PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team will hit the road for a pair of MIAA match-ups against the University of Central Oklahoma Thursday (Feb. 1) and Newman University Saturday (Feb. 3).

Thursday's battle against the Bronchos will start at 5:30 p.m. (CST) at Hamilton Field House on the UCO campus, while Saturday's action at Fugate Gymnasium will tip at 1:30 p.m.

Head Coach Amanda Davied
In her sixth year as head coach of her alma mater, Davied owns a 105-55 (.656) 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 14-5 overall and 8-5 in MIAA play heading into Thursday's action. Pitt State is tied for fifth in the MIAA standings following last week's performances. As a team, the Gorillas average 75.9 points with .770/.465/.304 shooting splits (FT./FG/3PT) and 42.1 rebounds a game. Defensively, Pitt State is collecting 6.0 steals and 4.7 blocks while giving up 64.6 points a game. Individually, Pitt State is led by Karenna Gerber (Halstead, Kan.) with 16.6  points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a game while shooting .584 percent from the field. Sharpshooter Grace Pyle (McPherson, Kan.) is averaging 16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 made three-pointers a game. Macie Mays (El Dorado Springs, Mo.) has emerged as one of the better freshmen in the conference with 11.9 points a game while shooting a team-high .599 percent from the field. Harper Schreiner (Eudora, Kan.) is stuffing the stat sheet with 7.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.5 steals a game. Jenna Shipley (Adrian, Mo.) has returned into the fray after recovering an injury and is averaging 6.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks a game while shooting .474 from three and .455 from the field. Sydney Holmes (Maize, Kan.) is averaging 7.5 points and 4.6 rebounds a game while shooting .478 from the field. Alba Lazano (Leganes, Spain) leads the bench unit with 5.2 points a game in 12.6 minutes while shooting .557 percent from the field. Emma Martin (Mountain Home, Ark.) is averaging 10.6 minutes off the bench adding 2.1 points and 0.8 assists a night. Savannah Campbell (Rolla, Mo.) averages 11.1 minutes off the bench for 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 points, 0.8 assists and 0.5 blocks a game while shooting .606 percent from the field. Ja'Miya Brown (North Little Rock, Ark.) averages 9.7 minutes a game off the bench with the freshmen recording 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds a game. Destiny Buerge (Carl Junction, Mo.) is averaging 10.1 minutes off the bench with 2.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists a game.

Individual Rankings
Grace Pyle leads the MIAA in 3-pointers made per game (2.7), fourth in points per game (16.3) and three-point percentage among qualified shooters (.325). Pyle is also 10th in field goal percentage among qualified shooters (.393), 11th in assists per game (2.8), 12th in rebounds per game (6.6) and 15th in blocks per game (0.7). Karenna Gerber leads the MIAA in field goal percentage (.584) and blocks per game (2.1) while being second in points per game (16.6) Gerber is also ninth in rebounds per game (7.1) and 10th among qualified shooters in free throw percentage (.776). Harper Schreiner is second in the MIAA for assist-turnover ratio (2.04) and assists per game (4.9), fourth in free throw percentage among qualified shooters (.815) while being 13th in rebounds per game (6.3) and 15th in steals per game (1.5). Macie Mays is 18th in points per game (11.9). Savannah Campbell is 23rd in blocks per game (0.5).

A Grand Achievement Indeed
Junior forward/center Karenna Gerber needs 15 more points to become the newest member of the 1000 career points club at Pittsburg State. Gerber will become the 25th Gorilla to accomplish the feat, the 13th to do so while grabbing at least 500 career rebounds and the 3rd ever to grab at least 500 career rebounds and block at least 100 career shots. Head coach Amanda Davied has coached or played with 14 (including herself) of those in program history to have scored 1000 career points.

Private Pyle, Reporting For Duty
Junior guard Grace Pyle has proven to be one of the better shooters from deep once again in the MIAA with a conference leading 51 made three's so far. Pyle is now the sixth Gorilla in program history to record back-to-back seasons making at least 50 three's following her performance against Northeastern State (Jan. 27) and is ninth on the PSU career list for makes from three with 134 in 64 games.

The Giver And Taker
Sophomore guard Harper Schreiner has specialized in assists and steals through 50 career games for the Gorillas. Schreiner so far has dished out 221 assists and recorded 74 steals to rank 22nd in career assists charts and T-38th for steals. This season the Eudora, Kan., native has dished out 94 assists and nabbed 29 steals to lead the team in each category. When she dishes out her 100th assist of the season it will mark the eighth time in program history a player had back-to-back 100 assist seasons and will mark the fourth time a player did it in the freshmen and sophomore campaigns (Amanda Davied, Kaylee DaMitz & Leslie Dudley).

Career 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 134 made threes to date is ninth with Meghan Maher (2016-20) eighth making 139 in her career. 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 125 blocks currently she is two blocks away from passing Athena Alvarado (2016-20) 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.

The Bronchos Stable
Central Oklahoma has a 5-14 overall record (4-9 MIAA) heading into Thursday's action. The Bronchos are currently 11th in the conference standings. Playing at the Hamilton Field House the Cho's are 3-5 this season with wins over Oklahoma Christian (Nov. 22), Lincoln (Dec. 2) and Rogers State (Jan. 13). As a team, UCO averages 64.4 points a game while opponents are scoring 71.0. The Bronchos have a .739/.381/.285 shooting split (FT/FG/3PT) and are coming away with 36.1 rebounds, 12.0 assists, 10.5 steals and 3.4 blocks a game. Reagan Fox leads the team with 8.6 points a game shooting .927 percent from free throws and only playing 22.8 minutes. Karly Wadsworth is the top threat from the bench averaging 8.6 points a game while making 1.9 three's a game. Aliyah Llanusa leads the team with 2.8 assists a game while adding in 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds. Alena Wilson leads the team with 5.6 rebounds a game add in 7.8 points from .441 shooting from the field.

Full Throttle Ahead
Newman enters the week with a 2-17 overall record (1-12 MIAA). The Jets currently sit in 14th in the conference standings. This season NU is 1-9 at Fugate Gymnasium with a 134-20 win over Manhattan Christian (Nov. 21) the lone victory. The Jets average 57.5 points a game while opponents are scoring 76.3. Newman has a .697/.337/.259 shooting split (FT/FG/3PT) while coming away with 36.6 rebounds, 10.9 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.4 blocks a game. Carissa Beck leads the team with 8.7 points a game while making 1.7 three's. Jaeden McMillin is the top weapon off the bench with 8.6 points a game while grabbing 4.2 rebounds. Caleriya Lioukina and Delainey Wylie share the team lead for rebounds per game at 4.9 with Lioukina scoring 7.7 points and Wylie 4.7 a game. Monica Redondo leads the team with 1.9 assists a game in 20.4 minutes adding 3.6 points and 2.6 rebounds.

Series Records
Thursday's contest against the Bronchos will be the 39th meeting between the programs. Pittsburg State holds a 26-12 advantage in the series overall; and is 8-5 in Edmond. This season the Gorillas won the game in Pittsburg, 95-76 (Dec. 9) with Grace Pyle setting a program record scoring 41 points. Saturday's contest against the Jets will be the 18th meeting between the programs. Pittsburg State holds a 15-2 advantage overall and are 7-1 in Wichita. In the game earlier this season the Gorillas took care of Newman, 92-43 (Dec. 7) in the home opener.

Up Next
The Gorillas will return to the friendly confides of John Lance Arena to host Central Missouri (Feb. 7) and Lincoln (Feb. 10) next week, with the game against the Blue Tigers serving as the squad's Pink Game.