Richard Anderson photo
Wyoming coach Joe Legerski talks to his team during a timeout against North Dakota State in Casper.
By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org
The Wyoming Cowgirls are back home for the first time in about a month as they host Saint Louis Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Arena-Auditorium.
Don’t get too used to it as they go back out on the road on Monday for a rematch at Gonzaga before returning home again on Dec. 30 at home with Adams State.
A 6-3 start was helped along with a 3-1 road swing, including last Saturday’s win over North Dakota State at the Wyoming Shootout in Casper.
Wyoming head coach Joe Legerski was more than pleased with how his team played in the last month away from home.
“That’s better than what we had hoped for,” Legerski said of the three road wins. “With such a young group, it is very difficult to find wins on the road and then when you look at competition we are playing, we were constantly traveling.
The Cowgirls have had just three home games so far this season, making Saturday’s contest with Saint Louis a chance to familiarize themselves with their home court and their fans again.
“Getting our fans back in the game huge part of what we are trying to do,” he said. “Also playing in the A-A, it is a great shooting environment for us; they are at home, feel more comfortable here. Most importantly, it is our fan base. We’ve been able to improve in that area over the years that I have been here. Our fans are tremendous.”
School’s out (for the holidays)
With finals now in the books, Legerski also said the Cowgirls have been able to free up some much needed time to just concentrate on basketball.
The sixth-year head coach said they have been able to bring the team in at different times to lift, as well as get their practices completed by early afternoon.
The Cowgirls now have a few less things to worry about -- at least through the holiday break.
“I think what is happening for the players is all of the sudden the pressure of finals is over. They are able to enjoy themselves and play freer, witf no concerns about what is going on academically," he said. “We always tell them that the grades are in the books, so there is no sense on worrying about them now. I think you’ll see that in our game this week."
Kennedy stepping up
It’s been no secret that the Cowgirls are a different team now without the services of graduating seniors Hanna Zavecz, Justyna Podziemska, Dominique Sisk and Jodi Bolerjack.
Among the young player beginning to make their marks is sophomore Jade Kennedy. The 6-foot-1 Australian forward is making her presence known as a rugged rebounder with the knack of getting the loose ball in traffic.
Kennedy is averaging 5.1 points and 4.9 rebounds a game. In the last three games, Kennedy has grabbed 27 rebounds.
“She is getting what I call the difficult, tough rebounds,” Legerski said. “Her shooting is going to come around, she is a tremendous shooter. Once again, she is getting her first minutes as a Wyoming basketball player. Rebounding is something that is constant, but she has been grabbing offensive rebounds and giving us second chances and that’s why Jade’s minutes continue to go up.”
About Saint Louis
The Billikens are 3-7 overall after a 68-60 loss to Oakland on Tuesday night. They have gone 2-3 overall in their last five games.
Senior Theresa Lisch is leading the way with 17.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest, while Katie Paganelli is adding 10.4 points and four rebounds. They return four starters and six letterwinners to a team that went 10-20 overall and 5-9 in the Atlantic 10 Conference a year ago.
The biggest challenge with facing Saint Louis, Legerski said, is trying to determine the pace of the game.
“They’ll get up and down the floor, they want to press the issue," he said. “We’re more of a half court team.”
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Wyoming Cowgirls (6-3 overall)
Probable Starters Pos. Ht. Yr. Exp. Hometown 2008-09 Stats
3 Randi Richardson G 5-7 RSo. TR Arlington, Wash. 3.0 ppg, 1.8 aspg
24 Megan McGuffey G 5-11 Sr. 3L Cheyenne, Wyo. 10.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.7 aspg
33 Elisabeth Dissen C 6-1 Sr. 3L Hillsboro, Ore. 8.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg
10 Rebecca Vanderjagt F 6-3 Sr. 3L Townsville, Australia 2.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.6 aspg
21 Emma Langford F 6-2 Fr. HS Arthurton, Australia 15.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.0 aspg
Off The Bench Pos. Ht. Yr. Exp. Hometown 2008-09 Stats
4 Gemma Koehler F 6-1 Jr. 1L Geelong, Australia Has not played this season
12 Kristen Scheffl er G 5-11 Fr. HS Lovell, Wyo. 10.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.2 aspg
13 Ashley Sickles F 6-1 Fr. HS Cresco, Iowa 3.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg
14 Jade Kennedy F 6-1 So. 1L Cairns, Australia 5.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg
15 Leah Fitzgerald C 6-2 Fr. HS Colorado Springs, Colo. Has played in one game
20 Aubrey Vandiver G 5-11 Jr. 2L Laramie, Wyo. Has not played this season
22 Brenna Freeze G 5-11 Fr. HS Albuquerque, N.M. Has played in one game
41 Hillary Carlson F 6-3 So. 1L Cheyenne, Wyo. 7.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg
45 Mallory Cline C 6-4 Jr. 2L McClave, Colo. Has played in one game
Head Coach: Joe Legerski (Wyoming, ‘79), Sixth Year
Assoc. Head Coach: Gerald Mattinson (Weber State, '81), Sixth Year
Assistant Coaches: Kristin Becker (Vanderbilt, ‘90), Third Year, Katie Kern (New Mexico, ‘99), Third Year
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Saint Louis Billikens (3-7 overall)
Probable Starters Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown 2008-09 Stats
2 Alisha Goodwin G 5-8 Fr. Swansea, Ill. 7.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg
3 Theresa Lisch G 5-9 Jr. Belleville, Ill. 17.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg
10 Janisha Gearlds G 5-7 Fr. Bolingbrook, Ill. 6.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg
30 Heather King F 5-11 Sr. Palos Hills, Ill. 5.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg
55 Amanda Kemezys C 6-4 Jr. Fairview Heights, Ill. 9.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg
Off The Bench Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown 2008-09 Stats
5 Nicole Johnson C 6-3 So. Southlake, Texas 0.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg
12 India Warfi eld F 5-11 Fr. Dayton, Ohio 0.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg
13 Jameela Haynes F 6-0 Sr. Miami, Fla. 0.2 ppg, 0.4 rpg
23 Katie Paganelli G 5-9 Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio 10.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg
32 Kayci Will F 6-1 Fr. Neoga, Ill. Has not played this season
33 Lauren Woods F 6-0 So. Belleville, Ill. 6.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg
35 Kaelin Reid C 6-2 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio 2.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg
Head Coach: Shimmy Gray-Miller (Michigan, '94), Fourth Year
Assistant Coaches: Tony Francis, Stephanie Rich, Honey Brown
Director of Operations: Jarietta Benton
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