PITTSBURG - The Pittsburg State University women's basketball team will look to defend John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court this weekend with a pair of conference games against the Missouri Western State University Griffons and Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats.

Wednesday (Feb. 11) the Gorillas are slatted to host MWSU at 5:30 p.m. (CST) before ending the wekeend on Saturday (Feb. 14) against NWMSU at 1:30 p.m.

Head Coach Amanda Davied
In her eighth year as head coach of her alma mater, Davied owns a 165-67 (.711) 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 (Feb. 10), the Gorillas are No. 20 in the Division II Poll and are 17-5 overall, 10-3 in the MIAA. Pittsburg State when ranked No. 20 is 5-4 with wins coming in the 1991-92, 1994-95, 2012-13 and 2023-24 seasons. As a Top 25 ranked team in the WBCA Poll, the Gorillas all-time are 158-55 (.742) while being ranked for 113 featured weeks. Pittsburg State has featured in the Top 25 in a school record 28 straight editions of the WBCA Coaches Poll dating back to last season's opening poll. Previous record for consecutive weeks featured in the WBCA Division II Top 25 Poll was 25, spanning from Feb. 9, 2016 - Nov. 28, 2017.

A Peek at the Gorillas
Pittsburg State is 17-5 overall and 10-3 in the MIAA, and as of Feb. 9th sit in third place in the conference standings at a game out of Fort Hays State, Central Missouri and Missouri Southern. 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. 
Marin Adams lead the team with 13.2 points a game on the season, increasing to 14.2 in MIAA play. Ja'Miya Brown has knocked down a team-high 35 three pointers at a team-high .385 clip, averaging 12.7 points a game. Harper Schreiner rounds out the members on the team that are averaging in double figures for the season in points per game at 12.6. Kaycee McCumber has hauled in a conference leading 10.0 rebounds a game, scoring 9.2 points a game on the season with her rebound average (11.2) and points per game average (10.3) to be the one of two players in the MIAA this season to average a double-double in conference play. Clara Swearingen in her first season starting is averaging 8.0 points a game with 28 made three pointers. Cambrie Phillips (5.5), Amanda Byrnes (5.1), Hannah Miller (4.6) and Karolina Kiraga (2.0) make up the key contributors off the bench. As a team, the Gorillas are putting up 73.2 points a game with opponents scoring 64.7 a night. In 13 conference games, Pittsburg State is shooting .418 from the field, .345 from distance and .795 from the charity stripe to rank first in three point percentage, second in free throw percentage and third in field goal percentage.

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). 4 steals vs. Arkansas - Fort Smith (Jan. 31). 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 12 instances being points-rebounds performances. 
Kaycee McCumber (7): 11 points, 18 rebounds vs. No. 8 Texas Woman's (Nov. 25); 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); 16 points, 12 rebounds vs. Arkansas - Fort Smith (Jan. 31); 10 points, 15 rebounds vs. Missouri Southern (Feb. 2); 13 points, 16 rebounds at Emporia State (Feb. 5). 
Harper Schreiner (4): 19 points, 12 rebounds vs. Minnesota Crookston (Nov. 15); 12 points, 11 rebounds vs. St. Mary (Kan.) (Dec. 15); 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., native recorded her 12th career double-double on the road against Rogers State (Jan. 14), finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds and in 122 career games (all starts) while wearing the Crimson and Gold, Schreiner has accumulated 1,094 points, 748 rebounds, 487 assists, 180 steals and 98 three pointers made. Among Pitt State career ranks, Schreiner is third in rebounds and assists, sixth in steals and is 19th in scoring. Once she knocks down her 100th career three pointer, Schreiner will become the 18th Gorilla in program history to accomplish the feat and the fourth in program ranks to make 100 three pointers, provide 300 assists and score 1,000 career points. Joining Grace Pyle, 2021-25; Amanda Davied, 1999-03 and 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 is averaging 12.7 points a game and has made 35 three pointers at a .385 clip. Adams and McCumber are coming off three straight Arkansas State Championships (4A in 2023 & 24, 5A in 2025). This season, Adams is averaging a team-high 13.2 points, 4.0  rebounds and 2.7 assists a game with McCumber corralling a MIAA leading 10.0 rebounds a game to supplement 9.2 points. Coming off the bench, Phillips is averaging 5.5 points and Kiraga, 2.0.

Magic Number 18
Early in her collegiate career, Kaycee McCumber has already left her mark in the Pittsburg State record books with two freshman records. Hauling in 18 rebounds against Texas Woman's (Nov. 25) and registering seven double-doubles thus far in 2025-26 to move past Harper Schreiner in 2022-23 who finished with five double-double performances during her MIAA Freshman of the Year campaign. Lizzy Jeronimus (2011-12) came away with 225 rebounds to lead all freshman performers with Harper Schreiner (2022-23) the only other freshman prior to this season 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. 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. Collected an offensive rebound on the first possession of the game against Emporia State (Feb. 5) to become the 16th Gorilla since 1990-91 to have a season with 200 or more rebounds. Needs six more rebounds to claim the freshman rebound record for a season.

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.

MWSU Report
Missouri Western is 8-14 on the season and 4-9 in MIAA play. Mia Morel leads the team at 15.0 points a game while converting on .800 of her free throw attempts. Ana Oliveira Dias is putting up 13.7 points a game and 4.1 rebounds. Nakiya Harris rounds out the Griffons averaging in double figures for points per game at 11.8 and is the team leader in rebounds at 8.0. LaNicia Parker leads the bench unit with 8.6 points a game in 19.6 minutes. As a team, MWSU is scoring 70.0 points a game with opponents putting up 70.1. In MIAA action those averages become 65.7 points a night for the Griffons and 70.1 for opponents.

Bearcats Scout
Northwest Missouri enters the weekend with a 13-10 overall record and is 6-7 in the MIAA. Bailey Birmingham leads the team with 11.6 points with a .850 clip from the charity stripe and making a team-high 50 three pointers at .357. Andrea Lopreato is the other member of the team averaging in double figures for points per game at 11.6 in 22.2 minutes a game while converting on .845 of her free throws. Sadie Maas leads the team with 7.6 rebounds a game and is adding 6.4 points. As a team, NWMSU is scoring 62.1 points a game with opponents putting up 58.3. In conference action those figures become 59.7 points a game for the Bearcats and 62.2 for opponents.