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Sydney Tracy, junior guard and forward, jumps for a layup. Pitt State loses their first home game against Emporia State on Wednesday, Jan. 23. Hannah Meier

Women’s basketball defeats UCO, NSU, falls to ESU

The Pitt State women’s basketball team defeated the University of Central Oklahoma (62-60) on Thursday, Jan. 17 and Northeastern State University (76-69) on Saturday, Jan. 17. The team has now won four games in a row and are on a streak.  

“I think we really relied on our defensive presence, determination on the defensive end, and really just did enough on that end to get the win,” said head coach Amanda Davied. 

In the match against UCO, sophomore Maya Williams and junior Athena Alvarado each scored four field goals and junior Sydney Tracy and senior Shelby Lopez each scored three apiece. Williams, freshman Kaylee DaMitz, and junior Meghan Maher all scored two three-point field goals apiece and Lopez added one. Williams and Lopez both scored four free throws apiece, Alvarado added three, and DaMitz made one. Tracy and freshman Megan Scott each added five rebounds apiece and DaMitz and Alvarado each added four apiece.  

In the match against NSU, Lopez made a total of seven field goals, Williams added six, Alvarado scored four, and Maher made three. Lopez scored three three-point field goals, Williams and Maher each added two apiece, and freshman Sydnee Crain added one. Williams made a total of five free throws, Alvarado made three, and DaMitz and Tracy each made two apiece. Alvarado made a total of 11 rebounds, Lopez made five, Williams made four, and DaMitz added three.  

Williams scored a career high 19 points in the match against NSU.  

“Maya (Williams) has spent some extra time in the gym. I know she has really worked on her three pointer and Maya, right now, is playing with a lot of confidence. I think that she was just really determined to get that win in (the) game (against UCO),” Davied said. “She had a great attitude and I think her energy and her leadership that game was really good, as well as Shelby Lopez. She also really played well, had that same leadership, (and) same mentality with a positive attitude.”  

On Wednesday, Jan. 23 the Gorillas battled Emporia State at John Lance Arena. Despite their effort, the team lost 71-77.  

“We scored 71 points, so I think our offense did a great job as far as we did score enough points that we hoped that our defense could hold them under 70 but they are a very talented team so that is har to do.” 

A few players stood out to Davied during the match against Emporia State.  

“I think Shelby Lopez (and) our post players did a good job. That is where the majority of our points came from. However defensively we did some good things and then we had some breakdowns that led to them getting 77 points… That is where I think I would leave it at, just that we were able to score with those three players.”  

The Gorillas will go head to head with Washburn University on Saturday, Jan. 26.  Davied hopes for the team to make a comeback this weekend.  

“I hope that we bounce back and really just try to get our confidence back with competing against another really good team in the MIAA. I think that will show some maturity if we can really bounce back and go against another top team in the league, get a win at home, [and] protect the home court.”   

Despite the loss, Davied is proud of the team for their effort against the Emporia Hornets and hopes the team can use this loss as an opportunity to enhance their skills.  

“(I am) proud of our team just for really battling hard and I hope that this is something that we can learn from and grow from.”  

The team is now ranked 15-3 and 7-2 in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) play.

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