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WOMEN’S HOOPS: Johnson leads Gorillas past Northwest Missouri State

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Julia Johnson scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help lead Pittsburg State women’s basketball to a lopsided 79-50 road win over Northwest Missouri State on Thursday at Bearcat Arena.

Johnson made 10-of-13 shots from the field as the Gorillas shot the ball at a 51.6 percent clip for the game (32-62).

Pittsburg State (12-6, 12-6 MIAA) led 22-18 with 5:50 to play in the second quarter, but the Gorillas outscored Northwest (6-10-, 6-10 MIAA) 12-1 the rest of the period to take a 34-19 advantage into halftime.

Tristan Gegg added 14 points and seven rebounds for Pittsburg State. Kaylee DaMitz contributed nine points and three assists, while Ashton McCorry chipped in with eight points.

The Bearcats got a team-leading 17 points from Molly Hartnett.

Pittsburg State will continue with game two of a three-game road swing with a 1:30 p.m. tip on Saturday at St. Joseph, Mo., against Missouri Western State .

WOMEN’S HOOPS: PSU’s Gegg named MIAA Player of the Week

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Pittsburg State University junior guard Tristan Gegg was named the MIAA Player of the Week for women’s basketball on Monday.

Gegg matched her career high in scoring with 31 points in The Gorillas’ 83-76 road win over Lincoln on Dec. 10. Gegg finished the win with four 3-pointers and 10 total field goals, knocking down all seven free-throw attempts against the Blue Tigers. She added three rebounds, three assists and two steals in the victory.

Gegg leads the MIAA in free-throw percentage (.966, 28-29) and ranks fifth in the conference in scoring (17.8 points per game).

Pittsburg State football to play Stephen F. Austin State

The Pittsburg State Gorillas football program will take on Stephen F. Austin State at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches, Texas on November 14, 2020. 

The MIAA announced the suspension of all fall athletics due to the COVID-19 pandemic on Aug. 14. 

“Though the conference football season is canceled, we are committed to assembling an abbreviated non-conference schedule,” said Pittsburg State’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Johnson in a press release. “This is important for next season, for our seniors who’ll soon leave us, and for our community. We look forward to it.”  

For new head coach Brian Wright and his staff, any opportunity to compete is very welcome.   

“This season is not what we planned, but our coaches and athletes have adapted and we’ve stayed prepared,” said Wright in the release. “Giving our athletes a chance to play the game they love, test themselves, and put in the work to stay game-ready for next season is our top priority. I’m happy for them, for our coaches, and for our fans.” 

Pittsburg State will announce a total of no more than five non-conference games in the next few days. Plans are underway for two home games at Carnie Smith Stadium. Pittsburg State Athletics will work with the Crawford County Health Department and the Bryant Student Health Center to determine crowd capacity and spectator virus mitigation measures, with details being announced as they are determined.