has contributed 5.0 points ad 5.0 rebounds per game to date. She scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds against NSU on Dec. 5.

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.

Crain is contributing 4.4 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 278 points (4.4 ppg) and dished out 113 assists (1.8 apg) in 63 career games for the Gorillas.

Redshirt freshman forward Shania Wilson also has averaged 3.0 points per game this season, while sophomore guard/forward Ashton McCorry (1.8 ppg) and junior guard Erin Davis (1.2 ppg) are contributing just under two 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 21 Julia Johnson, 6-1, Jr., DeSoto, Kan.
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.