No. 13 Gorillas Journey To MSSU, Host Jets This Week

PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University girls’s basketball staff will start the week on the street towards the Missouri Southern State University Lions on Tuesday (Jan. 6) earlier than ending the week at dwelling for the primary time in 2026 towards the Newman University Jets on Thursday (Jan. 8). 

Tip off towards MSSU is ready for five:30 p.m. (CST) on the Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium, towards the Jets tip off is ready for five:30 p.m. at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court.

Head Coach Amanda Davied

In her eighth 12 months as head coach of her alma mater, Davied owns a 159-64 (.713) file. During her tenure as head coach, she has guided the Gorillas to the Division II National Tournament 4 instances (2025-23 & 2019) along with her debut season marking the primary coach in program historical past to information the Gorillas to a 20-win season. Last season, Davied was named the MIAA and KBCA Four Year College Coach of the Year after serving to lead the Gorillas to a 33-4 total file and a NCAA Division II Final Four look after claiming the MIAA common season, MIAA Tournament and Central Region Tournament championships. Davied has deep ties to this system first as a participant (1999-03), graduate assistant (2003-04) and assistant coach (2004-18) whereas serving because the lead assistant from 2007-18 for present Division I, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), head coach Lane Lord.

WBCA Poll Update

Released on Tuesday (Dec. 23, 2025), the Gorillas are No. 13 within the Division II Poll and are 11-2 total, 4-0 within the MIAA. Pittsburg State when ranked No. 13, is 13-2 with wins coming within the 2010-11, 2014-15, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. As a Top 25 ranked staff within the WBCA Poll, the Gorillas all-time are 152-52 (.745) whereas being ranked for 108 weeks. Pittsburg State has featured within the Top 25 in 23 straight editions of the WBCA Coaches Poll courting again to final season’s opening ballot.

A Peek on the Gorillas

Pittsburg State is 11-2 total and 4-0 within the MIAA after the primary weekend of 2026. Picked to complete first within the MIAA Preseason Media Poll and third within the Coaches Poll, the Gorillas have made it to the NCAA Division II National Tournament in three straight seasons. Leading the cost on offense is Ja’Miya Brown with 13.6 factors a recreation, going 22-of-57 from distance (.386) to go along with 5.0 rebounds. Marin Adams and Harper Schreiner are all-action guards with the duo contributing for 326 factors (25.1), 168 rebounds (12.9), 62 assists (4.8) and 26 steals (2.0) whereas going 90-101 from the charity stripe (.891). Kaycee McCumber in 22.5 minutes is grabbing 9.4 rebounds and scoring 7.4 factors a recreation. Clara Swearingen in her first season as a starter is averaging 6.8 factors a recreation and transformed on 14 three pointers. Hannah Miller (5.8), Cambrie Phillips (4.8) and Amanda Byrnes (4.7) are the main contributors from the bench. As a staff the Gorillas are scoring 71.5 factors a recreation with opponents placing up 62.9. On the glass, Pitt State is corralling 43.8 boards a recreation and capturing .754 from the charity stripe.

Career Highs Set In 2025-26

Ja’Miya Brown: 36 factors vs. Western Colorado (Dec. 20). 11 rebounds at Northwestern Oklahoma (Nov. 20). 3 assists at No. 8 Fort Hays State (Dec. 13) and vs. St. Mary (Kan.) (Dec. 15). 6 steals at Cameron (Dec. 19). 2 blocks vs. Central Oklahoma (Dec. 4). 13 subject targets made and seven three pointers made vs. Western Colorado. 6 free throws made at FHSU. Amanda Byrnes: 8 rebounds vs. Central Oklahoma (Dec. 4). 5 blocks at Northwestern Oklahoma (Nov. 20). 7 subject targets made vs. St. Mary (Kan.) (Dec. 15). Hannah Miller: 20 factors vs. Northern State (Nov. 14). 6 rebounds vs. St. Mary (Kan.) (Dec. 15). 3 assists vs. Northern State & St. Mary (Kan.). 2 steals vs. Northern State. 8 subject targets made 4 throws made vs. Northern State. 1 three pointer made at Cameron (Dec. 19). Harper Schreiner: 9 free throws made at Northeastern State (Jan. 3). Clara Swearingen: 20 factors vs. Angelo State (Nov. 30). 5 rebounds at No. 8 Fort Hays State (Dec. 13), vs. ASU & No. 8 Texas Woman’s (Nov. 25). 5 assists vs. Minnesota Crookston (Nov. 15). 7 subject targets made and 4 three pointers made vs. ASU. 8 free throws made vs. Rogers State (Dec. 6).

