PITTSBURG -- The No. 11 ranked Pittsburg State University women's basketball team weathered a third quarter run by Missouri Southern State University and pulled away in the final 10 minutes of play for a 72-66 victory Monday (Feb. 2) at John Lance Arena.

The Gorillas (16-4, 9-2 MIAA) outscored the Lady Lions (15-5, 9-2 MIAA), 22-4, in the second quarter to turn a 17-11 deficit into a 33-21 halftime advantage. MSSU turned the tables on Pitt State in the third period, outscoring the Gorillas by 15 points to take a 46-43 lead into the final stanza.

The Gorillas got off to a quick start in the fourth quarter and Cambrie Phillips' 3-pointer with 7:27 to go gave Pitt State a 54-51 edge. Marin Adams, who poured in a game-high 21 points, stretched the Gorillas' margin to eight points, 61-53, with 4:20 to go. Pitt State ballooned its lead to 11 points before MSSU scored seven cosmetic points in the game's final half-minute to reach the six-point decision.

Harper Schreiner scored 12 of her 17 points in the second half and Kaycee McCumber logged her sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for the Gorillas. Clara Swearingen also fired in 12 points and dished out a team-leading four assists.

MSSU, which entered the game alone atop the MIAA standings, committed 20 turnovers in the contest and shot just 34.5 percent from the floor (20-58). Grace Frazier paced the Lady Lions with 22 points, while Ashlyn Alloway and Nariah Clay added 18 and 17 points, respectively.

The Gorillas will hit the road for an MIAA match-up against Emporia State University Thursday (Feb. 5) at William L. White Auditorium in downtown Emporia.