The Cowgirls three game-winning streak was broken in a 79-52 loss to the Montana State Bobcats (5-4) Saturday in Worthington Arena, dropping the Cowgirls to 4-3.
“Montana State played with a great deal of energy,” Cowgirls head coach Joe Legerski told gowyo.com. “It was a physical contest and we didn’t respond to that part of the game.”
Despite the defeat, Saturday’s game marked a milestone for senior guard Kaitlyn Mileto who took the school record in three-point field goals with 216, three that came in the loss to MSU.
Leading the Cowgirls on the scoreboard was senior forward Kayla Woodward with 17 points and 10 rebounds in her third double-double of the 2014-15 season. Following Woodward was junior guard Marquelle Dent who contributed an additional 11 points and five assists and Mileto with 10 points for the night.
The loss to the Bobcats in a 27-point game marked the fifth largest margin of loss by the Cowgirls under Legerski.
“Right now, we are setting a scary pattern of when we play against Denver then let a team come in, be physical and we don’t respond. We had a great game against Montana, putting things together and tonight that didn’t happen,” Legerski said.
From tip-off, the Cowgirls started off on the wrong foot, missing seven shots before a layup by freshman forward Bailee Cotton put them on the scoreboard five minutes into the first half.
The Cowgirls were able to recover from their woes and took a lead by as much as three points in the middle of the first period 19-16. The three-point lead was the only advantage Wyoming could take over Montana before a 11-0 run by the Bobcats set the Cowgirls back 31-21.
At the half Montana State held a 10-point advantage over Wyoming 44-34. From points in the paint, the Cowgirls were outshot 20-10 and the Bobcats bench proved to be more productive, outshooting Wyoming’s 16-5.
Wyoming did prove better beyond the arc at the half going 6-11 (54 percent) to MSU’s 4-9 (44 percent). Three of those three point field goals came from Mileto, which set the new school record.
Down at the half the Cowgirls made a run to close the gap between them and the Bobcats to seven points halfway through the second period. The 58-51 point game was lost as the Bobcats went on a 21-1 run to close with the largest lead of the night of 17 points.
“In the second half, we struggled from the field and you take a look at the focus I have to do a better job of preparing us,” Legerski said. “We were 8-of-17 from the free throw line and that tells me where our focus is.”
On the boards Montana State picked up 50 rebounds total, 18 offensively and 32 on the defensive end. The extra effort from the Bobcats showed on the scoreboards in comparison to Wyoming’s 32 rebounds total.
“When you take a look at that they had 18 offensive rebounds, you wouldn’t think they shot well,” Legerski said. “MSU shot 52 percent from the field and had 12 offensive rebounds in the first half we had four and shot 42 percent.”
In the second half the Cowgirls went 0-7 in three’s, 4-8 in free throws and 7-30 total (23 percent). The Cowgirls stats were unable to hold up against the Bobcats who went 7-8 at the line and 13-31 total (42 percent).
The Cowgirls took no lead the entire second half.
