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The Gorillas have been going through it for the past two weeks, as the flu has ripped through the team and coaching staff. Despite the adversity, Pitt State is still battling and hosted Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri this past week.
“We are just trying to survive. I think I had a 103-degree fever after our game Wednesday, can’t let your guard down still. I know how I felt, and I didn’t have to go out, run around, and play. I can’t imagine the toughness our kids displayed,” head coach Amanda Davied said.
Pitt State was able to scrape out a 64-61 win over the Missouri Western Griffons despite the flu, rallying in the fourth thanks to redshirt sophomore Hannah Miller scoring three straight baskets between the 4:41 and 2:51 mark of the final period to turn a 56-54 advantage into a 62-57 margin. Neither team scored again until the Griffons made two free throws with 42 seconds remaining. Western Missouri was fouled on a potential game-tying 3-point field goal attempt with 0.8 seconds left on the clock, but missed their first two charity shots. They intentionally missed on the third try, but Miller rebounded the miss as time expired.
Sophomore Clara Swearingen scored a game-high 18 points to pace the Gorillas, while Miller finished with 11. Freshman Kaycee McCumber added eight points and 10 rebounds. Junior Amanda Byrnes and freshman Marin Adams chipped in with six points apiece.
“We had a couple of people that hadn’t practiced due to the flu, had about five kids out with the flu. We were able to get that win, and I was thinking that if we could escape that one, it’d be good for us to keep this train rolling,” coach Davied said.
Following the narrow win, Pitt State hosted the Northwest Missouri Bearcats on Saturday, losing 59-65. The Gorillas fell behind early, getting outscored 23-11 in the second quarter, and were unable to overcome the deficit down the stretch.
Junior Ja’Miya Brown provided a team-leading 12 points and eight rebounds to pace the Gorillas, while senior Harper Schreiner finished with 11 points and five rebounds for the Gorillas, who shot just 34.5 percent (20-58) from the floor in the game. Adams and freshman Karolina Kiraga added eight points apiece while junior Marie Wembadjonga chipped in with four points and seven rebounds.
“When you look at Northwest’s scores, they have generally held people for the most part their program holds people in the 50s, low 60s. With that being said, going against a strong defense and not having a great week of practice, honestly a pretty tough week for us,” coach Davied said.
Pitt State will need to pull it together for the last four games of the season, as they turn their attention to the MIAA tournament and the NCAA postseason.
“Right now, we are sitting outside of national tournament opportunities, so we are really going to have to finish strong these last four games,” coach Davied said.
The Gorillas will return to action on Thursday, when they will host the Nebraska Kearney Lopers.
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