PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team will open Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) play this week by hosting Newman University Wednesday (Dec. 1) and the University of Central Oklahoma Saturday (Dec. 4).

The Gorillas will battle the Jets at 5:30 p.m. (CST) Wednesday; and, Pitt State's action against the Bronchos Saturday has a 1:30 p.m. start time.

The Pitt State action can be heard on ESPN 100.7 FM radio, online at espn1007.com/ or through the ESPN 100.7 or KSHQ app for phones or mobile devices.

The Records
Pitt State brings a 4-1 record into Wednesday's action. The Gorillas swept a pair of non-conference home games last week. Pitt State defeated Lindenwood University, 74-56, last Wednesday (Nov. 24) and the Gorillas rolled to an 82-57 win over Missouri University of Science & Technology last Saturday (Nov. 27).

Newman is 2-3 on the young season. The Jets have won two straight games after an 0-3 start to the the 2021-22 campaign. NU beat Manhattan Christian College, 91-23, the last time out on Nov. 27. The Jets managed a 4-18 mark last year.

Central Oklahoma is 4-2 headed into a Thursday (Dec. 2) road game against Missouri Southern State University. The Bronchos claimed a 65-63 road win over Cameron University in their last action on Nov. 23. UCO posted a 14-9 record during the 2020-21 season.

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

She has a 56-30 (.651) 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 in 2019-20 and a 14-9 mark during the Covid-19 abbreviated 2020-21 campaign.

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-pres.), the Gorillas have compiled a 339-190 overall record (.641), 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
The Gorillas and the Jets will meet for the 15th time Wednesday. Pitt State holds a decided 12-2 advantage in the series. The Gorillas swept a pair of match-ups last year, defeating NU, 61-49, on Nov. 24, 2020, and 69-61 on Feb. 27, 2021.

Saturday's action will mark the 35th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Bronchos. Pitt State holds a 23-11 advantage in the series. UCO claimed an 80-50 win in the last meeting on Nov. 21, 2020.

Scouting the Gorillas
Senior guard Tristan Gegg leads the Gorillas in scoring early in the 2021-22 season. She currently ranks third in the MIAA in scoring, averaging 19.8 points per game, and leads the conference in 3-point field goals (3.0 pg).

Gegg also is contributing 3.8 rebounds per game. She is shooting 50.7 percent (34-67) from the field, 37.5 percent from 3-point range (15-40) and an MIAA best 94.1 percent (16-17) from the free throw line.

Gegg scored a career-high 36 points in Pitt State's season-opening win against Oklahoma Baptist Nov. 12.

A two-time All-MIAA performer, Gegg started all 23 games last year, averaging 15.8 points and 4.3 rebounds and earning second-team All-MIAA honors. She made a team-leading 43 3-point field goals and shot 90.2 percent (83-92) from the free throw line for the season.

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 1,170 points (13.9 ppg), grabbed 291 rebounds (3.5 rpg) and made 162 3-point field goals in 84 career games. Gegg ranks 15th all-time in Pitt State history in career scoring.

Freshman guard Grace Pyle has contributed 9.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in her first five contests with the Gorillas. She scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Saint Mary on Nov. 18.

Pyle was named the Kansas Class 5A Player of the Year as a junior in 2019-20 at McPherson High School and she was a first-team Class4A All-State selection her senior season.

Sophomore guard Jayme Jackson is averaging 9.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game early in the season.

Jackson saw action in 20 games during her debut season, including one start, in 2020-21. The Liberty, Mo., native averaged 5.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

Jackson was an All-District performer and a two-time All-Conference prep selection at Liberty North High School.

Senior guard Sydnee Crain also is back for her fourth year in the program. She is contributing 7.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. Crain ranks fourth in the MIAA in assists to date.

Crain started 18 of 23 games last year, averaging 6.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. She also dished out 44 assists and made 31 steals.

Crain started nine games for the Gorillas in 2019-20, 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 447 points (5.2 ppg) and dished out 170 assists (2.0 apg) in 86 career games for the Gorillas.

Senior guard Erin Davis is back for her fourth year in the program after scoring a career best 20 points the last time out vs. Missouri S&T (Nov. 27).

Davis started four games a year ago. She averaged 4.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.

The Independence, Mo., native contributed 3.1 points in 17 games played in 2019-20.

Sophomore guard Jenna Shipley has averaged 5.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. She has a team-leading 11 offensive rebounds.

Shipley saw action in 10 games last year. She averaged 1.2 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.

The Adrian, Mo., native earned Missouri Class 2A All-State honors in each of her final two prep seasons. She averaged 28.5 points and 14 rebounds per game as a senior.

Senior forward Julia Johnson chips in with 5.0 points and a team-leading 6.4 rebounds per game.

Johnson contributed 7.3 points and a team-leading 6.0 rebounds per game in 2020-21, her second season in the Pitt State program. She shot 56.2 percent (68-121) from the field and recorded 20 blocked shots on the year.

Johnson averaged 1.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 25 games played in 2019-20.

The DeSoto, Kan., native joined the Gorillas from Johnson County Community College, where she averaged 5.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for the Cavaliers as a redshirt freshman in 2018-19.

Freshman guard Sydney Holmes also has averaged 3.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 17.0 minutes of reserve action for the Gorillas.

Holmes earned Kansas Class 5A All-State recognition in each of her final two prep years at Maize High School.

Freshman forward/center Karenna Gerber has chipped in 3.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Gerber was a two-time Kansas Class 3A All-State performer at Halstead High School. She earned All-League honors all four seasons.

Redshirt sophomore center Shayla Kohler and sophomore guard Emma Martin also saw limited action for the Gorillas in 2020-21.

Kohler, who played in four games for the Gorillas in 2020-21, averaged six points, seven rebounds and two assists per game as a senior at Platte County (Mo.) High School.

Martin, who played in six games for the Gorillas a year ago, joined the squad from Mountain Home (Ark.) High School. A two-time All-Conference selection, she averaged 14.5 points, four rebounds and five assists per game for the Bombers.

Junior guard Aliyah Myers also is seeking to make an impact for the Gorillas this season.

Myers signed with the Gorillas from Kansas City Kansas Community College, where she earned first-team NJCAA Division II All-America honors as a sophomore.

She averaged 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.3 steals per game while helping the Blue Devils to a 21-4 record last year. A two-time All-Jayhawk Conference performer, Myers was named the 2021 Jayhawk Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

The Derby, Kan., native earned Kansas Class 6A All-State honors three times at Derby High School.