|
|
|
PITTSBURG —
The Pittsburg State Gorillas stayed place in the WBCA/USA Today Division II Top 25 poll released Tuesday and No. 3 proves not to be a bad place.
The Gorillas return to action Friday and Saturday in the Missouri Southern Thanksgiving Classic.
Pitt State (2-0) plays Evangel at 5 p.m. Friday night and Avila at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Gorillas last played a game Nov. 10, defeating Mary (N.D.) 80-60 in second day play of the Pitt State Tipoff Classic.
Pitt State averaged 88.5 points during its two wins over Southwest Minnesota and Mary — all 13 players scored in the opener against Southwest Minnesota and 11 players scored against Mary.
Balanced scoring follows Pitt State basketball around early in the season.
Sophomore forward Lizzy Jeronimus leads all scorers with 19.5 points per game, followed by Morgan Westhoff (11.5), Lauren Brown (11.0), Drew Roberts (9.5), Hailey Roderique (9.0), Y’Cedria Devers (6.0) and four players (Kylie Gafford, Kristina Willis, Lisa Elmer and Brigit Hesser) all at 4.0.
Westhoff leads a Pitt State bench crew averaging 37.5 points. Brown and Roderique have filled in for the graduated Larissa Richards and Brooke Conley in the starting lineup.
Pitt State allowed 55.5 points and outscored its first two opponents by a combined score of 101-52 after halftime.
Evangel (NAIA) won its first game of the season Monday night against John Brown, as a late 3-point shot by Jessica Rumfelt gave the Crusaders a 59-56 victory. Three of Evangel’s four losses came against nationally-ranked NAIA foes (No. 9 Lee, No. 10 Oklahoma City, and No. 23 William Woods).
Avila, another Heart of America school, entered the season ranked No. 20 but the Eagles have dropped their first five contests entering a Wednesday night game with Ottawa. Avila made it to the NAIA Sweet 16 last season.
Pitt State ranks highest among Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association teams in the top 25, its No. 3 is ahead of No. 13 Washburn and No. 20 Emporia State. MIAA schools Northeastern State, Central Missouri, Missouri Western and Fort Hays State were among those others receiving votes.
The Pittsburg State Gorillas stayed place in the WBCA/USA Today Division II Top 25 poll released Tuesday and No. 3 proves not to be a bad place.
The Gorillas return to action Friday and Saturday in the Missouri Southern Thanksgiving Classic.
Pitt State (2-0) plays Evangel at 5 p.m. Friday night and Avila at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Gorillas last played a game Nov. 10, defeating Mary (N.D.) 80-60 in second day play of the Pitt State Tipoff Classic.
Pitt State averaged 88.5 points during its two wins over Southwest Minnesota and Mary — all 13 players scored in the opener against Southwest Minnesota and 11 players scored against Mary.
Balanced scoring follows Pitt State basketball around early in the season.
Sophomore forward Lizzy Jeronimus leads all scorers with 19.5 points per game, followed by Morgan Westhoff (11.5), Lauren Brown (11.0), Drew Roberts (9.5), Hailey Roderique (9.0), Y’Cedria Devers (6.0) and four players (Kylie Gafford, Kristina Willis, Lisa Elmer and Brigit Hesser) all at 4.0.
Westhoff leads a Pitt State bench crew averaging 37.5 points. Brown and Roderique have filled in for the graduated Larissa Richards and Brooke Conley in the starting lineup.
Pitt State allowed 55.5 points and outscored its first two opponents by a combined score of 101-52 after halftime.
Evangel (NAIA) won its first game of the season Monday night against John Brown, as a late 3-point shot by Jessica Rumfelt gave the Crusaders a 59-56 victory. Three of Evangel’s four losses came against nationally-ranked NAIA foes (No. 9 Lee, No. 10 Oklahoma City, and No. 23 William Woods).
Avila, another Heart of America school, entered the season ranked No. 20 but the Eagles have dropped their first five contests entering a Wednesday night game with Ottawa. Avila made it to the NAIA Sweet 16 last season.
Pitt State ranks highest among Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association teams in the top 25, its No. 3 is ahead of No. 13 Washburn and No. 20 Emporia State. MIAA schools Northeastern State, Central Missouri, Missouri Western and Fort Hays State were among those others receiving votes.
