Women's Basketball 11/24/2016 11:46:00 AM

No. 6 Pittsburg State Makes Early Lead Stand in 67-49 Win Over UWA

Box Score

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Sixth-ranked Pittsburg State jumped to a comfortable lead early and made it stand on the way to a 67-49 women's college basketball victory over West Alabama Thursday at the Cancha Cosme Beitia Salamo on day two of the 2016 Division II Puerto Rico Classic.

UWA was 1-for-10 from the floor in the first quarter with nine turnovers, allowing the Gorillas to build a 24-6 lead after 10 minutes. The Tigers rallied back to play the Gorillas even over the next three quarters, with each team scoring 43 points.

"We dug a deep hole early, but I am proud of the way we responded," UWA head coach Rusty Cram said. "We didn't back down against the No. 6 team in the nation and I am proud of that."

West Alabama dropped to 1-3 with the loss. Pittsburg (Kansas) State improved to 6-0. UWA will close out play in the tournament Friday against Pontificial Catholic University of Puerto Rico. Tipoff is 5 p.m. central time.

"That is a very good basketball team we played today, one that is very deep," Cram said. "We have gotten better the last two days. The key is to continue that and go home with a good feeling and some momentum."

West Alabama shot just 24 percent (6-of-25) from the floor in the first half, 30 percent for the game (16-for-52). Pittsburg State wasn't much better in the first half at 35 percent (12-for-34), but rallied to convert 12-of-21 in the second half (57%).

The difference came from behind the three-point line, where the Gorillas were 11-of-22 and UWA just 3-of-11. West Alabama won the rebounding battle, 40-36, but allowed the Gorillas 18 points off 20 turnovers. UWA's bench outscored Pitt State's bench 46-24.

Ariel Wilson was the only West Alabama player to score in double figures with 16 points. Sydney King and McKenzie Parker came off the bench to chip in nine and eight, respectively. King collected a game-high eight rebounds. Chloe Culpepper had seven boards.

Mikaela Burgess had 14 points to pace Pittsburg State, followed by Paige Lungwitz and Shelby Lopez with 12 and 11, respectively. Hadyn Herlocker had seven rebounds for the Gorillas.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Sydney King: F; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#23 Chloe Culpepper: C; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#14 McKenzie Parker: PG; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#22 Ariel Wilson: G; 5' 5"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#2 Sydney King
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: F

#23 Chloe Culpepper
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: C

#14 McKenzie Parker
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: PG

#22 Ariel Wilson
: 5' 5"; Senior
: G