Cowgirls hold on to beat Rams

Wyoming-CSU stats

By Wyoming Sports.org

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- With the way things have gone this season for the young Wyoming Cowgirls, any win is important.

Saturday’s 64-61 triumph over Colorado State qualifies in the “any win” category.

The Cowgirls, now 1-4 in Mountain West Conference play (9-9 overall), led by as much as 21 points in the first half and still by 13 with about six minutes left, had to hang on for dear life in the final moments before celebrating that first conference win.

It wasn’t easy, as the Cowgirls struggled to put the Rams away, hitting on just 12 of 24 free throws in the second half.

“To get our first conference victory was as difficult as we could make it,” said Wyoming coach Joe Legerski. “To shoot 50 percent from free throw-line in second half, really showed we lost our focus, but we hung in their and found a way to win.”

Three Cowgirls finished the game in double-figures and two players with double-doubles. Hillary Carlson recorded her second straight double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. She was followed by Emma Langford with 18 points, while Jade Kennedy added 11 points and a career high 11 rebounds. Wyoming shot 20-of-53 (.377) from the field, 7-of-22 (.318) from beyond the arc and 17-of-32 (.531) from the free-throw line.

For Langford, it was her best game in over a month, as the last time she scored in double figures was on Dec. 3 against North Dakota.

“The play of Emma and Jade off the bench was instrumental in the win,” Legerski said. “Even though her stat line will show no points, Randi (Richardson) play on defensively was a huge key as well.”

Colorado State was led by Juanise Cornell, who finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Britney Minor had 21 points, while Amaka Uzomah had a game-high 16 rebounds. The Rams were 21-of-71 (.296) from the field, while out-rebounding Wyoming 54-42.

Holding the Rams over six minutes without a field goal, the Cowgirls built a 38-17 lead before leading 38-25 at halftime.

Wyoming still appeared to be in control, but the Rams, 2-4, 7-12, chipped away and cut the lead to one with seconds remaining, before Langford hit 2 of 4 free throws to end the scoring.

Wyoming will remain on the road and face Air Force on Wednesday.