KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Pittsburg State University completed its quest for back-to-back MIAA Women’s Basketball Tournament titles in winning the 2025 championship game against Fort Hays State, 81-73. It was the second consecutive season the Gorillas and Tigers battled for the tournament crown in Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium. 

Pittsburg State is the first women's' team to win back-to-back MIAA tournament championships since Emporia State’s five year reign from 2013-2017. With last year's championship run, the Gorillas improve their win streak to six in the league's postseason tournament.

The Gorillas got off to a fast start, finding a 10-point lead at 13-3 within the first four minutes. PItt State improved its lead to 22-10 at the end of the first half after shooting 50.0 percent (10-for-20) from the field. The Gorillas outscored FHSU by four, 21-17, in the second quarter, as the Tigers were unable to make up any ground with Pittsburg State leading 43-27 at the break. 

Despite a 30-12 Tiger run that started early in the fourth quarter, the comeback was too late as the closest FHSU would get in the second half was within six  points with 6.2 seconds to play. The Gorillas coasted to a 81-73 victory for its second consecutive title with help behind its largest lead of 24 at 8:49 in the final frame.

Pitt State's Grace Pyle led all scorers with 23 points as the tournament’s most outstanding player Karenna Gerber added 19. Gerber and Pyle were the only Gorillas to finish in double figures while all eight Gorillas who played scored at least three points. 

As a team, Pitt State finished with 44.4 percent shooting from the field (32-for-72) while holding FHSU to just 39.0 percent (23-for-39). Both squads shot a clip of over 35 percent from the three and totaled 39 rebounds in the contest. 

Only five Tigers scored in the loss as Olivia Hollenbeck and Talexa Wheeter tallied 17 apiece while Katie DeGarmo added 16, Brooke Loewe had 15 and Bailey Wilborn rounded out the scoring column at eight.

The 2025 championship game marked the third time in tournament history that the Tiger women made back-to-back MIAA Tournament Championship game appearances.

Five MIAA athletes were named to the 2025 All-Tournament Team: Pittsburg State's Gerber (MVP), Pyle, Macie Mays and Fort Hays' Wheeter and DeGarmo. 

Fort Hays joins MIAA teams in hopes for an at-large selection for the Central Region of the NCAA Tournament next week. Regional site host and matchups will be announced during the NCAA selection show on Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.