Box Score
Henderson State suffered its first loss of the season as Pittsburg State defeated the Lady Reddies 76-56, Thursday in Pittsburg, Kan.
The Lady Reddies, 1-1 on the season, struggled offensively shooting just 33 percent from the field converting on just 23-of-69 attempts.
Krystal Beachum led Henderson State with 17 points, while
Tiara Davis added 14 and
Aungelique Sledge, 11.
Dulincia Keener and Ariana Caffery each grabbed eight rebounds for the Lady Reddies.
Pittsburg State's Morgan Westhoff led all scoring having a career-high 28 points, while teammate Lizzy Jeronimus scored 14.
Pittsburg State led most of the game as the Gorillas built as early six-point lead before Henderson State cut the deficit to 23-21 with 5:22 left to play in the first-half with the help of a free throw and layup by Sledge, followed by buckets by Davis and Beachum.
The Gorillas, 2-2 on the year, then went on a 7-0 run as Westhoff hit one of her five 3-point field goals followed by a layup to give Pitt State a 30-21 advantage with 2:49 left in the half.
A 5-0 run by the Lady Reddies drew Henderson to within four, but back-to-back baskets by Jeronimus, including one at the buzzer, gave the Gorillas an eight-point cushion, 34-26, at the half.
Henderson State started the second half outscoring the Gorillas 6-2 to cut the Pitt State lead to three, 36-33. Pitt State answered and a Jeronimus free throw with 15:44 to go gave Pitt State its first double digit lead of the game, 45-35.
The Lady Reddies would reduce Pitt State's lead to single digits three more times, but Pitt State answered and outscored Henderson State 17 to 8 down the stretch.
Henderson State returns home to face Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday with tipoff set for 7 p.m. at the Duke Wells Center.
