PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team used a 16-2 third quarter run to erase a 14-point deficit, but No. 17 University of Central Missouri withstood the Gorillas charge down the stretch in the fourth quarter for an 82-75 win Saturday (Dec. 17).

Brooke Littrell and Olivia Nelson combined for 56 points to help keep the Jennies (8-0, 5-0 MIAA) unbeaten on the season. Littrell finished with game highs of 31 points and 18 rebounds in the contest, while Nelson added 25 points on 10 of 16 shooting.

The Gorillas (8-3, 4-2 MIAA) battled back from a 58-44 deficit with 5:26 to play in the third quarter, tying the game at 60-60 on Harper Schreiner's driving layup with 1:08 remaining in the period to the delight of 1,099 partisan fans at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court.

Pitt State grabbed a pair of one-point leads, 71-70 and finally at 73-72 on a pair of free throws by Karenna Gerber with 3:22 to play in the game.

Nelson gave UCM the lead for good, 74-73, on a give-and-go from Littrell to Nelson at the 3:10 mark and Littrell added a driving layup off a turnover 25 seconds later to give the Jennies breathing room.

Grace Pyle scored to make it a one-point game once again, 76-75, with 2:28 to go, but UCM closed out the game on a 6-0 run for the seven-point win.

Pyle led four Pitt State players in double figures with 19 points. Tristan Gegg added 15, while Schreiner finished with 11 and Gerber chipped in with 10.

The Gorillas will return to action after the Christmas break by hosting Tabor College on Dec. 29 at 5 p.m. (CST).