KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Pittsburg State women's basketball team surged ahead down the stretch to post a 73-65 victory over Missouri Southern State University in the quarterfinals of the 2024 MIAA Basketball Championships presented by Southern Bank Friday (Mar. 8).

Tied 44-44 after three quarters of play, the No. 5 seed Gorillas exploded for 29 fourth-quarter points to fend off the fourth-seeded Lions. The victory sends Pitt State to the tournament semifinals Saturday (Mar. 9) where the Gorillas will meet top-seeded Missouri Western State  University at Noon (CST) at historic Municipal Auditorium.

Grace Pyle and Macie Mays shared team-high scoring honors with 17 points apiece. Pyle helped key an 8-2 run that staked Pitt State to a 66-60 advantage with 1:40 to play in the game.

The Gorillas (22-7) converted seven of eight free throw attempts in the game's final 42 seconds, including 6-for-6 shooting at the charity stripe by Jenna Shipley, to seal the victory.

Mays and Pyle combined to make 15 of 20 shots from the floor as Pitt State finished the game at 52.8 percent overall (28-53).

Shipley finished with 14 points, while Karenna Gerber (11) and Harper Schreiner (10) also scored in double figures. Schreiner flirted with a double-double as she snared a game-high nine rebounds and also dished out four assists.

Kryslyn Jones and Brandi Hudson scored 15 points apiece to pace the Lions (20-8).