Sports

The Pittsburg State University women’s team posted an 85-82 win over Southwest Minnesota State University in the Central Regional Tournament championship. They’re now one of eight teams remaining in Division II and will play in the Elite Eight in Pittsburgh, PA, starting on March 24.

The Gorillas had to come from behind to get the win, trailing Minnesota State University-Mankato by 15 points at halftime. It took the entire third quarter and first few minutes of the fourth before PSU took the lead, and they had to battle until the last second to keep it.

Mark Stewart reached the pinnacle of football officiating in February, working Super Bowl 59 as a line judge. That same month, he was also officiating high school basketball games in southeast Kansas.

It was an all-hands-on-deck effort after the AFC Championship as team members from Sandlot Goods and Made in KC unloaded box after box of newly produced Super Bowl-ready apparel. They're among the businesses across Kansas City that are trying to savor — and capitalize on — this unusual moment.

After a tense win in the AFC Championship against the Buffalo Bills, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will return to the Super Bowl for the third year in a row — and they'll face a familiar foe.

Historically, Missouri Southern football is 21-28-1 against Washburn. Last season's victory over the Ichabods snapped a seven-season losing streak. The last time MSSU football defeated Washburn in consecutive seasons was 1996 and 1997 when the Lions defeated WashU by a combined four points.

PSU women’s basketball was selected in the Coach’s poll released Tuesday to finish first this upcoming season. The Media poll has the team finishing second. While PSU men’s basketball was selected to finish second in the Media poll. In the Coaches' poll, the Gorillas were voted to finish third.

Northwest Missouri and Pittsburg State both open their upcoming seasons against ranked opponents. The No. 23-ranked Bearcats welcome No. 11-ranked Minnesota State from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (NSIC) to Maryville, Mo. on Thursday, August 29 and the No. 3-ranked Gorillas will host No. 4-ranked Ferris State from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) in a Division II top-five showdown in Pittsburg, Kan. on Saturday, August 31.

Pitt State Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Johnson accepted the 2023-24 Commissioner's Cup from representatives from MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy. This is the Gorillas' third consecutive Commissioner's Cup victory.

Pitt State has reached the top of the podium in each of the last five championship meets (2022 outdoor, 2023 indoor/outdoor, 2024 indoor/outdoor).