PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University women's basketball program will play host to Rogers State University Wednesday (Jan. 24) and Northeastern State University Saturday (Jan. 27) at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court. Game times are set for 5:30 p.m. (CST) against the Hillcats and 1:30 p.m. against the RiverHawks.
 
Head Coach Amanda Davied
In her sixth year as head coach of her alma mater, Davied owns a 103-55 (.652) record. During her tenure as head coach, she has guided the Gorillas to the Division II National Tournament twice (2022-23 & 2018-19) with her debut season marking the first coach in program history to guide the program to a 20-win season. Davied has deep ties to the program first as a player (1999-03), graduate assistant (2003-04) and assistant coach (2004-18) while serving as the lead assistant from 2007-18 for current Division I, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), head coach Lane Lord.
 
A Peek at The Gorillas
The Gorillas are 12-5 overall and 6-5 in MIAA play heading into Wednesday's action. Pitt State is tied for sixth in the MIAA standings following last week's performances. As a team, the Gorillas average 75.2 points with .754/.459/.299 shooting splits (FT/FG/3PT) and 42.5 rebounds a game. Defensively, Pitt State is collecting 5.8 steals and 4.6 blocks while giving up 65.2 points a game. Individually, Pitt State is led by Grace Pyle (McPherson, Kan.) with 16.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.7 made three-pointers a game. Karenna Gerber (Halstead, Kan.) averages 16.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks a game while shooting .582 percent from the field. Macie Mays (El Dorado Springs, Mo.) leads the bench unit with 11.1 points a game while shooting a team-high .587 percent from the field. Sydney Holmes (Maize, Kan.) is averaging 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds a game while shooting .477 from the field. Harper Schreiner (Eudora, Kan.) is stuffing the stat sheet with 7.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.5 steals a game.
 
Individual Rankings
Grace Pyle leads the MIAA in 3-pointers made per game (2.7), second in points per game (16.5), fourth in three-point percentage among qualified shooters (.315) and eighth in assist-turnover ratio (1.52). Pyle is also ninth in field goal percentage among qualified shooters (.383), 10th in assists per game (2.9), free throw percentage among qualified shooters (.745), 11th in rebounds per game (6.8) and 14th in blocks per game (0.8). Karenna Gerber leads the MIAA in field goal percentage (.582) and blocks per game (2.2 bpg) while being fourth in points per game (16.4) Gerber is also ninth in rebounds per game (7.1) and 10th among qualified shooters in free throw percentage (.766). Harper Schreiner is second in the MIAA for assist-turnover ratio (2.02) assists per game (4.9), fourth in free throw percentage among qualified shooters (.815) while being 10th in rebounds per game (6.9 rpg) and 19th in steals per game (1.5). Macie Mays is 21st in points per game (11.1).
 
100 Trifecta Completed
This season the Gorillas have had some memorable feats accomplished involving the number 100. First, it was Grace Pyle making her 100th career three at No. 23 Missouri Western (Nov. 30) in the Gorillas 65-56 win. Pyle became the 17th Gorilla in program history to accomplish the feat and with 129 made threes to date is ninth after passing Erin Davis (2018-23) against No. 15 Fort Hays State (Jan. 13). Not to be outdone, Karenna Gerber notched her 100th career block against Central Oklahoma (Dec. 9) in the 95-76 win at John Lance Arena to become the sixth in program history to accomplish the feat and with 123 blocks currently she is 4 blocks away from passing Athena Alvarado for fourth all-time. Amanda Davied joined in on the fun with her 100th win as a head coach coming in dramatic fashion. Engineering a 20-point comeback that began late in the third quarter the Gorillas forced overtime and beat No. 3 Central Missouri (Dec. 16) 101-93 in Warrensburg. Davied who was the quickest to 50 wins as a head coach in program history is now also the quickest to 100 wins needing 151 games compared to her former mentor and previous record holder, Steve High who needed 156 games.
 
MIAA Preseason Polls Rank Gorillas Third
The 2023-24 MIAA Coaches and Media Polls listed Pittsburg State third in the conference field, behind Central Missouri and Missouri Western to round out the top three. UCM and PSU made it to the NCAA Regional Tournament last season along with MSSU (5/7) and UNK (6/5) after the Jennies were crowned regular season champs and the Lions claimed the MIAA Tournament crown.
 
Trio Of All-MIAA Returners
Following the graduation of four-time All-MIAA guard Tristan Gegg (Altamont, Kan.) the mantel has been passed to lead the program to junior forward Karenna Gerber, junior guard Grace Pyle and sophomore guard Harper Schreiner. Gerber, a third-team All-MIAA selection last season, averaged 15.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks a game while shooting 57.6 percent from the field. Pyle received All-MIAA honorable mention honors a year ago, averaging 14.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.9 made threes and 0.9 steals a game and shooting 42.9 percent from the field (82.8 percent from the free throw line). Schreiner was the MIAA Freshman of the Year and an All-MIAA honorable mention performer after averaging 10.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals a game. She shot 49.5 percent from the floor and 86.8 percent from the charity stripe.
 
A New Hope In Claremore
Rogers State has an 8-9 overall record (3-8 MIAA) heading into Wednesday's action; and the Hillcats are 11th in conference standings. In year one under the direction of Heather Davis, the Hillcats are 1-3 this season on the road with their lone win this season away from Claremore coming against Newman on Jan. 10th, 64-52. As a team, RSU averages 64.1 points a game while opponents are scoring 58.4. The Hillcats have a .647/.383/.285 shooting split (FT/FG/3PT) and are coming away with 37.8 rebounds, 13.2 assists, 9.4 steals and 3.5 blocks a game. No stranger to MIAA competition former UCO Broncho Alayzha Knapp leads the team with 15.8 points a game while grabbing 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks a game. Alyza Aikins is second on the team with 8.1 points a game to go with 2.8 assists and 2.2 steals. Kaya Goldsby leads the team with 3.6 assists and 2.2 steals a game while adding 6.5 points. Kylee Day is the top scorer off the bench averaging 6.3 points a night.
 
Entering Fergie Time
Northeastern State enters the week with a 9-8 overall record (5-6 MIAA); and the RiverHawks are 10th in the conference standings. In head coach Keith Ferguson's first season, the RiverHawks are 2-4 on the road this season with wins last time out against Central Oklahoma and Newman. As a team, NSU averages 65.5 points a game while opponents are scoring 61.4. The RiverHawks have a .720/.421/.347 shooting splits (FT/FG/3PT) and are coming away with 33.9 rebounds, 12.1 assists, 8.4 steals and 2.2 blocks a game. Halie Jones leads the team with 13.9 points and 2.0 steals a game while adding 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Courtney Lee is averaging 11.9 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds a game. Tor'e Alford averages 10.3 points and 3.1 rebounds a game. Grace Abercrombie leads the bench unit with 6.0 points a game while adding 3.4 rebounds.
 
Series Records
Wednesday's contest against the Hillcats will be the 7th meeting between the programs. Pittsburg State holds a 4-2 advantage in the series overall; and is 1-2 in Pittsburg. Last season the Gorillas won the only game the program played against each other 87-47 on Jan. 19th in Claremore, Okla. Saturday's contest against the RiverHawks will be the 38th meeting between the programs. Pittsburg State holds a 26-11 advantage overall and are 16-4 when games are played in Pittsburg. The Gorillas are currently on a 16-game winning streak over NSU with the RiverHawks last win coming on Jan. 23, 2013 in Tahlequah, 65-50.
 
Up Next
Pitt State will hit the road to begin the month of February with games against Central Oklahoma (Feb. 1) and Newman (Feb. 3.