PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team burst loose for a 16-0 third quarter run to take control of a back-and-forth game en route to an 87-75 win over Harding University Friday (Mar. 14).
 
The Gorillas (30-3) secured the program's first-ever 30-win season as Pitt State advanced to the semifinals of the 2024-25 NCAA Division II Central Regional. The Gorillas, the region's top seed, awaits the winner of a quarterfinal match-up between fourth-seeded Missouri Western State University and Minnesota State University, the defending NCAA-II national champion, later Friday night.
 
Karenna Gerber posted games highs of 29 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Gorillas. She made 11 of 16 shots from the floor as Pitt State converted a blistering 62.3 percent from the field (38-61) for the game.
 
Macie Mays added 19 points and Grace Pyle chipped in with 16 points for the Gorillas. Maycee James and Savannah Campbell also contributed eight points apiece.
 
Harding (25-7), led 46-44 at halftime by shooting 52.5 percent (17-33) from the field in the first 20 minutes of play. The Bisons, the Great American Conference regular season and postseason tournament champs, couldn't keep the torrid shooting pace in the second half as they made just nine of 35 shots the rest of the way.
 
Aubrey Isbell (19), Josie Williams (13), Rory Greer (12), Sage Hawley (12) and Maddie Holt (10) also scored in double figures for the BIsons.
 
A partisan crowd of 2,326 fans packed into John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court for the contest. Pitt State's regional semifinal match-up against either the Griffons or Mavericks will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. (CST) Saturday (Mar. 15).