PITTSBURG - The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team will begin the week on the road against the Missouri Southern State University Lions on Tuesday (Jan. 6) before ending the week at home for the first time in 2026 against the Newman University Jets on Thursday (Jan. 8). 

Tip off against MSSU is set for 5:30 p.m. (CST) at the Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium, against the Jets tip off is set for 5:30 p.m. at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court.

Head Coach Amanda Davied
In her eighth year as head coach of her alma mater, Davied owns a 159-64 (.713) 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 (Dec. 23, 2025), the Gorillas are No. 13 in the Division II Poll and are 11-2 overall, 4-0 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 152-52 (.745) while being ranked for 108 weeks. Pittsburg State has featured in the Top 25 in 23 straight editions of the WBCA Coaches Poll dating back to last season's opening poll.

A Peek at the Gorillas
Pittsburg State is 11-2 overall and 4-0 in the MIAA after the first weekend of 2026. 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. Leading the charge on offense is Ja'Miya Brown with 13.6 points a game, going 22-of-57 from distance (.386) to go with 5.0 rebounds. Marin Adams and Harper Schreiner are all-action guards with the duo contributing for 326 points (25.1), 168 rebounds (12.9), 62 assists (4.8) and 26 steals (2.0) while going 90-101 from the charity stripe (.891). Kaycee McCumber in 22.5 minutes is grabbing 9.4 rebounds and scoring 7.4 points a game. Clara Swearingen in her first season as a starter is averaging 6.8 points a game and converted on 14 three pointers. Hannah Miller (5.8), Cambrie Phillips (4.8) and Amanda Byrnes (4.7) are the leading contributors from the bench. As a team the Gorillas are scoring 71.5 points a game with opponents putting up 62.9. On the glass, Pitt State is corralling 43.8 boards a game and shooting .754 from the charity stripe.

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). 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 six instances being points-rebounds performances. Harper Schreiner: 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). Kaycee McCumber: 11 points, 18 rebounds vs. No. 8 Texas Woman's (Nov. 25) and 15 points, 15 rebounds vs. Central Oklahoma (Dec. 4). Ja'Miya Brown: 20 points, 11 rebounds at Northwestern Oklahoma (Nov. 20).

Schreiner The Stat Sheet Stuffer
Harper Schreiner notched her 11th career double-double at Northeastern State (Jan. 3),  finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds against the RiverHawks. In 113 career games wearing the Crimson and Gold, Schreiner has accumulated 974 points, 690 rebounds, 455 assists and 167 steals. Among Pitt State career ranks, Schreiner is third in assists, fourth in rebounds, sixth in steals and is nearing becoming the 27th Gorilla in program history to score 1,000 career points.

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 is leading the team with 13.6 points a game and has converted on .386 of her three point attempts (22-of-57). Adams and McCumber are coming off three straight Arkansas State Championships (4A in 2023 & 24, 5A in 2025). This season, Adams is averaging 12.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists a game with McCumber corralling a team and MIAA leading 9.4 rebounds a game to supplement 7.4 points. Coming off the bench, Phillips is averaging 4.8 points and Kiraga, 1.5.

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 9-4 on the season and 3-1 in the MIAA heading into the second week of the new year. At home this season MSSU is 3-0 inside the Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium the former permanent home of the Lions while Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is undergoing renovations during the 2025-26 season. The 1,700 seat facility is being used for varsity basketball games for the first time at MSSU since the 1998-99 season. The Lions are lead on offense by Grace Frazier, with the guard averaging a team-high 15.0 points, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals a game. Ashlyn Alloway an All-MIAA performer at Lincoln in the 2023-24 season is averaging 14.6 points and 8.1 rebounds a game while shooting .808 from the charity stripe (63-of-78). Nariah Clay rounds out the leading scorers with 13.5 a game. Clay and Delaney Roller are the shooters on the team, going a combined 47-of-134 (.351). The rest of the team from behind the arc this season is 26-of-93 (.280). Makenna Yokley in 19.8 minutes is putting up 7.8 points and grabbing 5.4 rebounds a game while shooting a team-best .506 from the floor (39-of-77) from qualified shooters. As a team the Lions are scoring 76.8 points a game while opponents are putting up 67.6. Opponents against MSSU are shooting .781 from the charity stripe, .411 from the field and .320 from distance this season.

Jets Scout
Newman will enter the week with a 7-6 overall record, going 1-3 in the early going against MIAA opponents. On the road this season the Jets are 1-0 with a 69-51 win over Rockhurst (Dec. 18) the lone action not at home or on a neutral site court. Leading the team with 14.4 points a game is Jaeden McMillin, McMillin is shooting .935 from free throws (29-of-31) and adding 5.5 rebounds a game. Alexis Martin is the top shooter on the team, going 24-of-68 from distance (.353) so far to lead the bench unit with 10.2 points a game. Valeriya Lioukina leads the team with 5.8 rebounds a game in 17.5 minutes a game as a starter, adding in 7.2 points. Paige Craft is the team leader with 3.3 assists a game while adding 9.2 points. As a team, Newman is scoring 68.6 points a game with opponents scoring 62.5 on average. The Jets are 98-of-333 from behind the arc this season so far for .294 percent and are converting on average on 7.5 attempts per game.