Freshman forward Selale Kepenc scored a career high 12 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Cowgirls (19-8 overall, 11-5 Mountain West) to steal a 60-58 victory on the road over New Mexico on Feb. 25.
Kepenc shot 4-8 from the field and 4-7 from three in only 15 minutes of play to help lead the Cowgirls. Forward Marta Gomez and guard Clara Tapia both pitched in 12 points followed by forward Taylor Rusk with nine. Forward Natalie Baker tied her season high by grabbing 11 rebounds.
“It was an outstanding team win,” head coach Joe Legerski said. One of the things we talk about is what’s gotten us to this point, that everyone has stepped up and contributed.” “When you look at today, we had 26 bench points that tells me we got back to everyone stepping up.”
Wyoming shot 20-52 (.385) from the field and 12-28 (.429) from behind the arc. The Cowgirls recorded 15 assists on 20 field goals and scored 26 points off the bench. New Mexico shot 23-64 (.359) from the field and outrebounded the Cowgirls 40-36.
After a three-point play from New Mexico out of the break, the Cowgirls scored six of eight to cut the lead to 30-29. The teams traded runs, with the Cowgirls rattling a 10-5 run to take a 39-38 lead. With time winding down in the third quarter New Mexico hit a layup to take a 40-39 lead into the fourth.
“We made a decision at halftime to go with Selale (Kepenc) in the second half to give us the opportunity to score and she really followed through,” Legerski said. “She was 4-8 from the field, 4-7 from three but more importantly she grabbed six rebounds and no turnovers.”
The Cowgirls scored 10 straight to start the fourth quarter to take a 49-40 lead but the Lobos ended their three and a half minute scoreless run to stay in the game. The Cowgirls then hit two threes to go up by 11, 55-44, with 2:44 left in the game.
New Mexico battled to within one with 11 seconds to go, and after a made free throw the Lobos had a chance to win on the other end. They heaved up a last second three point shot, but it came up short to seal the victory for the Cowgirls.
The Cowgirls will play their final home game of the season against Colorado State on Feb. 28. The game is set for a 6:30 p.m. tip at the Arena-Auditorium.
