PITTSBURG - The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team will host the Missouri Southern State University Lions on Saturday (Jan. 24) at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court.

Tip off against the Lions is set for 1:30 p.m. (CST).

Head Coach Amanda Davied
In her eighth year as head coach of her alma mater, Davied owns a 162-65 (.714) record. During her tenure as head coach, she has guided the Gorillas to the Division II National Tournament four times (2025-23 & 2019) with her debut season marking the first coach in program history to guide the Gorillas to a 20-win season. Last season, Davied was named the MIAA and KBCA Four Year College Coach of the Year after helping lead the Gorillas to a 33-4 overall record and a NCAA Division II Final Four appearance after claiming the MIAA regular season, MIAA Tournament and Central Region Tournament championships. 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.

WBCA Poll Update
Released on Tuesday (Jan. 20), the Gorillas are No. 13 in the Division II Poll and are 14-3 overall, 7-1 in the MIAA. Pittsburg State when ranked No. 13 is 13-2 with wins coming in the 2010-11, 2014-15, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. As a Top 25 ranked team in the WBCA Poll, the Gorillas all-time are 155-53 (.745) while being ranked for 110 featured weeks. Pittsburg State has featured in the Top 25 in 25 straight editions of the WBCA Coaches Poll dating back to last season's opening poll.

Alumni Day
The Pittsburg State women's basketball team will host a pair of historic former squads – the 1995-96 Gorillas and the 2015-16 Gorillas – for their 30-year and 10-year reunions and present Final Four rings to the 2024-25 Gorillas at Saturday's MIAA doubleheader against Missouri Southern State University. Pitt State will recognize the 10-year anniversary of the 2015-16 team at halftime of the women's contest, the 2015-16 squad posted a then school record 29 victories en route to capturing the NCAA Division II South Central Regional crown and advancing to the NCAA DII Elite Eight for the second time in five seasons under former head coach Lane Lord. Between games, the school will honor the 30th anniversary of the 1995-96 MIAA Co-Championship squad that went 18-8 on the season, going 12-4 in the MIAA. Marked the second all-time MIAA crown under former head coach Steve High and was shared by the University of Central Missouri and the Missouri University of Science & Technology. During halftime of the men's game Saturday, the 2024-25 women's team will receive its championship rings. Last season the Gorillas set a school record with 33 wins, going 33-4 overall and 18-1 in the MIAA. The Gorillas captured the MIAA regular season and postseason tournament crowns and swept through the NCAA Division II Central Regional as hosts before advancing to the NCAA DII Elite Eight in Pittsburg, Pa. Pittsburg State beat Lubbock Christian (66-55) in the national quarterfinals before dropping a hard-fought 68-61 decision to eventual national champions Grand Valley State in the national semifinals.

A Peek at the Gorillas
Pittsburg State is 14-3 overall and 7-1 in the MIAA, to be tied atop the conference standings. Picked to finish first in the MIAA Preseason Media Poll and third in the Coaches Poll, the Gorillas have made it to the NCAA Division II National Tournament in three straight seasons. Ja'Miya Brown leads the team with 13.2 points a game for the season, going 29-of-75 from behind the arc (.387) and hauling in 4.5 rebounds a game. The all-action guard combo of Marin Adams and Harper Schreiner have accounted for 424 points (24.9), 211 rebounds (12.4), 93 assists (5.5) and 37 steals (2.2) while going 115-of-133 (.865) from the charity stripe. The MIAA leader for rebounds per game (9.6), Kaycee McCumber is adding in 8.3 points a game in 22.2 minutes. Clara Swearingen in her first season as a starter is averaging 7.0 points a game and has knocked down 20 three pointers. Hannah Miller (5.6), Cambrie Phillips (5.5) and Amanda Byrnes (5.0) are key contributors off the bench. As a team the Gorillas are scoring 73.5 points a game while opponents are putting up 63.5. On the glass, Pittsburg State for the season is averaging 43.2 rebounds a game and holding a +7.9 advantage over opponents. 

