PITTSBURG — Grace Pyle scored a game-high 29 points to help lead the Pittsburg State University women's basketball team to an 82-72 victory over the University of Central Missouri and claim the outright 2024-25 MIAA Regular Season Championship Saturday (Mar. 1).
 
The Gorillas (26-3, 18-1 MIAA) faced a stalwart challenge from the visiting Jennies (16-14, 8-11 MIAA), but Pitt State held off UCM down the stretch in front of 2,448 partisan fans at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court.
 
It marks the fourth MIAA regular season title for the Gorillas in program history, the first since the 2016-17 campaign. Pitt State captured the 2023-24 MIAA Postseason Tournament Championship last year as the No. 5 seed.
 
Pyle made nine of 20 shots from the floor against the Jennies, including four 3-pointers as the Gorillas outshot UCM, 48.3 percent (29-60) to 41.4 percent (29-70). The Gorillas also owned a 19-8 advantage at the four line as Pitt State payers combined to convert 19 of 22 charity shots on the afternoon.
 
Macie Mays added 18 points for the Gorillas and Savannah Campbell finished in double figures with 10 points. Harper Schreiner scored three points and grabbed a team-best 12 rebounds. Pyle added five rebounds and five assists to go along with her
 
Reese Schaaf paced the Jennies with 26 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Allie Clevenger chipped in with 13 points.
 
Pitt State will await the release of the 2024-25 MIAA Postseason Tournament bracket later tonight with the action getting underway next week at Municipal Auditorium at Kansas City Mo.