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PITTSBURG —
The Pittsburg State Gorillas of head coach Lane Lord established a school record with 23 wins, defeating No. 20-ranked Emporia State 49-42 Wednesday night at John Lance Arena.
The Gorillas — ranked eighth in the latest coaches' poll released on Tuesday — found out Wednesday they hold the No. 1 seed in the South Central region and if Pitt State can hold onto this hot spot after clashes with No. 2 Northeastern State (Feb. 25) and No. 3 Washburn (Saturday), as well as the upcoming MIAA Tournament, the Gorillas would host an eight-team regional rather than go on the road in the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship tournament.
"I think it would be huge," Lord said of Pitt State hosting a regional. "Our kids didn't know anything about it (their No. 1 ranking in the South Central region). I didn't want them to be nervous about it, but I told them after the game. I know we've got a huge game on Saturday, but this game (Emporia State) is very important too. No. 1, it allowed us to break the school record for wins in a season, which our kids deserve because they have just battled all year long, all these close games. It also gives us a chance."
Feb. 10, 2001. Democrats and Republicans debated George W. Bush's $1.4 trillion, 10-year tax cut plan. Abraham Beame, first Jewish mayor of New York City, died. A moderate earthquake, measured 3.9, hit Southern California. The No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart was "It Wasn't Me" by Shaggy, featuring Ricardo "RikRok" Ducent. Also, on that date, Pitt State defeated Washburn 69-57, the Gorillas' last win in Topeka against the Lady Blues.
"It's going to be tough," Lord said, "but I think our kids are excited about the opportunity. If you win that, you've got a chance to host the regional."
In the first meeting this season at John Lance Arena, it was a tale of two halves as Washburn turned a 28-23 halftime deficit into a convincing 65-51 win by shooting 55.2 percent from the field (16-for-29) and limiting Pitt State to 25.9 shooting (7-27) after halftime.
Laura Kinderknecht and Ebonie Williams each scored 14 points for the Lady Blues and Pitt State freshman Lizzy Jeronimus led all scorers with 15 points in a losing effort. Neodesha High School graduate Stevi Schultz added nine points and four assists for the Lady Blues.
The Pittsburg State Gorillas of head coach Lane Lord established a school record with 23 wins, defeating No. 20-ranked Emporia State 49-42 Wednesday night at John Lance Arena.
The Gorillas — ranked eighth in the latest coaches' poll released on Tuesday — found out Wednesday they hold the No. 1 seed in the South Central region and if Pitt State can hold onto this hot spot after clashes with No. 2 Northeastern State (Feb. 25) and No. 3 Washburn (Saturday), as well as the upcoming MIAA Tournament, the Gorillas would host an eight-team regional rather than go on the road in the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship tournament.
"I think it would be huge," Lord said of Pitt State hosting a regional. "Our kids didn't know anything about it (their No. 1 ranking in the South Central region). I didn't want them to be nervous about it, but I told them after the game. I know we've got a huge game on Saturday, but this game (Emporia State) is very important too. No. 1, it allowed us to break the school record for wins in a season, which our kids deserve because they have just battled all year long, all these close games. It also gives us a chance."
Feb. 10, 2001. Democrats and Republicans debated George W. Bush's $1.4 trillion, 10-year tax cut plan. Abraham Beame, first Jewish mayor of New York City, died. A moderate earthquake, measured 3.9, hit Southern California. The No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart was "It Wasn't Me" by Shaggy, featuring Ricardo "RikRok" Ducent. Also, on that date, Pitt State defeated Washburn 69-57, the Gorillas' last win in Topeka against the Lady Blues.
"It's going to be tough," Lord said, "but I think our kids are excited about the opportunity. If you win that, you've got a chance to host the regional."
In the first meeting this season at John Lance Arena, it was a tale of two halves as Washburn turned a 28-23 halftime deficit into a convincing 65-51 win by shooting 55.2 percent from the field (16-for-29) and limiting Pitt State to 25.9 shooting (7-27) after halftime.
Laura Kinderknecht and Ebonie Williams each scored 14 points for the Lady Blues and Pitt State freshman Lizzy Jeronimus led all scorers with 15 points in a losing effort. Neodesha High School graduate Stevi Schultz added nine points and four assists for the Lady Blues.
At the Emporia State postgame press conference, the big ‘R’ word came up involving Washburn on Saturday and Northeastern State on Feb. 25.
"We just want to go in and we want to play great," Pitt State senior post Larissa Richards said. "We’ve got to go in and get a win because last time we lost, so now it’s time for revenge."
On Wednesday night against Emporia State, Pitt State scored its lowest point total in a winning effort all season, 49. Remember, the Gorillas average 74.3 points per game on the season, have reached at least 80 points nine times and have scored fewer than 60 points four times, going 2-2 in those games.
"I think we can play both styles," Lord said, "but you've got to credit Emporia. They got back and they guarded our shooters. I thought early in the game, we missed Larissa (Richards) four times in a row the first four possessions where we did get the defensive rebound, we're out in transition, she had her man sealed up the lane and we missed her. If we get it to her, maybe it's a different ballgame but it wasn't and now here we are fighting from behind like we always do."
"I feel like we always do this," Pitt State junior guard Drew Roberts said. "The second half is our game. We know coming in that second half, we’ve got to push it to the limit. I mean, what are we 23-2 now?"
The Gorillas (23-2, 17-1 MIAA) have now outscored their 25 opponents 982-776 after halftime, an incredible 206-point margin. Both Washburn and Northeastern State outscored Pitt State after halftime in the only two Pitt State losses this season.
NCAA Division II rankings
South Central region
1. Pittsburg State (23-2)
2. Northeastern State (20-3)
3. Washburn (22-4)
4. Tarleton State (19-6)
5. Midwestern State (18-5)
6. Emporia State (17-6)
7. Central Missouri (17-6)
8. Arkansas Tech (17-3)
9. West Texas A&M (15-8)
10. Newman (18-5)
PSU record against schools ranked in the South Central top 10: 5-2 (.710)
