Cowgirls Trounce Fresno State

The Cowgirl basketball team built a 20-point lead over Fresno State in the second half and would come away with the 87-76 victory on Wednesday night in Laramie. Junior Kaitlyn Mileto finished the night with her 12th double-figure scoring game of the season with 21 points plus five rebounds and four assists. The Cowgirls are now 13-5 overall on the season and 4-3 in the Mountain West while the Bulldogs drop to 12-8 and 6-3 in league play.

Out of the break, Wyoming extended the lead to 18, 54-36, capped off by a Woodward three-pointer. Over the next four minute stretch, the Bulldogs outscored the Cowgirls to pull within 12, 62-50, with 12 minutes remaining in the game. Mileto hit a basket to stop scoreless stretch for UW, which started a 16-8 run to make it a 20-point game, 78-58. Fresno State battled back and was able to pull within 11, 85-74, with 26 seconds remaining. Free throws at the end by Landry gave the Cowgirls the 87-76 victory.

Besides Mileto, Kayla Woodward recorded 20 points and seven rebounds while Fallon Lewis was one shy of a double-double with 14 points and a team high nine rebounds. Marquelle Dent and Chelan Landry each had nine points followed by Jordan Sibrel and Kaylie Rader with seven. The Cowgirls were 31-63 (.492) from the field and 16-22 (.727) from the charity stripe. Wyoming finished with 32 points in the paint and 16 off the bench.

Fresno State was led by Taylor Thompson with 17 points and six rebounds followed by Jacinta Vandenberg with 15 points and a team high eight rebounds. The Bulldogs were 29-70 (.414) from the field and out rebounded the Cowgirls 39-38.

It was fast paced through the first four minutes as the teams combined for 22 points and 8-12 from the field as it was even at 11. A basket by Emilie Volk put the Bulldogs up two, 13-11, which was answered with a 14-0 run over the next five minutes stretch to pull ahead by 12, 25-13. A field goal by Robin Draper ended the scoreless drought for Fresno State. The Cowgirls ran off another six straight points to make it 31-16 with 9:18 left in the half.  The Bulldogs closed the gap to 10, 33-23, over the next three minutes. Wyoming closed out the half on an 11-7 run to take a 14-point lead, 44-30, into the locker room.

Mileto led all scorers with 16 for the Cowgirls followed by Woodward with seven. She and Sibrel each brought down four rebounds. Wyoming was 17-30 (.567) from the field and 5-9 (.556) from beyond the arc.

Wyoming will close out the week on the road against the Utah State Aggies, on Saturday, Feb. 1. The game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Logan.