PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team will conclude the regular season at home against Washburn and Central Missouri this weekend at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court.

Wednesday's (Feb. 26) contest against Washburn will serve as the Pink Out Game with tip off slated for 5:30 p.m. (CST). Saturday (Mar. 1) against UCM will be the Alumni/Senior Game beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Needing one more win to secure at least a share of the MIAA Regular Season title, the Gorillas have previously won the conference regular season crown in the 1991-92, 1995-96 and 2016-17 seasons.

Pittsburg State dropped to No. 10 in the WBCA Division II Top 25 Poll after last weekend's loss to Fort Hays State. Historically PSU is 11-2 when ranked 10^th in the WBCA Division II Top 25 Poll.

Head Coach Amanda Davied
In her seventh year as head coach of her alma mater, Davied owns a 139-61 (.695) record. During her tenure as head coach, she has guided the Gorillas to the Division II National Tournament three times (2024, 2023 & 2019) with her debut season marking the first coach in program history to guide the Gorillas 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
Pitt State enters the weekend at 24-3 overall and 16-1 in the MIAA, while being ranked 10^th in the most recent WBCA/NCAA Division II Top 25 poll (Feb. 25). Suffered their first loss in conference action this season against No. 7 Fort Hays State (Feb. 22) at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Leading the charge this season is Karenna Gerber with 15.9 points and 8.3 rebounds a game while shooting .579 from the field and .813 from free throws. Grace Pyle is averaging 15.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists a game while shooting .368 from behind the arch (67-of-182). Macie Mays rounds out the double figure scorers at 14.1 nightly, adding in 4.0 rebounds and shooting at a .510 clip from the field. Harper Schreiner this season is averaging 8.0 points, 4.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals a game while shooting .441 from three. Savannah Campbell leads the bench unit with 6.8 points and 3.9 rebounds a game while shooting .493 from the field. As a team the Gorillas score 79.7 points a game while shooting .735 from free throws, .481 from the field and .384 from behind the arc. PSU is also outrebounding teams on average by 10.0 total rebounds a game and outscoring opponents by 16.7 points.

KG Demonstrates Greatness Nightly
Senior forward Karenna Gerber is a consistent presence on both ends of the floor with her effort and talent being on full display over her career. She ranks first in career double-doubles (32) and rebounds (852) at Pittsburg State, second in field goal percentage among qualified shooters (.583), third in blocks (174) and blocks per game (1.46), fourth in rebounds per game (7.2), fifth in free throws made (374), sixth in field goals made (620), seventh in free throws attempted (496) and points scored (1,614).

GP Chasing After Legends
Senior guard Grace Pyle has proven over the past two seasons to be one of the better shooters in the MIAA and figures to be in contention to be recognized as one of the best shooters in the conference this campaign. For her career, the McPherson, Kan., native ranks fourth in team ranks for made three-pointers (234) and three-pointers attempted (659). Pyle is also 11^th for assists provided (274) and 12th in points scored (1,450). She became the fifth Gorilla in team history to make 50 or more three-pointers in three seasons on the road against Northeastern State (Jan. 30), joining the exclusive club of Jenni Miller (94-97), Mikaela Burgess (15-18), Shelby Lopez (17-19) and Tristan Gegg (20, 22-23).

Schreiner's Game
Junior guard Harper Schreiner has specialized in assists and steals through 90 career games for the Gorillas. Schreiner so far has dished out 394 assists and recorded 141 steals to be fifth in career assists charts and tied for 14th for steals. She became the fourth player in program history to record 100 assist seasons as a freshman, sophomore and junior joining the exclusive club that consists of Amanda Davied, Kaylee DaMitz & Leslie Dudley. For her career, Schreiner's 2.05 assist-turnover ratio is second in PSU ranks behind Hadyn Herlocker's (13-17) 2.88. Earlier this season she also became the 15th individual in team history to record a seven steal or better game, on the road against Rogers State (Dec. 7) and the first to do so since Megan Ripperton against New Mexico Highlands (Dec. 4, 2004).

M&M Express
Sophomore guard/forward Macie Mays had one of the better freshman campaigns in Pitt State history last season finishing the season averaging 11.2 points and grabbing 3.3 rebounds while shooting .534 from the field and .419 from three. This season she is elevating her game with averages of 14.1 points and 4.0 rebounds a game while shooting .510 from the field (146-of-286) and is 50-of-60 from free throws (.833). Mays this season recorded a career-high with 30 points against Northeastern State (Jan. 4) going a school record 10-of-10 from the field, 4-of-4 from three and 6-of-6 from free throws.

What's Up Holmes
Senior guard Sydney Holmes successfully completed her first season in the starting lineup last campaign and is putting together another solid year for the Gorillas as a senior. For her career, Holmes has appeared in 117 games with 688 points scored, 486 rebounds corralled and 171 assists dished out while shooting .443 from the field.

Savy In The Paint
Junior forward Savannah Campbell gained valuable experience in her sophomore campaign that has helped her lead the charge off the bench this season. The Rolla, Mo., native is averaging a team-best 6.8 points a game off the bench, going 67-of-136 from the field (.493).

