January 8, 2010

Pittsburg State Poised to Challenge for MIAA Title

By David Boyce

In coach Lane Lord's first two seasons he brought the Pittsburg State women's basketball program from bottom feeder in the MIAA to upper level success with the potential to do so much more.

The Gorillas went from 10-17 overall and 4-14 in the MIAA in the 2008-09 season to 20-9 overall and 14-6 in conference last year.

With returners like senior guard DePrice Taylor and senior center Nicole McCombs, Pittsburg State appeared poised to challenge longstanding powers Emporia State and Washburn.

"Coach Lord has brought us a long ways," said junior forward Laura Glenn.

Early in the season, though, the Gorillas learned that taking the final few steps to the very top is a lot more difficult than the first few steps out of the basement.

Fortunately for Pittsburg State, the learning process occurred in non-conference games.

Pittsburg State suffered a one-point loss to Dixie State College, a two-point loss to Texas Woman's and a four-point loss to Academy of Art.

"We really felt like we were just one or two possessions away from winning those games and having a different record," Lord said. "Hopefully, we've learned from that, just executing at the end of the game. Four of those losses we had trouble executing at the end of the game."

Unlike last season when Pittsburg State sprinkled in a couple NAIA games in non-conference, the Gorillas faced nothing but NCAA Division II opponents.

Sure, it would have been easy for the players to become discouraged when their record dipped to 3-5 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA.

The reverse actually happened. The Gorillas looked at the positive side.

"Even though they were close games we knew we could have won them," Taylor said. "A couple of games we had the lead and let the lead go. It told us we needed to keep working hard and we were on the right track.

"We were destined to do good things. We just had to keep working hard. We were right there. We didn't get down on ourselves. We went back to practice and kept working on things."

It has paid off. Pittsburg State has won four of its last five games, including its last four MIAA games. The Gorillas are 7-6 overall and 5-1 in the MIAA, trailing only Washburn at 7-0 and Emporia State at 6-1.

Speaking of Emporia State, the Gorillas go on the road Saturday for their most important game so far this season when they take on the Hornets. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.

"We know it is a big game and we are treating it like a big game," Taylor said. "We are working hard every day. It's a big road game for us. Every day in practice we are going at each other and competing."

The Gorillas simply didn't like the way losing tasted.

"Oh yes, we were definitely sick of losing," Glenn said. "We worked so hard in all those games, they were really close and we just didn't pull them out. It was a hard time for us.

"We had a tough couple of weeks of practice and we finally buckled down and decided we wanted to win some games instead of at the very end of games we weren't finishing."

The Gorillas are rested and ready to go. After winning three straight MIAA games in the span of six days, the Gorillas have had a week to prepare for Emporia State.

Pittsburg State's last game was a narrow 67-66 victory at home against Missouri Southern on Jan. 2.

"Our momentum has been going pretty good and we would have liked to play Wednesday night, but we also have the advantage to get more prepared," Taylor said. "There's an advantage and a disadvantage so it's OK."

Whether they played on Wednesday or not, the players know beating Emporia State will be difficult under any circumstance.

Glenn said she's never experienced a win against the Hornets. Many players throughout the conference are in the same shoes.

"Emporia is Emporia," Lord said. "They've been what they have been because of a great system, a great coach. They've been able to sustain, I don't want to say dominance, but almost dominance in the league with Washburn for many, many years.

"It's a tough place to play in Emporia. We've always struggled there so we know it is going to be one heck of a battle. It is going to take an extraordinary effort for us to win at their place."

But the Gorillas are ready and eager to see just how far they have come since a few early-season losses.

"We are having fun," Taylor said. "I think when we have fun we play better and we just play better as a team. Our coaches have done a great job of just getting us more prepared."

To reach David Boyce, contributing writer for the MIAA, e-mail dboyce@themiaa.com.