Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Junior guard Mikaela Burgess scored 27 points and hit two free throws with 16 seconds left in overtime to help fourth-ranked Pittsburg State secure an 84-80 victory over Nebraska-Kearney Thursday night in Kansas.
 
This was the MIAA opener for both teams and the only time the Gorillas (8-0) will face the Lopers (3-5) in the 2016-17 regular season.
 
Pitt came in with a 28 point margin of victory and had won its first seven games by at least 18 points. Riding a two-game win streak, UNK wasn't in awe of the defending Central Region champions as it shot 48 percent from the field, made eight threes and got 27 bench points.
 
A jumper from senior point guard Alexa Hogberg (Chandler, Ariz.) gave Kearney its only lead of the extra session, 76-74, 11 seconds into the action.
 
Going 9 of 10 from the field (2 of 2 threes) and 7 of 8 at the line to score 27, senior guard Paige Lungwitz countered with a jumper of her own 30 seconds later to tie things up. A tip-in by junior post Elena Flott broke a 78 all tie at the 2:52 mark and then two free throws from sophomore forward Madison Northcutt put Pitt up four a minute later.
 
After Battle Creek junior guard Michaela Barry made a layup, Burgess missed two shots, two free throws and committed a foul. However, UNK misfired on a three and then missed two freebies with 26 seconds left.
 
Burgess, a 57 percent free throw shooter, finished the scoring with those previously mentioned free throws. She ended the night 8 of 21 (4 of 10 threes) from the floor and 7 of 9 at the line. With 1:52 left in the second half, Burgess hit a three to cut a four-point deficit to one, 72-71.
 
The Gorillas shot 49 percent from the field, made nine threes and had a plus nine rebounding margin, 36-27. UNK scored 14 points off of 14 Pitt turnovers while having only seven miscues itself.
 
"We're proud of the girls," said UNK assistant coach Brandon Rohr. "We were about one play short of getting it done. It was a great effort on the road but we can't be satisfied. We know we have a good club and have to find ways to finish."
 
Besides Burgess and Lungwitz combing to score 54, Flott had 15 points and eight boards for the Gorillas.
 
For UNK, Barry (Norfolk Catholic) scored a team-best 27 by making 10 field goals (three triples) and four free throws. In 39 minutes, she also had four assists and two steals.
 
Senior reserve post Nieka Wheeler (Independence, Mo.) was the only other Loper in double figures, scoring 10 her 14 in the second half. She sent the game into overtime thanks to a layup with eight seconds left. That capped a 15-point second half comeback.
 
Finally, Hogberg had nine points, six assists, two steals and two rebounds in 39 minutes of work.
 
The Lopers are at Missouri Southern State Saturday afternoon. The Lions (4-4) upset 25th-ranked Fort Hays State tonight, 75-64.