Danielle Server
The Wyoming Cowgirls returned to the Arena-Auditorium for their season opener against the Colorado Christian Cougars. Coming off an 81-45 exhibition win against Adam State, the Cowgirls opened up the season with a dominant 70-31 win.
Wyoming finished third in the league last season, going 25-9 overall and 13-5 in conference play. After quarterfinals finish, the Cowgirls are back this with two returning starters, Senior Taylor Rusk and Sophomore Karla Erjavec, after losing key letter winners Bailee Cotton and Marta Gomez.
The Cowgirls had a slow start to the first quarter with a 9.1 field goal percentage with five turnovers but went 7-10 for free throws to give themselves a 9-8 advantage. The offense warmed up in the second quarter scoring 16 points with assistance from the twelve rebounds and three steals. The Cougars opened up the game with a 6-0 run forcing three Wyoming turnovers while the Cowgirls went 0-5 FG, three missed attempts from the three and two missed free throws in the first five minutes of the first quarter.
“We entered with a slow pace in the game, but we were just hesitant. All of the shots were coming in and out.” Karla Erjavec reflected in the first quarter, “We just needed to lock down the defensive end. When we did that, everything came.”
“Not going to say it was nerves. I don’t know why we couldn’t score, but our feet weren’t set and were making some rushed decisions,” Coach Mattison gave his point of view, “Fortunately, we made some free throws, so that allowed us to cut the lead and then we started defending a little better. The defensive effort from that point on was absolutely incredible.”
Sophomore Quinn Weideman and McKinley Bradshaw scored the first four points of the game for Wyoming from the free-throw line. Seven of the nine points scored during the quarter were in fact from free throw until Bradshaw went for a layup in the final seconds of the quarter.
Erjavec led the Cowgirls as she drove the ball down the court for a layup after a steal from Rusk to start the second quarter. After that, the Cowgirls recorded several scoring drives with a 40 field goal percentage, keeping the Cougars to nine points.
Weidmann and Erjavec drilled two threes in the first minute to start the third quarter, starting a 17 point run in the first six minutes of the quarter. The Cougars finally answered back with their own three back to back converted possessions with seven points including one behind the three. The Cowgirls closed the third quarter out leading 50-17 with a 58.8 field goal percentage, minimizing their turnovers while recording ten rebounds and three steals.
The Cowgirls finished out the fourth quarter with twenty points run with excellent defensive prowess where they recorded ten rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.
“I thought tonight we willed ourselves to offensive points and to a comfort level, so we could play better.” Coach Mattison discussing the rapid point increase after the slow first quarter.
Overall the Cowgirls went Erjavec, one of the team leaders in the game, went 6-10 with a total of 14 points accompanied by four defensive rebounds and three assists. Bradshaw, not far behind in her second game as a Cowgirl, ent 4-8 with a total of 13 points along with five rebounds and one assist.
“I thought Mckinley played really well. She battled on the board,” Coach Mattison reflected on Bradshaw’s performance, “For her and for all of our young players, each game is going to be a step up.”
The Cowgirls will be back for another game this week against Saint Mary’s at the Arena-Auditorium at 1 pm on Sunday, November 10th.
