PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team will close out regular season play with a pair of home games this week. The Gorillas will host Lincoln University Wednesday (Feb. 26) at 5:30 p.m. (CST) and entertain the University of Central Missouri Saturday (Feb. 29) 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 16-9 overall and 120-5 in MIAA action. The Gorillas have won four consecutive games to climb into sole possession of fourth place in the MIAA standings. Pitt State won a pair of nailbiters on the road last week, beating MWSU, 61-59, and NWMSU, 77-76, in overtime.

Lincoln is 3-23 overall and 0-17 in the MIAA. The Blue Tigers have dropped 15 straight games including an 85-56 road loss to WU the last time out on Feb. 22.

UCM is 22-4 overall, 16-1 in the MIAA and ranked No. 19 in the most recent WBCA/NCAA Division II Top 25 poll. The Jennies, who have a two-game lead in the conference standings, can clinch the MIAA regular season title with a road win against MSSU Wednesday (Feb. 26).

Head Coach Amanda Davied
Amanda Davied is in her second year as head coach at Pittsburg State after being hired to the position on May 21, 2018.

She has a 37-18 (.673) 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-present), the Gorillas have compiled a 320-178 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
Wednesday's action will mark the 37th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Blue Tigers. Pitt State holds a commanding 34-2 advantage in the series, including a 15-1 mark in games played in Pittsburg.

On Saturday, Pitt State and UCM will meet for the 59th time overall. The Jennies hold a 32-26 lead in the series, but the Gorillas are 15-10 in games played in Pittsburg.

Pitt State's Last Action
Meghan Maher tipped away the game's final pass attempt, knocking the ball into backcourt as time expired to allow Pitt State to preserve a 61-59 road win over Missouri Western on Feb. 19.

Athena Alvarado posted a double double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. She scored 17 of her game high points in the first half. Maher added 13 points and a career high four steals in the contest. Tristan Gegg added 11 points and Kaylee DaMitz, added nine points – all in the second half.

Sydnee Crain hit the go-ahead jumper with 26 seconds remaining in overtime and Pitt  State held on in the waning seconds for a 77-76 overtime victory over Northwest Missouri at Bearcat Arena on Feb. 22.

The Gorillas trailed by five points, 65-60, with 21 seconds remaining in regulation but Marina Bauza Rubert hit a 3-pointer. After NWMSU's Jayna Green made one of two free throws with 16 ticks remaining, Maher buried a 3-pointer just ahead of the final horn to force the extra session.

DaMitz led three Pitt State players in double figures with 14 points. Erin Davis added a career high 13 points, while Crain finished with 12. Alvarado added nine points and 11 rebounds.

Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State has four players averaging in double figures on the young season: sophomore guard Tristan Gegg (18.8 ppg), senior forward Athena Alvarado (14.0 ppg), sophomore guard Kaylee DaMitz (13.2 ppg) and junior guard Maya Williams (11.5 ppg).

Gegg scored 28 points on back-to-back nights against OBU and SWOSU to open the season and she tallied a career high 31 points vs. WU (Feb. 8).  The Altamont, Kan., native is shooting 43.8 percent from the field on the season (159-363) including 36.0 percent from 3-point range (63-175). She also is averaging 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game to date.

Gegg leads the MIAA in scoring and free throw percentage (70-78, .897), ranks second in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.360) and fourth in the MIAA in 3-point field goals (2.6 pg).

Gegg averaged 8.0 points and 1.8 rebounds per game during her freshman campaign in 2018-19. She knocked down 40 of 107 3-point field goal attempts on the year (.374).

Gegg has scored 692 points in 54 career games for the Gorillas (12.8 ppg).

Alvarado is averaging 14.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 0.9 shots per game to date. For the season, Alvarado is shooting 58.4 percent from the field (143-245).

She ranks second in the MIAA in field goal percentage, third in the league in rebounding and ninth in the conference in blocked shots.

Alvarado was named the MIAA Player of the Week  on Nov. 12 for her efforts in the Gorillas' season opening action when she averaged 19.5 points, 15.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots per game in Pitt State's first two games of the year.

The Wichita, Kan., native enjoyed a monster season debut with career highs of 31 points and 20 rebounds in the Gorillas' 96-78 win over Oklahoma Baptist.

She battled foul trouble in the Gorillas' last second loss to No. 20 SWOSU. Alvarado scored the go-ahead basket with 4.4 seconds remaining in the contest only to see the Lady Bulldogs win the game on a pair of free throws two seconds later. She finished the game with eight points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.

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

Alvarado has scored 1,028 points (9.1 ppg), grabbed 577 rebounds (5.1 rpg) and posted 123 blocked shots (1.1 bpg) in 113 career games for the Gorillas. Her 120 blocked shots rank fourth in school history. She became the 20th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points and the eighth player in program history to reach 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds.

DaMitz is contributing 13.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. The Skyline, Mo., native leads the MIAA in assists and ranks fourth in the conference in free throw percentage (93-110, .845). She scored a career high 33 points vs. UNK on Jan. 4 and bosted back-to-back double doubles vs. NU (15 pts., 11 ast., Jan. 9) and vs. UCO (14 pts., 12 ast., Jan. 11).

DaMitz earned 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. She ranked second in the MIAA in assists last year.

DaMitz has scored 573 points (10.6 ppg) and dished out 272 assists (5.0 apg) in 54 career games.

Williams is averaging 11.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in 20 games played. The Carthage, Mo., native is shooting 47.9 percent from the field (80-167). She ranks 10th in the MIAA in rebounding.

Williams was named the MIAA Co-Player of the Week  on Dec. 10 after averaging 14.5 points and 15.0 rebounds per game in a pair of wins vs. MSSU and WU. She scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds against the Ichabods.

She also posted back-to-back double doubles against Lindenwood and Central Christian College, including a 20-point, 11-rebound effort vs. CCC.

Williams averaged a team-leading 11.9 points as well as 6.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2018-19. She 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 668 points (8.6 ppg) and grabbed 356 rebounds (4.6 rpg) in 78 career games for the Gorillas.

Senior forward Meghan Maher is averaging 6.7 points per game. She enjoyed a 20-point outburst vs. Central Christian College on Nov. 16. The Raymore, Mo., native averaged 5.9 points and 2.0 rebounds per game for the Gorillas last year. She converted 42 of 101 3-point field goals (.416) on the season.

Maher has scored 632 points (5.9 ppg) and grabbed 175 rebounds (1.6 rpg) in 108 career games.

Among Pitt State's reserves, sophomore guard Sydnee Crain is averaging 5.7 points and 2.2 assists per game, while senior forward Marina Bauza Rubert is scoring 4.0 points per game to date. Sophomore guard Erin Davis is contributing 3.3 points in 16 games played, while redshirt freshman forward Ashton McCorry also is chipping in with 3.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.

Crain, from Girard, Kan., contributed 3.4 points and 1.4 assists per game  in 12.9 minutes of action in 2018-19.

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.