NCAA will help Cowgirls

AAron Ontiveroz photo

Wyoming sophomore Aubrey Vandiver drives against CSU.

Cowgirls look to build upon experience

By Richard Anderson
Wyomingsports.org

The Wyoming Cowgirls were disappointed to be left out of the NCAA Tournament last season, but in the end agreed that it was a blessing in disguise when they played and won six games to capture the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

For the non seniors on the team who will return next season, earning the NCAA bid is a blessing without the disguise.

“It will definitely be an eye-opening experience for every player in our program, from top to bottom,” Wyoming junior wing Megan McGuffey said. “To play in this tournament, the level of basketball is a huge step up. It can only be beneficial from next year, too.”

McGuffey is one of three underclassmen who will likely get plenty of playing time, along with sophomore guard/forward Aubrey Vandiver and junior post Rebecca Vanderjagt. Junior post

Elisabeth Dissen and freshmen Hillary Carlson, Jade Kennedy and Paula Elam could also see some time off the bench. Regardless of playing time, all of the younger Cowgirls will benefit from the tournament.

“It will give the people returning next year great experience,” Vandiver said. “What the WNIT did for us this year, the NCAA Tournament will do for us next year.”

Added Vanderjagt: “It’s definitely going to be a great experience for everyone who is returning, to play against a higher level. It will make us more competitive for next year; we’ll see what is ahead for us.”

Although the Cowgirls go into the game as an 11 seed against sixth-seed Pittsburgh in The Pit Saturday at Albuquerque, there were some tense moments Monday night during the NCAA Selection Show on ESPN.

If the Cowgirls wouldn’t have received the call, would they have been able to play through the disappointment of the WNIT again after winning the tournament the previous season?

Yes, no, maybe.

“It’s hard to say if we would have hated a NIT bid for what it did for us last year, but really the ultimate goal is to make it to the NCAA Tournament,” McGuffey said.

“It would have been disappointing,” Vandiver added. “It’s great to play in postseason, but you always want to play against the best teams and you can only do that in the NCAA Tournament.”

The Cowgirls agree that it would have been a major disappointment of not playing in the NCAA. Yet, they said they would have given it their all in the WNIT again.

“I think it would have been disappointing, but we would have motivated to win the WNIT again,” Vanderjagt said.

Of course, the Cowgirls got the bid and there has been very little talk of last year’s WNIT. Wyoming is preparing for the future, not looking back at the past.

“It’s so exciting to play at this level,” Vanderjagt said.

The Cowgirls will go into Saturday’s game as the underdog, as Pittsburgh goes in with the experience and reputation of playing in what is considered the second best conference in the country.

“I don’t know if Wyoming has played a Big East team in its history,” McGuffey said. “It’s always fun to play others teams from bigger conferences. We really have no pressure on us right now, we’re the underdog. It’s fun to play in that position.”

Vandiver said the Cowgirls know they will have their hands full with the Panthers.

“They’re going to be athletic and they have played in a very tough conference; they have a lot of experience,” Vandiver said. “We’re just going to go in and play it like every other game, although the level of competition is up a little bit.”

Despite the odds, Wyoming will go into the tournament with the idea of winning, something that took it to the WNIT title last season.

“I think you always have to believe that you can win,” McGuffey said. “We’re going to go in there and with an underdog mentality. We think we’re just as talented, we’re a hard-working team and we play well together. We just have to take it to the next level.”

Regardless of the outcome, next year’s Cowgirl team will be better for the experience.

“This is very important for them because they will get a taste of the tournament and it will motivate them to really do good things next year, which I know they can do,” Wyoming senior Hanna Zavecz said.