Box score | Season stats

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats dropped their MIAA home opener to the Pittsburg State Gorillas 77-68. SBU led 57-54 with 7:42 remaining before the Gorillas went on a 13-0 run to take control of the game.

Rachel Graves led the Bearcats with 21 points. Courtney Heady was the only other Bearcat in double figures with 12 points. Heady also led the 'Cats with six rebounds while Graves had four assists. Graves and Whitney Malone led with three steals each. Graves knocked in five treys while Heady hit four from long range.

"The girls are playing hard for 40 minutes and we're showing improvement, we just need to build our confidence," said head coach J.C. Carter. "We didn't give up and only had nine turnovers, both of which were positive. We have to rebound better on the offensive side of the ball. We also have to finish and start hitting shots. We weren't able to get to the free throw line in the second half and settled for threes instead of driving in."

DePrice Taylor led Pittsburg State (4-5, 2-1 MIAA) with 18 points. The Gorillas outrebounded the Bearcats 44-23. SBU forced 20 turnovers from the Gorillas while only committing nine turnovers. Pitt State led at halftime 45-38.

The Bearcats (1-7, 0-2 MIAA) have a week off before hosting Ouachita Baptist on Monday, December 21 at 7 p.m. in their final game before the Christmas break.