Double-Doubles in 2025-26

This season three Gorillas have recorded double-doubles, with all six cases being points-rebounds performances. Harper Schreiner: 19 factors, 12 rebounds vs. Minnesota Crookston (Nov. 15); 12 factors, 11 rebounds vs. St. Mary (Kan.) (Dec. 15) and 18 factors, 10 rebounds at Northeastern State (Jan. 3). Kaycee McCumber: 11 factors, 18 rebounds vs. No. 8 Texas Woman’s (Nov. 25) and 15 factors, 15 rebounds vs. Central Oklahoma (Dec. 4). Ja’Miya Brown: 20 factors, 11 rebounds at Northwestern Oklahoma (Nov. 20).

Schreiner The Stat Sheet Stuffer

Harper Schreiner notched her eleventh profession double-double at Northeastern State (Jan. 3),  ending with 18 factors and 10 rebounds towards the RiverHawks. In 113 profession video games carrying the Crimson and Gold, Schreiner has gathered 974 factors, 690 rebounds, 455 assists and 167 steals. Among Pitt State profession ranks, Schreiner is third in assists, fourth in rebounds, sixth in steals and is nearing changing into the twenty seventh Gorilla in program historical past to attain 1,000 profession factors.

Consistent Mays

Macie Mays in two years with the Pittsburg State program, has scored 799 factors (12.5) in 64 video games. The El Dorado Springs, Mo., native is tied for the college file subject objective share file after going 10-of-10 from the sphere towards Northeastern State (Jan. 4, 2025) for a career-high 30 factors at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court.

From Denver, Colo. to Pittsburg, Kan.

Senior Ashlyn Yow and junior Amanda Byrnes shall be teammates on the collegiate degree for the third season in a row after transferring into Pittsburg State from fellow Division II program, Metropolitan State University – Denver (MSU – Denver). Yow appeared in 77 video games for MSU – Denver the place she completed with 411 factors (5.3), 140 rebounds (1.8) and 92 assists (1.2) whereas capturing .333 from distance. Byrnes performed in 51 video games as a Roadrunner, ending with 153 factors, 143 rebounds and 23 blocks in 12.9 minutes a recreation.

International Rillas

Marie Wembadjonga (Libreville, Gabon) and Karolina Kiraga (Wistka, Poland) have taken distinctive paths to finish up being teammates this season at Pittsburg State. Wembadjonga performed at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) final season the place she averaged 7.8 factors and seven.8 rebounds a recreation, the Gabonese nationwide started her collegiate profession in 2023-24 at Chipola College the place in 27 video games she averaged 4.3 rebounds and three.4 factors a recreation. Wembadjonga performed on the Lycee Joseph Ambouroue Avaro Secondary School in Gabon previous to taking part in collegiately. Kiraga will start her collegiate profession with the Gorillas after wrapping up a prep profession at Providence Classical Christian Academy in Rogers, Ark. Karolina (Lola) averaged 17.6 factors and seven.1 rebounds a recreation throughout her time at PCCA, being named an All-State performer three-times.

Five Gems

Pittsburg State options 5 gamers who performed highschool basketball within the state of Arkansas. Junior Ja’Miya Brown (North Little Rock | North Little Rock High School), Freshmen Marin Adams (Farmington | Farmington High School), Karolina Kiraga (Wistka, Poland | Providence Classical Christian Academy), Kaycee McCumber (Farmington | Farmington High School) and Cambrie Phillips (Cave Springs | Bentonville High School). Brown in her first season as a starter is main the staff with 13.6 factors a recreation and has transformed on .386 of her three level makes an attempt (22-of-57). Adams and McCumber are coming off three straight Arkansas State Championships (4A in 2023 & 24, 5A in 2025). This season, Adams is averaging 12.9 factors, 4.5 rebounds and a couple of.7 assists a recreation with McCumber corralling a staff and MIAA main 9.4 rebounds a recreation to complement 7.4 factors. Coming off the bench, Phillips is averaging 4.8 factors and Kiraga, 1.5.