Nilges The Marksmen
Senior guard Hannah Nilges introduced herself to the Pitt State faithful with a career-day against the Southern Nazarene University Crimson Storm (Nov. 3), going 6-of-8 from three for a career-high 20 points. This season she is 32-of-78 from deep (.410) ranking second among team ranks for attempts and makes from behind the arc. The Jefferson City, Mo., native spent her first three collegiate seasons at Division I Drake University where she appeared in 44 games as a Bulldog.

MJ Is Everywhere
This season the junior guard from Goddard, Kan., Maycee James has showcased multiple impactful performances on both ends of the court. Against Northwestern Oklahoma (Nov. 21) she finished with 10 assists, seven rebounds, six steals and six assists. It marked the third time in the last five years a Gorilla finished a game with 10 assists joining Harper Schreiner (at Lincoln, Dec. 18, 2023) and Kaylee DaMitz (vs. Missouri Western, Dec. 17, 2020). The six steals were also the most since Paige Imhoff collected as many steals vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith (Nov. 18, 2017). This season she is up to 55 assists, 35 steals and six blocks after battling back from a midseason injury.

Gerber Becomes Double-Double Queen
With her first double-double of the 2024-25 season against Ferris State, senior Karenna Gerber set a team record for double-doubles in a career. The Haltstead, Kan., native passed PSU Hall of Famer LaTonya (McGee) Mekha (1983-86) with her 22nd career double-double against the Bulldogs. To date, Gerber has 32 career double-doubles.

Karenna Chasing After Double-Double Records
Gerber tied a school record set by Madison Northcutt (2016-17) with five consecutive double-doubles in January. The Halstead Kan., native has recorded 11 double-doubles this season to tie Northcutt for third in single-season ranks at PSU, trailing only Jaimee Bohannon with 12 in 1999-00 and LaTonya McGee who finished with 13 in the 1985-86 season. Gerber in the month of January recorded six double-double performances in eight games.

Wayne Cavadi's Favorite Center
Karenna Gerber has been picked by "The Dean of DII", Wayne Cavadi as the NCAA Division II All-Stats starting center for the months of November, December and January. Gerber is the only player to feature as a starter in every month this season. Wayne Cavadi in his January write up of her said, "She leads all centers in double-doubles with 11 and trails just Yiibari Nwidadah in field-goal percentage among centers with a cool 60.1 percent. She has the third-most points (16.1 per game) and rebounds (9.0 per game) among centers as well. She has been the model of consistency at an inconsistent position, not just this season, but for the past three, having averaged at least 15.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in every season during that span."
 
Rebound Queen
Against Nebraska – Kearney (Feb. 20) senior forward/center Karenna Gerber passed Lizzy Jeronimus (12-15) for the Pittsburg State career rebound record. Currently Gereber has hauled in 852 rebounds, in the midst of her best season in the Crimson and Gold she is averaging 15.9 points and 8.3 rebounds a game while shooting .579 from the field and .813 from the charity stripe.
 
Back-To-Back MIAA AOW's For KG
Senior forward/center Karenna Gerber was named the MIAA Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week for the second week in a row (Jan. 13) after helping lead the Gorillas to a 6-0 start to the MIAA slate. Gerber in MIAA action is contributing 17.4 points and 9.9 rebounds a game while shooting .654 from the field and .925 from free throws to rank within the top-four in each category.
 
Pyle's MIAA AOW
Senior guard Grace Pyle was named the MIAA Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week (Feb. 3) after averaging 28.0 points, 5.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and shot .400 from distance as the Gorillas improved to 11-0 in the conference. Pyle scored a season-high 39 points against Arkansas – Fort Smith (Feb. 1) going 6-of-13 from three and converted on 11 free throws in the overtime win over the Lions. Her scoring tally is tied with Sunny York (Feb. 4, 1978 vs. Fort Hays State) for the second-most points scored in a single game and is two off tying the school record that Pyle set last season against Central Oklahoma (Dec. 9, 2023).

Historic Scoring Trio
The scoring trio of Karenna Gerber (430), Grace Pyle (409) and Macie Mays (366) represent the eighth time in team history to have three scorers with over 350 points in a season. Gerber and Pyle where joined by Tristan Gegg in 2022-23 and serves as the only duo to accomplish the feat in back-to-back seasons. The PSU Hall of Fame trio of Lisa Cropper, Jenni Miller and Jenny Pracht are the only trio to have accomplished the feat in back-to-back seasons (1994-95 & 1995-96).

Historic Rebound Trio
In Pitt State women's basketball history there have been 22 players to accumulate 500 rebounds in a career and for the first time ever the Gorillas have three active players to have accomplished the feat. Karenna Gerber (852), Harper Schreiner (531) and Grace Pyle (515) represent the historic trio.

What A 20-Win Season Means
At Pittsburg State the women's basketball team has accomplished a 20-win season 15 times since the 1974-75 season. Under the direction of head coach Amanda Davied the Gorillas have recorded 20-win seasons in 2018-19, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25, with Davied having a hand as an assistant coach in seven other 20-win seasons. Historically of the Gorillas 13 National Tournament appearances, 11 have featured 20-win season with the lone exceptions being the 1996-97 and 1997-98 campaigns.

