PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University women's basketball will face a pair of games, home and away, against MIAA rival Missouri Southern State University this week. The Gorillas will travel to Joplin, Mo., Wednesday (Feb. 16) to battle the Lady Lions at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. MSSU will then come to John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court to take on Pitt State Saturday (Feb. 19).

Tip-off for Wednesday's game is set for 5:30 p.m. (CST), while Saturday's tilt will get underway at 1:30 p.m.

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 15-9 overall and 10-8 in MIAA play heading into Wednesday's action. The Gorillas climbed into a three -way tie for seventh place in the MIAA standings, with Northwest Missouri State University and the University of Central Oklahoma by sweeping a pair of games against NWMSU (66-62) and Missouri Western State University (79-53) last week.

MSSU is 18-5 overall, 12-3 in the MIAA and tied atop the MIAA standings (with Fort Hays State University) heading into this week's battles against the Gorillas. The Lady Lions also swept match-ups against MWSU (71-57) and NWMSU (56-49) last week; and MSSU is now riding an 11-game winning streak.

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 67-38 (.638) record leading her alma mater and will serve in her 100th game as head coach for the Gorillas Thursday.

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 350-198 overall record (.639), 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 Lady Lions will meet for the 98th and 99th times this week. Pitt State holds a 55-42 advantage in the series. The Lady Lions hold a slight 24-23 edge in games played at Joplin, while the Gorillas are 31-17 at home against MSSU, including six straight wins.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State has posted a 131-36 (.784) record at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court the past 13 seasons, including a 9-3 mark this year. The Gorillas are 91-25 (.784) at home since the start of the 2014 campaign. Pitt State's all-time home record stands at 397-195 (.671).

Scouting the Gorillas
Senior guard Tristan Gegg leads the Gorillas in scoring on the season. She currently ranks sixth in the MIAA in scoring, averaging 17.0 points per game, and she leads the conference in 3-point field goals (2.2 pg).

Gegg also is contributing 3.2 rebounds per game. She is shooting 46.6 percent (144-309) from the field, 36.9 percent from 3-point range (52-1141) and 86.1 percent (68-79) from the free throw line, the third-best percentage in the MIAA to date.

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 1,479 points (14.4 ppg), grabbed 348 rebounds (3.4 rpg) and made 199 3-point field goals in 103 career games. Gegg ranks 10th all-time in Pitt State history in career scoring. She needs 15 points to pass Sandy Stegman (1,493 pts from 1988-91) for ninth place.

Sophomore guard Jayme Jackson is averaging 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game on the season. She scored a career best 22 points against FHSU (Jan. 22) and she ranks 10th in the MIAA in assists.

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 Erin Davis is averaging 9.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. Davis has recorded three 20-point games for the Gorillas this season, contributing 20 points vs. Missouri S&T (Nov. 27) and FHSU (Jan. 22) and a career best 21 points vs. Newman (Dec. 1).

Davis is shooting 45.6 percent from the field (83-182) and 38.9 percent from 3-point range (35-90).

She started four games a year ago, averaging 4.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. The Independence, Mo., native contributed 3.1 points in 17 games played in 2019-20.

Senior guard Sydnee Crain is contributing 9.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. Crain ranks fourth in the MIAA in assists to date. She scored 16 points in the Gorillas win vs. WU (Jan. 15).

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 628 points (6.0 ppg) and dished out 238 assists (2.3 apg) in 105 career games for the Gorillas.

Freshman forward/center Karenna Gerber has chipped in 6.6 points and a team-leading 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots per game. She has a team-best 48 offensive rebounds and ranks sixth in the MIAA in blocked shots.

Gerber posted her second double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds against ESU (Jan. 13). She also posted 10 points and 10 rebounds aginst Tabor (Dec. 29).

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

Senior forward Julia Johnson averages 5.8 points and 5.5 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 Grace Pyle has contributed 7.8 points and 2.1 rebounds to date. She has converted 22 of 47 (.468) 3-point field goal attempts on the season. Pyle scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Saint Mary on Nov. 18. She has missed Pitt State's last 10 games due to injury.

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.

Freshman guard Sydney Holmes also has averaged 5.6 points and 4.8 rebounds to date.

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

Sophomore guard Jenna Shipley has averaged 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. 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.

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, is averaging 2.2 points per game.

She 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 is averaging 1.6 points per game in 12 games played.

Myers transferred to Pitt State from Kansas City Kansas Community College, where she earned first-team NJCAA Division II All-America honors as a sophomore.

The Derby, Kan., native 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.