Career Highs Set In 2025-26
Ja'Miya Brown: 36 points vs. Western Colorado (Dec. 20). 11 rebounds at Northwestern Oklahoma (Nov. 20). 3 assists at No. 8 Fort Hays State (Dec. 13) and vs. St. Mary (Kan.) (Dec. 15). 6 steals at Cameron (Dec. 19). 2 blocks vs. Central Oklahoma (Dec. 4). 13 field goals made and 7 three pointers made vs. Western Colorado. 6 free throws made at FHSU. Amanda Byrnes: 8 rebounds vs. Central Oklahoma (Dec. 4). 5 blocks at Northwestern Oklahoma (Nov. 20). 7 field goals made vs. St. Mary (Kan.) (Dec. 15). 5 free throws made vs. Newman (Jan. 8). Hannah Miller: 20 points vs. Northern State (Nov. 14). 6 rebounds vs. St. Mary (Kan.) (Dec. 15). 3 assists vs. Northern State & St. Mary (Kan.). 2 steals vs. Northern State. 8 field goals made 4 throws made vs. Northern State. 1 three pointer made at Cameron (Dec. 19). Harper Schreiner: 9 free throws made at Northeastern State (Jan. 3). Clara Swearingen: 20 points vs. Angelo State (Nov. 30). 5 rebounds at No. 8 Fort Hays State (Dec. 13), vs. ASU & No. 8 Texas Woman's (Nov. 25). 5 assists vs. Minnesota Crookston (Nov. 15). 7 field goals made and 4 three pointers made vs. ASU. 8 free throws made vs. Rogers State (Dec. 6).

Double-Doubles in 2025-26
This season three Gorillas have recorded double-doubles, with all nine instances being points-rebounds performances. Kaycee McCumber (4): 11 points, 18 rebounds vs. No. 8 Texas Woman's (Nov. 25) and 15 points, 15 rebounds vs. Central Oklahoma (Dec. 4); 17 points, 15 rebounds at Rogers State (Jan. 14); 12 points, 11 rebounds at Central Oklahoma (Jan. 17). Harper Schreiner (4): 19 points, 12 rebounds vs. Minnesota Crookston (Nov. 15); 12 points, 11 rebounds vs. St. Mary (Kan.) (Dec. 15) and 18 points, 10 rebounds at Northeastern State (Jan. 3); 12 points and 12 rebounds at Rogers State (Jan. 14).Ja'Miya Brown (1): 20 points, 11 rebounds at Northwestern Oklahoma (Nov. 20).

Schreiner Feeling Grand
Harper Schreiner became the 27th Gorilla in program history to score 1,000 career points in the fourth quarter against Newman (Jan. 8). The Eudora, Kan., recorded her 12th career double-double on the road against Rogers State (Jan. 14), finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds. In 117 career games wearing the Crimson and Gold, Schreiner has accumulated 1,023 points, 721 rebounds, 473 assists and 174 steals. Among Pitt State career ranks, Schreiner is third in rebounds and assists, sixth in steals and 25th in scoring. With eight more made three pointers would become the 18th Gorilla to convert on 100 attempts from distance for their career. When she makes her 100th career three pointer will become the 4th Gorilla in program history to have for their career 100 made three pointers, 300 rebounds, 300 assists and 1000 points scored (Grace Pyle, 2021-25, Amanda Davied, 1999-03, Leslie Dudley, 1996-00).

Consistent Mays
Macie Mays in two years with the Pittsburg State program, has scored 799 points (12.5) in 64 games. The El Dorado Springs, Mo., native is tied for the school record field goal percentage record after going 10-of-10 from the field against Northeastern State (Jan. 4, 2025) for a career-high 30 points at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court.

From Denver, Colo. to Pittsburg, Kan.
Senior Ashlyn Yow and junior Amanda Byrnes will be teammates at the collegiate level for the third season in a row after transferring into Pittsburg State from fellow Division II program, Metropolitan State University - Denver (MSU - Denver). Yow appeared in 77 games for MSU - Denver where she finished with 411 points (5.3), 140 rebounds (1.8) and 92 assists (1.2) while shooting .333 from distance. Byrnes played in 51 games as a Roadrunner, finishing with 153 points, 143 rebounds and 23 blocks in 12.9 minutes a game.

International Rillas
Marie Wembadjonga (Libreville, Gabon) and Karolina Kiraga (Wistka, Poland) have taken unique paths to end up being teammates this season at Pittsburg State. Wembadjonga played at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) last season where she averaged 7.8 points and 7.8 rebounds a game, the Gabonese national began her collegiate career in 2023-24 at Chipola College where in 27 games she averaged 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 points a game. Wembadjonga played at the Lycee Joseph Ambouroue Avaro Secondary School in Gabon prior to playing collegiately. Kiraga will begin her collegiate career with the Gorillas after wrapping up a prep career at Providence Classical Christian Academy in Rogers, Ark. Karolina (Lola) averaged 17.6 points and 7.1 rebounds a game during her time at PCCA, being named an All-State performer three-times.