Polls And Scrolls
The Gorillas, the preseason No. 1 pick in the 2024-25 MIAA Coaches Poll, posted a 24-8 record (15-7 MIAA) a year ago. Pitt State captured the MIAA Postseason Tournament crown and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament. This season the Gorillas were listed 13th in the first three WBCA/NCAA Division II Coaches Poll of the season before being positioned in eighth in the next three poll updates.

Another Trip To The Big Dance
In the Gorillas 35 years of competing at the Division II level the women's basketball team has qualified for 13 National Tournament appearances. In those 13 appearances, Pitt State is 9-13 (.409) with two Elite Eight appearances in 2012 and 2016.

A Long Time Coming
For the first time in program history the Gorillas won the MIAA Tournament in 2024 after finishing as runners up in 2016 and 1992. Pittsburg State is a three-time MIAA regular season champion claiming the title in the 2016-17, 1995-96 and 1991-92 seasons.

Bods Scout
Washburn is 16-11 overall and 10-7 in the MIAA heading into the final weekend of the regular season. On the road this season the Ichabods are 5-7, going 1-1 in the month of February. Payton Sterk leads the team with 17.0 points a game going 61-of-151 (.404) from three-point attempts and is shooting .836 from the free throw line (92-of-110). Yiibari Nwidadah is averaging 16.6 points and 7.6 rebounds a game, shooting .660 from the field but .554 from free throws. Gabi Giovannetti averages 11.3 points a game to round out the double figure scorers on the team. Aniah Wayne leads the second unit with 6.1 points a game this season. As a team, Washburn is scoring 69.4 points in conference games compared to 73.1 on the season. In MIAA action this season, the Ichabods have a +3.6 rebound advantage while giving up 7.3 made three-pointers a game at a .320, opponents to shot .407 from the field and convert on .721 of free throw attempts.

WU Series History
Wednesday's contest will mark the 95^th meeting all-time, as the Ichabods hold a 56-38 series advantage. In Pittsburg the Gorillas are 22-23 while winning seven out of the last ten matchups at John Lance Arena. Last season in the lone meeting between the two conference foes, the Ichabods posted a 75-62 win in Topeka (Jan. 20) as Karenna Gerber (18) and Macie Mays (15) were leading scorers for Pitt State.

Jennies Reports
Central Missouri enters the final weekend of the regular season with a 16-12 overall record, going 8-9 in the MIAA and 5-6 on the road. Reese Schaaf leads the team with 17.9 points and 9.9 rebounds a game while shooting .512 from the field and .833 from free throws. Taylor Weishaar is averaging 12.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a game while shooting .341 from behind the arc. Lauren Frost rounds out the double digit scorers at 10.9 a game, chipping in with a further 5.1 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals. Allie Clevenger is the top shooter on the team with 9.8 points a game mostly coming from behind the arc where she is shooting .371 (52-of-140). As a team in conference play the Jennies are averaging 65.8 points a game while allowing 65.4 to opponents. UCM does possess a +1.6 rebound margin in conference play but is losing the turnover margin -1.6.

UCM Series History
Saturday's contest will mark the 68^th meeting between the two universities, Central Missouri leads the series 39-28. In Pittsburg, the Gorillas are 17-14 following a win last season, 82-80 on Feb. 7^th. Macie Mays (17), Harper Schreiner (14), Jenna Shipley (14) and Grace Pyle (13) led the team in scoring last season, ensuring a season sweep over the Jennies for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign.

MIAA Win Leaderborard (Since 1989-90 season) As of Feb. 23
1. Central Missouri *, 447-218 (.672)
2. Washburn *, 445-219 (.670)
3. Emporia State *, 424-207 (.672)
4. Pittsburg State *, 419-244 (.632)
5. Missouri Western *, 389-274 (.587)
6. Missouri Southern *, 335-329 (.505)
7. Northwest Missouri *, 276-387 (.416)
8. Fort Hays State *, 249-128 (.660)
9. Southwest Baptist ^, 229-391 (.369)
10. Nebraska-Kearney *, 151-109 (.581)
11. Truman State &, 141-280 (.335)
12. Central Oklahoma *, 122-136 (.473)
13. Missouri S&T %, 88-180 (.328)
14. Northeastern State *, 77-182 (.297)
15. Lincoln (Mo.) @#, 56-373 (.131)
16. Lindenwood ^, 47-88 (.348)
17. Southeast Missouri ?, 40-6 (.870)
18. Missouri-St. Louis +, 31-81 (.277)
19. Rogers State *, 24-100 (.194)
20. Nebraska-Omaha !, 23-39 (.371)
21. Newman *, 21-103 (.169)
22. Arkansas-Fort Smith *,11-6 (.647)

* - Current Member Institution
# - Left conference in 2024
^ - Left conference in 2019
& - Left conference in 2013
! - Left conference in 2011
% - Left conference in 2005
@ - Left conference in 1999
+ - Left conference in 1996
? - Left conference in 1991