The Cowgirls basketball began their two game road tour with a 61-45 win in the Lawlor Events Center in Reno over the Nevada Wolf Pack (3-16, 2-6 MW), lifting their record to 9-10 and 4-5 in conference play.
“Tonight, this team hung in there when we were down seven and finished on a 27-4 run. Kayla Woodward, Kaitlyn Mileto and Marquelle Dent all made big shots during that stretch,” Cowgirls head coach Joe Legerski said to gowyo.com.
Junior guard Dent, lead the Cowgirls to their road victory. In her second career double-double, Dent tallied 18 points, 10 assists and five rebounds. Dent leads the Cowgirls in average points per game at 17.2.
The first half of the period was a struggle between the Cowgirls and the Wolf Pack with six lead changes and eight tied scores. Nevada ended the half 27-25.
Junior guard Jordan Kelley led the Cowgirls on boards in the first half with three offensive rebounds and five defensive. Dent had eight points and was followed by senior guard Mileto with six.
In the second half, the Cowgirls gained momentum and took the last 12 minutes to drive the victory home. Freshman forward Natalie Baker set off the Cowgirls scoring drive with a layup bringing the score to 41-36, Nevada.
In the last 11:59 of the game the Cowgirls outscored the Wolf Pack 27-4, and held Nevada scoreless for the final five and a half minutes of action.
Wyoming took the lead by 10, and made their last six points from beyond the arc with two from Dent and one from Mileto.
The 16-point victory marked the Cowgirls second straight win and put three players including Dent in double figures.
Woodward had 10 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Mileto followed Dent in scoring with 15 points and two assists.
Kelley led the team in rebounds with a team-high of 12 total.
“More importantly the defensive play of Jordan Sibrel and Jordan Kelley was a big part of this victory. In the end, team was the MVP,” coach Legerski said.
Leading the Wolf Pack in scoring was senior forward Emily Burns with 13 points. The Cowgirls held Burns to 4-14 in field goals and to 50 percent beyond the arc.
The Cowgirls outshot the Wolf Pack in field goals making 35.9 percent to their 27.6 percent, but the Wolf Pack faired better beyond the arc landing 5-10 to the Cowgirls’ 8-24. Both teams were in the 60 percent range from the charity stripe.
The Cowgirls will continue their road stint in Ft. Collins on Wednesday against Colorado State (15-5, 7-2 MW). Wednesday’s Border War will mark the start of the second half of the Mountain West season. The Rams are currently in second place in Mountain West standings and coming off a 53-49 loss to the Fresno State Bulldogs. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. MT. at Moby Arena.