Five Gems
Pittsburg State features five players who played high school basketball in the state of Arkansas. Junior Ja'Miya Brown (North Little Rock | North Little Rock High School), Freshmen Marin Adams (Farmington | Farmington High School), Karolina Kiraga (Wistka, Poland | Providence Classical Christian Academy), Kaycee McCumber (Farmington | Farmington High School) and Cambrie Phillips (Cave Springs | Bentonville High School). Brown in her first season as a starter leads the team with 13.2 points a game and made 29 three pointers at a .387 clip. Adams and McCumber are coming off three straight Arkansas State Championships (4A in 2023 & 24, 5A in 2025). This season, Adams is averaging 12.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists a game with McCumber corralling a MIAA leading 9.6 rebounds a game to supplement 8.3 points. Coming off the bench, Phillips is averaging 5.5 points and Kiraga, 1.6.

Magic Number 18
Early in her collegiate career, Kaycee McCumber has already left her mark in the Pittsburg State record books with a freshman record 18 rebounds against Texas Woman's (Nov. 25). Against Western Colorado (Dec. 20) she eclipsed 100 rebounds for the season, becoming the 18th Gorilla since the 1990-91 season to accomplish the feat. Lizzy Jeronimus (2011-12) came away with 225 rebounds to lead all freshman with Harper Schreiner (2022-23) the only other freshman to eclipse 200 boards with 205. Janelle Klein (2003-04, 165), Karenna Gerber (2021-22, 164), Bethany Turnbull (1999-00, 158), Madison Northcutt (2015-16, 140), Amber Sanborn (1993-94, 138), Leslie Dudley (1996-97, 137), Dani Fronabarger (1989-90, 135), Sydney Holmes (2021-22, 132), Kami Scrivner (2001-02, 127), Lisa Cropper (1992-93, 122), Laura Glenn (2007-08, 117), Tracy Patry (2004-05, 114), Megan Scott (2018-19, 108), Kaylee DaMitz (2018-19, 104) and Macie Mays (2023-24, 101) round out the other freshman to accomplish the feat.

MIAA Preseason Poll
The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association on October 6th announced the Preseason Coaches and Media Polls for Women's Basketball. In the coaches poll, Fort Hays State, Washburn, Pittsburg State and Central Missouri were picked to finish first-fourth. Nebraska - Kearney, Missouri Western, Missouri Southern , Northwest Missouri, Northeastern State and Arkansas - Fort Smith rounded out the top ten teams. Emporia State, Central Oklahoma, Rogers State and Newman completed the poll in 11-14. In the media poll, Pittsburg State was picked first and was followed by Fort Hays State, Washburn and Central Missouri in the top four. Rounding out the top ten in the media poll were Nebraska - Kearney, Missouri Western, Northwest Missouri, Arkansas - Fort Smith, Missouri Southern and Emporia State. Northeastern State, Central Oklahoma, Rogers State and Newman were picked to finish 11-14.

MSSU Report
Missouri Southern is 13-4 overall and 7-1 in the MIAA to be tied with Pittsburg State and Fort Hays State atop the conference standings. This season on the road the Lions are 6-3 with losses against Southwestern Oklahoma (Nov. 19), Drury (Nov. 25) and Arkansas - Fort Smith (Jan. 3). Leading the offense with 16.3 points and 2.8 assists is Grace Frazier who did not play in the last game against Rogers State. Ashlyn Alloway is the top front court player for MSSU, averaging 14.9 points and 8.3 rebounds a game and in the Jan. 6th meeting between Pitt State and Missouri Southern scored 30 points and hauled in seven boards. Nariah Clay is the other member of the team to average in double figures for points at 13.5, Clay this season has gone 30-of-88 from distance (.341). Makenna Yokley is averaging 7.9 points and 5.6 reboudns to go with a team-high .457 field goal percentage. Delaney Roller is putting up 7.0 points a game while shooting a team best .354 from behind the arc (29-of-82). As a team, MSSU is scoring 76.6 points a game with opponents scoring 68.1. The Lions have hauled in 42.1 rebounds a game for a +6.5 advantage per game over their opponents.