PITTSBURG — The Gorillas performed the perfect encore, and the Pittsburg State University women's basketball team punched its ticket to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the third time in program history Monday (Mar. 17).

Down 15 points in the second quarter for the second time in as many games, the top-seeded Gorillas showcased their resiliency and tenacity in an epic comeback. Pitt State rallied to catch seventh-seeded Southwest Minnesota State University by the middle of the fourth quarter, took the lead with 1:54 to go and fended off the Mustangs at the buzzer in an 85-82 thriller in front of 2,243 partisan fans at John Lance Arena.

Karenna Gerber, the eight-team regional's Most Outstanding Player, poured in 34 points and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes of action. While the Gorillas (32-3) needed every one of her 34 points, one point short of her career-best scoring effort, her final rebound of the night helped seal the Pitt State win.

Leading 83-82, Pitt State's Grace Pyle missed a driving layup with 11 ticks remaining in regulation. Gerber secured the offensive rebound and kicked the ball out to Maycee James, who was fouled by the Mustangs Peyton Blandin with 8.4 seconds to go. James calmly hit both free throws for the game's final margin.

SMSU (28-5) called timeout and advanced the ball into frontcourt. The Mustangs Audrey Swanson received the ball in the waning seconds and attempted a game-tying 3-pointer, but Gerber deflected the shot as time expired.

Bri Stoltzman and Swanson, a pair of All-Tournament Team selections, combined for 58 points for SMSU, which knocked off the tournament's No. 2 seed Concordia-St. Paul Friday and No. 3 seed Fort Hays State Saturday. Stoltzman tallied 31 points, while Swanson added 27 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Blandin added 13 points, including a clutch 3-pointer that drew SMSU within a point, at 83-82, with 40 seconds left in the game.

Pyle, who was limited to 1-for-8 shooting in the first 20 minutes of play, exploded for 18 second-half points. James also scored 11 of her 12 points after halftime. Pyle joined Gerber as an All-Tournament Team selection.

The Gorillas overcame a 1-for-14 shooting night from 3-point range by outscoring the Mustangs, 24 to 10, at the charity stripe in one of the game's telling statistical categories. Pitt State converted 24 of 29 free throws overall.

The Gorillas also trailed by 15 points in the second quarter Saturday before storming back for an eventual 94-91 win over Minnesota State, the defending national champion, in the regional semifinals.

Pitt State will now advance to the Elite Eight slated for Mar. 24-28 at Pittsburgh, Pa. The Gorillas previously made Elite Eight appearances in 2012 and 2016. The NCAA will announce seeding for Elite Eight Tuesday (Mar. 18).

Pitt State completed a perfect 15-0 mark at home during the 2024-25 campaign, the first time the Gorillas enjoyed an unblemished home mark since the 1992-93 season when they posted an 11-0 home record.