PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team will wrap up a three-game road swing Saturday (Feb. 20) when the Gorillas travel to Joplin, Mo., to face MIAA rival Missouri Southern State University. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. (CST) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

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 is 12-7 on the season and fifth in the conference standings with three games to play in the regular season. The Gorillas split a pair of road games last week, defeating Northwest Missouri State University, 79-50, on Feb. 11 before falling, 68-64, to Missouri Western State University last Saturday (Feb. 13).

Missouri Southern is 7-12 on the season and ninth in the MIAA standings. The Lady Lions are seeking to halt a three-game losing streak after dropping a 78-55 decision to Northwest Missouri in their last action on Feb. 13.

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 50-27 (.649) 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 (2004-20), the Gorillas have compiled a 333-187 overall record (.640), 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
Saturday's action will mark the 97th all-time meeting between Pitt State and MSSU. The Gorillas hold a 54-42 edge in the series. The Lady Lions lead, 24-22, in games played at Joplin, but Pitt State has won seven of the last eight games at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The Gorillas claimed a 70-67 win over MSSU at John Lance Arena on Jan. 9.

Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State has two players averaging in double figures early in the season:  junior guards Tristan Gegg (16.8 ppg) and Kaylee DaMitz (16.3 ppg).

Gegg is averaging a team-leading 16.8 points as well as 4.2 rebounds per game thus far. She scored a career high 32 points on Jan. 30 against Rogers State. She was named the MIAA Player of the Week on Dec. 14 after scoring 31 points in a road win against Lincoln on Dec. 9.

On Feb. 6, she became the 23rd player in Pitt State history to eclipse 1,000 career points. She has scored 1,026 points (13.7 ppg), grabbed 253 rebounds (3.3 rpg) and made 144 3-point field goals in 75 career games.

Gegg ranks third in the league in scoring, sixth in the MIAA in 3-point field goals (2.1 pg) and second in the conference in free throw percentage (.899, 71-79) 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 8.0 points and 1.8 rebounds per game as a freshman in 2018-19.

DaMitz is contributing 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.9 steals per game. She currently ranks second in the MIAA in assists, ranks fifth in the conference in free throw percentage (.844, 76-90) and fifth in the league in scoring.

DaMitz flirted with a triple-double against MWSU on Dec. 17, scoring 20 points, dishing out 10 assists and grabbing eight rebounds. She scored a season high 26 points vs. RSU (Jan. 30) and earned MIAA Co-Player of the Week Monday (Feb. 1).

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 948 points (12.5 ppg), grabbed 270 rebounds (3.6 rpg) and dished out 386 assists (5.1 apg) in 76 career games.

Additionally, six players are scoring between 3.7 and 9.5 points per game:  senior forward Maya Williams (9.5 ppg), junior forward Julia Johnson (8.3 ppg), junior guard Sydnee Crain (5.9 ppg), freshman guard Jayme Jackson (5.2 ppg), junior guard Erin Davis (4.8 ppg) and junior forward Dana Johnson (3.7 ppg).

Williams is chipping in with 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game this season. She scored a season high 19 points vs. NSU (Dec. 5).

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 867 points (8.8 ppg) and grabbed 474 rebounds (4.8 rpg) in 98 career games for the Gorillas.

Julia Johnson has contributed 8.3 points and a team-leading 6.4 rebounds per game to date. She scored a career best 25 points vs. NWMSU on Feb. 11 and she had a career high 16 rebounds vs. MWSU (Feb. 13). Johnson currently ranks 11th in the MIAA in rebounding.

She 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 averaging 5.9 points and 2.1 assists per game on the season. She scored a career high 17 points vs. MWSU (Dec. 17).

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 368 points (4.8 ppg) and dished out 142 assists (1.8 apg) in 77 career games for the Gorillas.

Jackson has averaged 5.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game on the year. She posted 12 points and eight rebounds vs. LU on Dec. 10.

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.

Davis, who has started four games for the Gorillas, is averaging 4.8 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. She scored a season high 12 points vs. MWSU (Feb. 13).

Davis averaged 3.1 points and 1.1 rebounds per game in 17 contests a year ago.

Dana Johnson is contributing 3.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game and shooting 64.6 percent from the field on the year (31-48). She contributed 10 points and seven rebounds against LU on Dec. 10.

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.

Sophomore guard/forward Ashton McCorry (2.1 ppg) and redshirt freshman forward Shania Wilson(1.5 ppg) also have contributed to the Gorillas' offensive output.

McCorry averaged 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game last year.

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

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.