PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team will travel to Kansas City, Mo., open play in the 2022 MIAA Postseason Tournament Wednesday (Mar. 2) at historic Municipal Auditorium.

The Gorillas, the No. 8 seed in the tournament, will face No. 9 seed Washburn University at Noon (CST).

Wednesday's MIAA Tournament first-round game 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.

Single Session Tickets for the MIAA Tournament are $20 for adults, $10 for students (college students must show I.D.). Children six and under are admitted free. Additionally All-Tournament Passes, which includes all 18 games over five days, are available for $75 – $50 if purchased directly from the PSU Ticket Office by the close of business Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 1).

The Records
The Gorillas enter the MIAA Postseason Tournament with a 16-12 overall record and an 11-11 mark in MIAA play. Pitt State finished the regular season in a tie for eighth place in the conference standings with Washburn (13-15, 11-11 MIAA). 

The winner of the Pitt State-WU match-up will advance to the MIAA Tournament quarterfinals Thursday (Mar. 3) at Noon to face top-seeded Missouri Southern State University.  

Semifinal action is slate for Thursday (Mar. 4) at Noon and the 2022 MIAA Postseason Tournament Championship game is set for 1 p.m. (CST) Sunday (Mar. 6).

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 68-41 (.624) 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 351-201 overall record (.636), 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
Pitt State and WU will meet for the 92nd time Wednesday. The Ichabods lead the series, 54-37. The two teams have met three times previously in the MIAA Tournament at Municipal Auditorium with the Gorillas winning, 71-63, most recently in 2018. WU won 83-64 in 2009 and 71-58 in 2004.

Gorillas in the MIAA Tournament
Pitt State is making its 30th appearance in the MIAA Postseason Tournament. The Gorillas have compiled a 12-29 (.293) record in 41 MIAA Tournament games and reached the Finals of the tournament twice, in 1992 and 2016.

Pitt State has compiled a 6-16 (.272) record in MIAA Tournament games played at Municipal Auditorium.

Scouting the Gorillas
Senior guard Tristan Gegg leads the Gorillas in scoring on the season. She currently ranks fifth in the MIAA in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game, and she leads the conference in 3-point field goals (2.3 pg).

Gegg also is contributing 3.3 rebounds per game. She is shooting 46.1 percent (170-369) from the field, 38.7 percent from 3-point range (65-168) and 85.4 percent (88-103) from the free throw line, the second-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 1,564 points (14.6 ppg), grabbed 360 rebounds (3.4 rpg) and made 212 3-point field goals in 107 career games. Gegg ranks seventh all-time in Pitt State history in career scoring. She needs 21 points to pass Kelly Krumsick (1,584 pts from 1980-83) for sixth place.

Sophomore guard Jayme Jackson is averaging 10.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game on the season. She scored a career best 23 points against MSSU (Feb. 19) and she ranks 12th 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 9.5 points and 2.8 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 46.5 percent from the field (99-213) and 42.3 percent from 3-point range (47-111).

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 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Crain ranks fifth 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 7.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocked shots per game. She has a team-best 53 offensive rebounds and ranks in a tie for seventh place 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 against 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 5.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocked shots per game. She also is tied for seventh place in the MIAA in blocked shots.

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 14 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 5.4 points and 4.7 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 2.5 points and 2.0 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 2.3 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.