PITTSBURG — Sydney Holmes connected on an inside basket with 25 seconds to play and blocked a shot on the following Northwest Missouri State University possession to help seal a 71-66 victory for the Pittsburg State University women's basketball team Saturday (Dec. 3).

Tristan Gegg fed Holmes on the right block for the pivotal basket, which staked the Gorillas (6-2, 2-1 MIAA) to a 69-64 lead. Holmes then swatted Molly Hartnett's driving shot attempt and Pitt State's Grace Pyle came away with the ball.

Karenna Gerber made one of two free throws with 14 ticks remaining to stretch Pitt State's margin to 70-64 and the Gorillas held off the Bearcats (4-3, 0-2 MIAA) down the stretch.

Gerber led all scorers with 23 points and finished the game with nine rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot. Gegg and Pyle added 13 points apiece, while Holmes chipped in with 11 points. Pitt State shot 47-1 percent (24-51) from the field in the contest; and the Gorillas outscored Northwest, 17-5, at the free throw line.

Evelyn Vazquez led four Bearcats in double figures with 15 points, while Peyton Kelderman and Kelsey Fields added 14 points apiece.

Pitt State will travel to Wichita to battle MIAA rival Newman University in the Gorillas' next action Wednesday (Dec. 7).