The women’s basketball team played a home game against Northwest Missouri State University (NWMSU) on Saturday, Feb. 15 and won (60-54).
Head Coach Amanda Davied was proud of the team for defeating NWMSU.
“I think we did really good,” Davied said. “We protected our home court (and) got a big win against a team that we were chasing in the league standings. Now, we’ve evened it up and we’re both tied for fourth.”
Davied thought the team played well in several aspects of the game.
“… We’ve been really harping on playing better defense, trying to get a few extra stops when the game was close, and I thought our girls really did a good job of making a stand on defense,” Davied said. “We really guarded the three-point line very well (and) limited their three pointers to just three. Then, on the offensive side of the basketball, I thought we really controlled possessions, didn’t turn it over, and then we shot really well from the three-point line.”
During the game against NWMSU, sophomore Tristan Gegg made six field goals, junior Maya Williams and sophomore Sydnee Crain each made three and senior Athena Alvarado made two. Gegg and senior Meghan Maher each made two three-point field goals and senior Marina Bauza Rubert added one. Gegg made 10 free throws, Williams made four, Crain made three and sophomore Erin Davis added two. Alvarado made a total of nine rebounds, Williams and Gegg each made seven and Crain made five.
“I thought… Kaylee DaMitz had a great game,” Davied said. “She had seven assists, she was three for three from the three point line.., shot perfect from the free throw line, so I thought that she really led us well in all of those categories. Then, Maya Williams is getting back into it and Athena Alvarado was still very consistent around the rim, shot 50 percent (and) had 11 points. So, just really proud of all the girls but those three stood out the most.”
The team also played a game against Missouri Western on Wednesday, Feb. 19 in St. Joseph. The team won 61-59.
During the game against Missouri Western, Alvarado made seven field goals, Maher made five, Gegg made four, and sophomore Kaylee DaMitz made three. Gegg and Maher each made three three-point field goals and DaMitz added one. Alvarado made five free throws, Williams made three, and DaMitz added two. Alvarado made a total of 11 rebounds, Williams made eight, DaMitz made four, and Crain added three.
The Gorilla’s next game is against Northwest Missouri on Saturday, Feb. 22 in Maryville.
Looking ahead, the Gorillas have two games left of the regular season. They will play Lincoln in a home game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m. The last game of the regular season is against Central Missouri on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 1:30 p.m. Both games are home games and will be held in the Whetzel Court of John Lance Arena.