Magic Number 18

Early in her collegiate profession, Kaycee McCumber has already left her mark within the Pittsburg State file books with a freshman file 18 rebounds towards Texas Woman’s (Nov. 25). Against Western Colorado (Dec. 20) she eclipsed 100 rebounds for the season, changing into the 18th Gorilla for the reason that 1990-91 season to perform the feat. Lizzy Jeronimus (2011-12) got here away with 225 rebounds to guide all freshman with Harper Schreiner (2022-23) the one different freshman to eclipse 200 boards with 205. Janelle Klein (2003-04, 165), Karenna Gerber (2021-22, 164), Bethany Turnbull (1999-00, 158), Madison Northcutt (2015-16, 140), Amber Sanborn (1993-94, 138), Leslie Dudley (1996-97, 137), Dani Fronabarger (1989-90, 135), Sydney Holmes (2021-22, 132), Kami Scrivner (2001-02, 127), Lisa Cropper (1992-93, 122), Laura Glenn (2007-08, 117), Tracy Patry (2004-05, 114), Megan Scott (2018-19, 108), Kaylee DaMitz (2018-19, 104) and Macie Mays (2023-24, 101) spherical out the opposite freshman to perform the feat.

MIAA Preseason Poll

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association on October sixth introduced the Preseason Coaches and Media Polls for Women’s Basketball. In the coaches ballot, Fort Hays State, Washburn, Pittsburg State and Central Missouri had been picked to complete first-fourth. Nebraska – Kearney, Missouri Western, Missouri Southern , Northwest Missouri, Northeastern State and Arkansas – Fort Smith rounded out the highest ten groups. Emporia State, Central Oklahoma, Rogers State and Newman accomplished the ballot in 11-14. In the media ballot, Pittsburg State was picked first and was adopted by Fort Hays State, Washburn and Central Missouri within the prime 4. Rounding out the highest ten within the media ballot had been Nebraska – Kearney, Missouri Western, Northwest Missouri, Arkansas – Fort Smith, Missouri Southern and Emporia State. Northeastern State, Central Oklahoma, Rogers State and Newman had been picked to complete 11-14.

MSSU Report

Missouri Southern is 9-4 on the season and 3-1 within the MIAA heading into the second week of the brand new 12 months. At dwelling this season MSSU is 3-0 contained in the Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium the previous everlasting dwelling of the Lions whereas Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is present process renovations throughout the 2025-26 season. The 1,700 seat facility is getting used for varsity basketball video games for the primary time at MSSU for the reason that 1998-99 season. The Lions are lead on offense by Grace Frazier, with the guard averaging a team-high 15.0 factors, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals a recreation. Ashlyn Alloway an All-MIAA performer at Lincoln within the 2023-24 season is averaging 14.6 factors and eight.1 rebounds a recreation whereas capturing .808 from the charity stripe (63-of-78). Nariah Clay rounds out the main scorers with 13.5 a recreation. Clay and Delaney Roller are the shooters on the staff, going a mixed 47-of-134 (.351). The remainder of the staff from behind the arc this season is 26-of-93 (.280). Makenna Yokley in 19.8 minutes is placing up 7.8 factors and grabbing 5.4 rebounds a recreation whereas capturing a team-best .506 from the ground (39-of-77) from certified shooters. As a staff the Lions are scoring 76.8 factors a recreation whereas opponents are placing up 67.6. Opponents towards MSSU are capturing .781 from the charity stripe, .411 from the sphere and .320 from distance this season.

Jets Scout

Newman will enter the week with a 7-6 total file, going 1-3 within the early going towards MIAA opponents. On the street this season the Jets are 1-0 with a 69-51 win over Rockhurst (Dec. 18) the lone motion not at dwelling or on a impartial website court docket. Leading the staff with 14.4 factors a recreation is Jaeden McMillin, McMillin is capturing .935 from free throws (29-of-31) and including 5.5 rebounds a recreation. Alexis Martin is the highest shooter on the staff, going 24-of-68 from distance (.353) to date to guide the bench unit with 10.2 factors a recreation. Valeriya Lioukina leads the staff with 5.8 rebounds a recreation in 17.5 minutes a recreation as a starter, including in 7.2 factors. Paige Craft is the staff chief with 3.3 assists a recreation whereas including 9.2 factors. As a staff, Newman is scoring 68.6 factors a recreation with opponents scoring 62.5 on common. The Jets are 98-of-333 from behind the arc this season to date for .294 p.c and are changing on common on 7.5 makes an attempt per recreation.