December 30, 2009
Gorilla Women Earn Road Win Over Bearcats
MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Pitt State women's basketball team improved to 4-1 in conference action and evened their record at 6-6 with a 79-68 win over Northwest Missouri in Maryville, Mo. on Wednesday (Dec. 30) evening.
Senior Nicole McCombs led the team with 20 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Junior Bailey Waugh added 17 points and was a perfect 5-for-5 from three-point range. Senior DePrice Taylor added 16 points, scoring 10 in the second half.
Four Bearcats scored in double figures, led by Abby Henry with 17. Gabby Curtis had 11 and Gentry Dietz and Shelly Martin each added 10.
The game was even to the first media timeout, 9-9, but then Pitt State began to pull ahead. Waugh hit three threes in under four minutes to help push the Gorillas to a 24-15 lead at the midway point in the half. The Gorilla defense held tough, holding the Bearcats scoreless from 6:33 to 2:45. During that span, the Gorillas poured in eight points to take a 36-20 lead. Northwest Missouri got a couple late buckets, but Pitt State answered and ended the first half with a 42-28 lead.
Pitt State did not hit its first shot from the floor in the second half until the 15:06 mark. The Bearcats outscored the Gorillas 10-5 during the first five minutes of the second half, with the only Gorilla points coming from the charity stripe. PSU's offense came alive just after the 14 minute mark as they went on a 10-2 run to take a double digit lead again at 59-44 with just under 12 minutes remaining. The Gorillas built as much as a 20-point lead, 66-46, with 8:55 remaining and was able to hold a double digit lead the rest of the game to finish with a 79-69 win.
The Gorillas return to John Lance Arena for the first game of 2010 on Saturday, Jan. 2 as they will face rival Missouri Southern in a Sonic Trophy Series game. The Pitt State Athletic Department and Sonic have worked together to give fans the opportunity to win many prizes through both the women's and men's games.