With MIAA tournament win, Pitt State poised for rematch with rival Harding

By: Nick Butler

PITTSBURG—The Pittsburg State women’s basketball team continued its postseason dominance in March, winning the MIAA Tournament in Kansas City and setting up a rematch against rival Harding University.

The team was strong through all three games in the tournament, knocking down Missouri Southern, Washburn University and, in the final, Fort Hays State University to secure their second-straight MIAA Tournament Championship. 

Winning back-to-back postseason tournaments is a special thing for any team to accomplish. However, senior Karenna Gerber knows that for as much fun as the team has had so far this season, there is still something to look forward to. 

“Last year was just so fun because it was the first [MIAA Tournament Championship] in program history, and so it was super exciting,” Gerber said. “This one was obviously exciting and super fun, but it felt almost like there is still more that we want.”

Head coach Amanda Davied knows that the team is still looking for more this season. To do that, the Gorillas have to prepare for whatever challenges they will face.

“That was the first thing we said, is like, alright, it’s back to work,” Davied said. “What we’ve done is fun, and it’s been great, but it’s literally, like, turn the page.”

The next opponent for the Gorillas is an opponent that has ended their season before, the Harding University Bison. Harding was the opponent that Pittsburg State faced last year in the first round of the Division II Central Region Tournament. In that matchup, Harding took the victory in overtime.

It was a tough loss for the Gorillas last year, but the players who returned this year are excited for a chance at redemption. 

“We are super excited to get another matchup with them because, obviously, we lost to them in the first round last year,” Gerber said. “We feel really good about getting another shot at them.”

It is not only the players who are excited to have a rematch, but the entire basketball team knows they get a chance to beat the opponent that ended their season last year. That includes Davied and her coaching staff.

“It is interesting how some of the things have repeated themselves, in our timeline of opponents,” Davied said. “Those kinds of things give us opportunities to maybe right the wrongs from here before.”

For the Gorillas, the conditions for a run at revenge couldn’t be better. They will face Harding in Pittsburg, on their home court, where the team will host the Division II Central Regional Tournament. 

That means the team will either rise to new heights or see their postseason end in front of a home crowd.

Players such as Gerber said they are confident their boosters will bring the same energy and support that they have been all season into the regional tournament. 

“I think I am most excited to get the Pitt community in the jungle and the chance to fill it up,” Gerber said. “It’s good energy, and they brought it for the regular season. I’m hoping that they continue to bring that.”

Getting to this point in the season has been a long journey. However, the Gorillas want to make the most of what is left of this season. 

“I think this group, we don’t really see it as pressure,” Gerber said. “That’s the fun part, we get the opportunity to come here and live a dream that we have thought about for so long.”