From staff reports
sports@joplinglobe.com
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Senior DePrice Taylor’s three-point play proved to be the difference Sunday in the Pittsburg State women’s basketball season opener.
Taylor was fouled on a game-tying layup with nine seconds remaining and, then, sank her free throw to lift the Gorillas to a 70-69 win against 12th-ranked Central Oklahoma.
Cristina Yarbrough’s three-point attempt at the buzzer fell short for the Bronchos, who were also opening their season.
Maya Onikute poured in 20 points and added 10 rebounds for the Gorillas, who held a 34-30 halftime edge.
Freshman Drew Roberts made a successful debut for PSU, hitting two consecutive three-pointers late in the game and finishing with 19 points. Hitting 5-of-9 three-pointers, Roberts also led the team in assists with five.
Senior Nicole McCombs had a double-double for the Gorillas with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The score was tied six times in the second half. Central Oklahoma led by as many as seven points with 10 minutes to go.
A Roberts’ jump shot and a three-pointer by Onikute tied the game at 59-all with 3:07 remaining.
PSU will play in the Texas Woman’s Invitational at Denton, against Tarleton State at 5 p.m. Friday and against the host team at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Nevada-Las Vegas tops
Pittsburg State men
LAS VEGAS — Nevada-Las Vegas broke away in the final eight minutes of the first half en route to a 91-52 victory over Pittsburg State on Saturday night at the Thomas and Mack Center.
The Runnin' Rebels, picked third in the Mountain West Conference preseason poll behind BYU and San Diego State, won their season opener and handed head coach Lon Kruger career victory No. 500. Kruger, a Pittsburg State graduate assistant in the mid-1970s under Bob Johnson, has 431 collegiate victories and 69 as the coach of the NBA Atlanta Hawks.
Pittsburg State, completing a week of exhibition games that included stops at Kansas and Kansas State, led most of the first 12 minutes and held a 19-17 lead after Zach Quick's three-point play with 8:10 left in the first half.
UNLV then ran off eight straight points and outscored PSU 18-6 in the remainder of the half to lead 43-26 at the intermission.
Forward Rodney Grace paced the Gorillas with 15 points, and guard Spencer Magana contributed 12.
Tre'On Willis scored 17 points and Kendall Wallace 16 to lead UNLV, which also beat Washburn 62-52 in an exhibition game.
The Gorillas begin their regular season Tuesday night at home against Sterling College. Tipoff is at 7.
