(SEARCY, AR)---No. 5 seed Pittsburg State (24-5) used a big second quarter to take control of the contest and the Gorillas cruised to a 75-51 victory over No. 4 seed Central Oklahoma (25-7) in an NCAA Division II Central Region women's basketball tournament opening round contest.
PSU's balanced attack placed five players in double figures, led by Paige Lungwitz's 15 points. Athena Alvarado came off the Gorilla bench to tally 13 points in only 14 minutes. Madison Northcutt compiled a double-double with 11 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Shelby Lopez and Brenlee McPherson each recorded 12 points to round out the PSU double-digit scorers.
Jesheon Cooper's 14 points and seven rebounds led Central Oklahoma. Blake Blessington and Melinda Murillo each recorded 11 points for the Bronchos.
Both teams struggled from the field in the early going, shooting just over 30 percent during the opening quarter. Pitt State took advantage of seven UCO turnovers to lead 13-9 at the first break.
A 20-6 burst over the opening 5:15 of the second quarter helped PSU build a 33-15 advantage and the Gorillas carried a 20-point lead at 42-22 into intermission. A 23-18 third-quarter edge stretched the Pitt State advantage to 65-40 headed into the final stanza.
Pittsburg State advances to a Saturday semifinal matchup versus Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association and Sunflower State rival Emporia State. ESU won both regular season matchups.
NOTES:
---The teams met once during the regular season when UCO claimed a road 78-74 win over Pitt State.
---Central Oklahoma was not whistled for a foul until the final four seconds of the first half and only four fouls were called in the opening 20 minutes.
---UCO made their fifth appearance in the NCAA Division II women's basketball post-season and is now 5-5.
---Pitt State evened their NCAA Division II Tournament record at 8-8.
---Pitt State downed their next opponent, Emporia State, 78-74 in last season's Central Region title matchup. Emporia State swept the 2016-17 regular season contests by 78-70 and 77-66 margins.
