Cowgirls back home to host BYU

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

The Wyoming Cowgirls had to go out on the road to find themselves. For the most part, they did just that, winning both games. Now, Wyoming returns home for a chance to build on that momentum.

The Cowgirls, 2-4 in the Mountain West, 10-9 overall, host Brigham Young Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Arena-Auditorium.

Wyoming’s wins over Colorado State and Air Force mark the first time it has won consecutive games since Dec. 30 and Jan. 2 against Adams State and San Francisco State respectively.

Granted,the two wins were against two teams in the lower end of the conference, yet the victories were critical for a young team that had opened with four straight losses in league play.

“We were trying to find a way just to get our first victory; it didn’t start easy for us with Utah, San Diego State,” Wyoming coach Joe Legerski said. “We just had to just get over the hurdle of really knowing that we could win.”

It won’t be easy for the Cowgirls on Saturday against a much improved BYU team that is 3-3 in league play and 13-5 overall. Last year, the Cougars were 7-9, 13-16, losing by 34 points to Wyoming in the A-A.

Legerski doesn’t expect that type of game on Saturday.

“Once again, it will be a very difficult task for us as this group,” Legerski said. “BYU is probably where we were at a year ago. They were young, they did not have a point guard and now all of the sudden, they gotten through that and they are having a tremendous season.”

Mindy Nielson leads the way with 11.4 points and 4.1 rebounds a game, while Shawnee Slade is adding 10.6 points and 4.4 rebounds.

“BYU is playing extremely well,” Legerski said. “They are coming in with a very good backcourt … they have always been strong up front. They’re just having a tremendous season.”

The Cowgirls have struggled at times offensively in league play, but have shown the ability to find players to step up in critical times in the wins over CSU and Air Force.

Against CSU, sophomore Hillary Carlson (17 points) and freshman Emma Langford (18 points) led the way. In the 52-41 win over Air Force, freshman Kristen Scheffler scored a career-tying 21 points and Carlson added 13.

Senior Megan McGuffey leads the way at 11.3 points per game this season, followed by Scheffler at 11.2, Carlson at 10.9 and Langford at 10.2.

It was a good learning experience on the road for the Cowgirls, now it is a chance to re-find their home court advantage. Wyoming also faces New Mexico at home on Wednesday.

“Anytime you get chance to play at home, it is a great time for the fans, regardless of the opponent,” Legerski said. “I know we enjoy playing in front of our crowd. We average over 3,000 fans a game, which is just a tremendous tribute to what our fans are doing.”

Carnival set
The Wyoming athletics department is hosting the ninth annual Take a Kid to the Game carnival Saturday in conjunction with the NCAA in the War Memorial Fieldhouse. The event starts at noon and runs until 1:30 p.m. and will include a special appearance by the official mascot of NCAA Basketball, JJ Jumper, plus games and prizes for everyone.

The admission is a game ticket to the Wyoming-BYU game ($10 for adults and $6 for children 18 and under). The first 250 kids will receive free admission to the game and carnival courtesy of Pepsi Kids Day. Tickets can be picked up anytime prior to the game at the main UW Ticket Office in the Arena Auditorium or at the Fieldhouse entrance, while supplies last. For ticket information, call the UW Ticket Office at (307) 766-4850 or 1-800-922-9461.
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Wyoming Cowgirls (10-9 overall, 2-4 in the MWC)
Probable Starters Pos. Ht. Yr. Exp. Hometown 2008-09 Stats
3 Randi Richardson G 5-7 RSo. TR Arlington, Wash. 2.7 ppg, 2.7 aspg
10 Rebecca Vanderjagt F 6-3 Sr. 3L Townsville, Australia 2.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.1 aspg
12 Kristen Scheffl er G 5-11 Fr. HS Lovell, Wyo. 11.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.6 aspg
24 Megan McGuffey G 5-11 Sr. 3L Cheyenne, Wyo. 11.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.8 aspg
41 Hillary Carlson F 6-3 So. 1L Cheyenne, Wyo. 10.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Off The Bench
4 Gemma Koehler F 6-1 Jr. 1L Geelong, Australia Has played in one game
13 Ashley Sickles F 6-1 Fr. HS Cresco, Iowa 2.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg
14 Jade Kennedy F 6-1 So. 1L Cairns, Australia 4.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg
15 Leah Fitzgerald C 6-2 Fr. HS Colorado Springs, Colo. Has played in three games
20 Aubrey Vandiver G 5-11 Jr. 2L Laramie, Wyo. Has not played this season
21 Emma Langford F 6-2 Fr. HS Arthurton, Australia 10.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.8 aspg
22 Brenna Freeze G 5-11 Fr. HS Albuquerque, N.M. 1.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg
33 Elisabeth Dissen C 6-1 Sr. 3L Hillsboro, Ore. 7.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg
45 Mallory Cline C 6-4 Jr. 2L McClave, Colo. Has played in two games
Head Coach: Joe Legerski (Wyoming, ‘79), Sixth Year
Associate Head Coach: Gerald Mattinson (Weber State, '81), Sixth Year
Assistant Coaches: Kristin Becker (Vanderbilt, ‘90), Third Year and Katie Kern (New Mexico, ‘99), Third Year
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BYU Cougars (13-5 overall, 3-3 in the MWC)
Probable Starters Pos. Ht. Yr. Exp. Hometown 2008-09 Stats
3 Jazmine Foreman G 5-5 So. 1L Vancouver, Wash. 7.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg
22 Mindy Nielson G 5-10 So. 1L Centennial, Colo. 11.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg
32 Shawnee Slade G/F 5-11 Sr. 3L Taylorsville, Utah 10.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg
45 Keilani Moeaki F 6-2 So. 1L Warrenville, Ill. 6.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg
54 Cassie King C 6-3 Sr. 3L Provo, Utah 7.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg
Off The Bench
1 Jenteal Jackson G 5-7 Fr. HS Salt Lake City, Utah 0.9 ppg, 0.6 rpg
13 Jaime Judkins G 5-6 Jr. 2L Salt Lake City, Utah 0.9 ppg, 0.2 rpg
14 Sarah Red-Hostetter G/F 5-11 Sr. 3L Provo, Utah 2.7 ppg, 0.9 rpg
21 Stephanie Buhler F 6-0 Fr. HS Oregon City, Ore. 1.5 ppg, 0.1 rpg
23 Coriann Wood F 6-1 So. 1L Basin City, Wash. 7.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg
24 Dani Peterson F 6-1 Fr. HS Salt Lake City, Utah 1.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg
35 Kristen Riley F 6-3 Fr. HS San Clemente, Calif. 3.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg
55 Megan Marks F 6-2 So. 1L South Jordan, Utah 1.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg
Head Coach: Jeff Judkins
Assistant Coaches: Alli Bills, Jonas Chatterton, Stacy Jensen
Dir. of Operations: Dan Nielson