Cowgirls Beat Grizzlies and Lose to Bulldogs

The Wyoming Cowgirls split their last two games during an extended holiday weekend. They won at home last Tuesday, but lost on the road Sunday.

Wyoming (4-2) rolled past Adams State last Tuesday, 79-40, in the Arena-Auditorium. The Cowgirls lost at Drake to the Bulldogs Sunday, 63-50.

UW started quickly against Adams State with a 14-2 run that began the game. They never looked back, as they were led 20-7 after the first quarter and 39-19 by halftime. UW wrapped up its three-game home-stand with a third straight victory.

Liv Roberts scored 12 points, while Natalie Baker had 11 to lead the Cowgirls. Wyoming was plus-20 on the glass, went 25-of-30 at the foul line and had 16 assists on 24 field goals.

Head coach Joe Legerski was pleased with the work of his team.

“We knew they would zone (defensively), and we got a chance for 40 minutes to get what we want to try to do against a zone defense. Adams State plays very aggressively and makes you have to make basketball plays. It will be a great experience moving forward.”

Wyoming fought back from an 11-point deficit in the second half, but struggled down the stretch and lost at Drake. It was 47-39 after the third quarter. The Cowgirls went on a 10-3 run and closed within 50-49 on Roberts’ jumper with 5:41 left. UW scored just one point the rest of the game, as they missed their final seven shots from the field.

Legerski said, “We missed some open looks, went one of four from the free throw line and turned the ball over. Once again, I think that’s the inexperience of our team, but we played as well as we could have defensively.”

Roberts scored a season-high 17 points, while Clara Tapia added 13 in defeat. Wyoming shot 43 percent, but had 23 turnovers.

Drake shot 48 percent from the field, which included 63.6 percent in the fourth quarter. Lizzy Wendell scored 18 points for the Bulldogs.

The Cowgirls return home Friday for their next game when they host Southern Utah at 6:30 p.m.