PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team will play host to the University of Central Missouri Wednesday (Feb. 7) and Lincoln University Saturday (Feb. 10) at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court. Start times are set for 5:30 p.m. (CST) against the Jennies and 1:30 p.m. against the Blue Tigers.
 
Former women's basketball standout Alexa (Bordewick) Dreiling will serve as the honorary sixth starter for Saturday's Pink Game against Lincoln. All fans are encouraged to wear pink to show support for all those affected by Breast Cancer, including Alexa. PSU students who sit in the student section at the arena will receive free "Pink Out" t-shirts and Abernathy Roofing is giving away a pair of $1,000 tuition prizes during halftime of the women's and men's games.
 
Head Coach Amanda Davied
In her sixth year as head coach of her alma mater, Davied owns a 107-55 (.660) 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 16-5 overall and 10-5 in MIAA play heading into Wednesday's action. Pitt State is tied for third in the MIAA standings following last week's performances. As a team, the Gorillas average 76.3 points with .771/.463/.315 shooting splits (FT./FG/3PT) and 42.8 rebounds a game. Defensively, Pitt State is collecting 6.0 steals and 4.6 blocks while giving up 63.2 points a game. Individually, Pitt State is led by Karenna Gerber (Halstead, Kan.) with 16.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks a game while shooting .588 percent from the field. Sharpshooter Grace Pyle (McPherson, Kan.) is averaging 16.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.9 made three-pointers a game. Macie Mays (El Dorado Springs, Mo.) has emerged as one of the best freshmen in the conference with 10.9 points a game while shooting .573 percent from the field. Harper Schreiner (Eudora, Kan.) is stuffing the stat sheet with 6.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.5 steals a game. Jenna Shipley (Adrian, Mo.) has returned into the fray after recovering an injury and is averaging 6.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.9 blocks a game while shooting .455 from three and .444 from the field. Sydney Holmes (Maize, Kan.) is averaging 7.2 points and 4.5 rebounds a game while shooting .475 from the field. Alba Lozano (Leganes, Spain) leads the bench unit with 5.4 points a game in 13.0 minutes while shooting .530 percent from the field. Emma Martin (Mountain Home, Ark.) is averaging 11.2 minutes off the bench adding 2.3 points and 0.8 assists a night. Savannah Campbell (Rolla, Mo.) averages 11.5 minutes off the bench for 4.0 rebounds and 3.3 points a game while shooting .609 percent from the field. Ja'Miya Brown (North Little Rock, Ark.) averages 10.3 minutes a game off the bench with the freshmen recording 2.4 points and 0.9 rebounds a game. Destiny Buerge (Carl Junction, Mo.) is averaging 10.2 minutes off the bench with 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists a game.
 
Individual Rankings
Grace Pyle leads the MIAA in 3-pointers made per game (2.9), third in three-point percentage among qualified shooters (.343) and fourth in points per game (16.6). Pyle is also eighth in free throw percentage among qualified shooters (.791), 10th in field goal percentage among qualified shooters (.401), 11th in assists per game (2.9), 12th in rebounds per game (6.6) and 17th in blocks per game (0.7). Karenna Gerber leads the MIAA in field goal percentage (.588) and blocks per game (2.0) while being third in points per game (16.7) Gerber is also ninth in rebounds per game (7.1) and 10th among qualified shooters in free throw percentage (.782). Harper Schreiner is third in the MIAA for assist-turnover ratio (1.94) and assists per game (4.7) while being 15th in steals per game (1.5) and 17th in rebounds per game (6.0). Jenna Shipley is 9th in blocks per game (0.9). Macie Mays is 21st in points per game (10.9). Savannah Campbell is 22nd in blocks per game (0.6).
 
A Grand Achievement Indeed
Junior forward/center Karenna Gerber became the 25th member of the 1000 career points club at Pittsburg State against Central Oklahoma (Feb. 1). Gerber also became 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 15 (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 60 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 eighth on the PSU career list for makes from three with 143 in 66 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 226 assists and recorded 76 steals to rank 21st in career assists charts and 37th for steals. This season the Eudora, Kan., native has dished out 99 assists and nabbed 31 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 143 made threes to date is eighth with Morgan Westhoff (2011-15) seventh making 159 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 128 blocks currently she is 15 blocks away from passing Lauren Brown (2009-13) for third 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.
 
Jennies Coming To Town
Central Missouri has a 15-5 overall record (9-5 MIAA) heading into Wednesday's action. The Jennies are currently sixth in the conference standings. On the road this season UCM is 7-1 with their lone loss being against Nebraska - Kearney (Jan. 6). As a team the Jennies average 74.2 points a game while opponents are scoring 61.7 points. UCM has a .749/.448/.288 shooting split (FT/FG/3PT) and are coming away with 38.1 rebounds, 15.9 assists, 8.7 steals and 3.7 blocks a game. Brooke Littrell leads the team with 18.7 points and 8.5 rebounds a game shooting .475 percent from the field and .904 from free throw. Olivia Nelson is one of the primary ball handlers while averaging 14.8 points, 4.2 assists and 2.8 rebounds a game shooting 32-of-77 from three (.416). Ashley Tull leads the bench unit with 9.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in 15.5 minutes a game while shooting .634 percent from the field. Graycen Holden averages 8.4 points and 5.5 rebounds a game shooting .508 percent from the field. Lauren Frost is the other primary ball handler averaging 7.3 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds a game. Allie Clevenger rounds out the starting lineup with 6.1 points and 1.9 rebounds a game.
 
Farewell Tour For Blue Tigers
In what will be the last MIAA match-up against Lincoln the Blue Tigers enter the week with a 6-14 overall record (2-12 MIAA), currently 13th in the conference standings. As a team LU averages 63.3 points a game while opponents are scoring 71.9 points. Lincoln has a .682/.391/.267 shooting split (FT/FG/3PT) while coming away with 32.7 rebounds, 11.4 assists, 9.0 steals and 2.8 blocks a game. Ashlyn Alloway leads the team with 15.3 points and 7.4 rebounds a game shooting .511 percent from the field. Steph Torres averages 11.4 points and a team-high 2.6 assists a game. AJ Bradley leads the bench unit with 6.6 points a game and 1.9 steals.
 
Series Records
Wednesday's contest against the Jennies will be the 67th meeting between the programs. Central Missouri holds a 39-27 advantage in the series overall; and in Pittsburg the Gorillas are 15-14. This season Pittsburg State won the game in Warrensburg, 101-93 in overtime (Dec. 16). Saturday's contest against the Blue Tigers will be the 45th meeting between the programs. Pittsburg State holds a 42-2 advantage overall and are 19-1 in Pittsburg. In the game earlier this season the Gorillas took care of Lincoln, 73-57, on Dec. 18 at Jefferson City, Mo.
 
Up Next
The Gorillas will renew their rivalry with Missouri Southern State University Saturday (Feb. 17) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. (CST).