------------------------------------------------------------- “We went into today’s game hoping that we could keep our turnovers under 20 and we were able to do that, but we knew that we had to do a better job on the offensive boards, to give us some second-chance opportunities." -- Wyoming coach Joe Legerski
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By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org
The Wyoming Cowgirls spent enough time in the film room this week preparing for San Diego State.
What they learned -- not that it was hard to figure out -- was that the talented Aztecs dominated the boards in the seven-point SDSU win earlier in the season in San Diego.
Not always a dominating rebounding team, the Cowgirls didn't want that to happen again on Sunday in the Mountain West Conference rematch at the Arena-Auditorium.
This time out, the Cowgirls dominated the boards in the 64-61 win.
“We watched some film and about every clip, we saw they were out-rebounding us,” Wyoming sophomore post Hillary Carlson said. “It was in our minds that we didn’t want to give up a lot of offensive rebounds. We really picked it up.”
The Cowgirls more than picked it up, they dominated the Aztecs, who are led by 6-foot-4 sophomore Paris Johnson. Wyoming out-rebounded San Diego State 44-25, grabbing 19 offensive rebounds.
“We knew that we had to get on the boards in this game since they out-rebounded us the last time,” Wyoming freshman forward Emma Langford said.
Earlier in San Diego, the Aztecs had a 38-31 rebounding edge and SDSU grabbed an alarming 20 offensive rebounds, leading to 12 second-chance points.
“That was what got us in trouble when we played down in San Diego last time," Cowgirl senior forward Megan McGuffey said. “We stepped it up on the boards.”
Also in San Diego, the Cowgirls committed 23 turnovers. On Sunday, they gave up the ball 18 times. While it was probably more than they would have liked, it was an improvement as well.
“The first time we played San Diego State, we gave up roughly 20-22 offensive rebounds and we had roughly 23 turnovers. That’s a lot of opportunities that we ended up giving them and a lot of opportunities that we didn’t have for us,” Wyoming coach Joe Legerski said. “We went into today’s game hoping that we could keep our turnovers under 20 and we were able to do that, but we knew that we had to do a better job on the offensive boards, to give us some second-chance opportunities.
Wyoming Sports.org
The Wyoming Cowgirls spent enough time in the film room this week preparing for San Diego State.
What they learned -- not that it was hard to figure out -- was that the talented Aztecs dominated the boards in the seven-point SDSU win earlier in the season in San Diego.
Not always a dominating rebounding team, the Cowgirls didn't want that to happen again on Sunday in the Mountain West Conference rematch at the Arena-Auditorium.
This time out, the Cowgirls dominated the boards in the 64-61 win.
“We watched some film and about every clip, we saw they were out-rebounding us,” Wyoming sophomore post Hillary Carlson said. “It was in our minds that we didn’t want to give up a lot of offensive rebounds. We really picked it up.”
The Cowgirls more than picked it up, they dominated the Aztecs, who are led by 6-foot-4 sophomore Paris Johnson. Wyoming out-rebounded San Diego State 44-25, grabbing 19 offensive rebounds.
“We knew that we had to get on the boards in this game since they out-rebounded us the last time,” Wyoming freshman forward Emma Langford said.
Earlier in San Diego, the Aztecs had a 38-31 rebounding edge and SDSU grabbed an alarming 20 offensive rebounds, leading to 12 second-chance points.
“That was what got us in trouble when we played down in San Diego last time," Cowgirl senior forward Megan McGuffey said. “We stepped it up on the boards.”
Also in San Diego, the Cowgirls committed 23 turnovers. On Sunday, they gave up the ball 18 times. While it was probably more than they would have liked, it was an improvement as well.
“The first time we played San Diego State, we gave up roughly 20-22 offensive rebounds and we had roughly 23 turnovers. That’s a lot of opportunities that we ended up giving them and a lot of opportunities that we didn’t have for us,” Wyoming coach Joe Legerski said. “We went into today’s game hoping that we could keep our turnovers under 20 and we were able to do that, but we knew that we had to do a better job on the offensive boards, to give us some second-chance opportunities.
"I thought Rebecca Vanderjagt came out and really set the tempo early by grabbing a couple of offensive rebounds; then I thought that Hillary, Megan and Emma getting offensive rebounds were big for us too.”
No offensive boards were bigger than the final one, as Langford grabbed a Randi Richardson miss, peeled out and was fouled with 1.5 seconds left as the Cowgirls were protecting a two-point lead. Langford hit 1-of-2 free throws and the Aztecs couldn’t answer.
“The shot was off and I just knew I had to secure the ball to finish out the game,” Langford said.
After San Diego State missed a 3-pointer and the Cowgirls grabbed the defensive board, Legerski called time out and set up what he hoped would be the last play, even though there was still 34 seconds left in the game.
“I told them we were going to take a shot at the end of the shot clock and nothing quicker than that; just get the ball up the floor and get the ball on the glass however we can, so that would only give San Diego State four or five seconds to try to transition,” Legerski said. “Randi does a good job of getting it up on the glass and then Emma came up from the side to rebound it, showing a little composure as a freshman. She dribbled the ball out to get the clock running rather than try to make a play at the basket.”
The 19 offensive rebounds were second best mark this season to the Cowgirls 21 offensive boards in the win over Weber State. Ironically, it was a late put-back and free throw by Carlson that broke the tie for the win.
No offensive boards were bigger than the final one, as Langford grabbed a Randi Richardson miss, peeled out and was fouled with 1.5 seconds left as the Cowgirls were protecting a two-point lead. Langford hit 1-of-2 free throws and the Aztecs couldn’t answer.
“The shot was off and I just knew I had to secure the ball to finish out the game,” Langford said.
After San Diego State missed a 3-pointer and the Cowgirls grabbed the defensive board, Legerski called time out and set up what he hoped would be the last play, even though there was still 34 seconds left in the game.
“I told them we were going to take a shot at the end of the shot clock and nothing quicker than that; just get the ball up the floor and get the ball on the glass however we can, so that would only give San Diego State four or five seconds to try to transition,” Legerski said. “Randi does a good job of getting it up on the glass and then Emma came up from the side to rebound it, showing a little composure as a freshman. She dribbled the ball out to get the clock running rather than try to make a play at the basket.”
The 19 offensive rebounds were second best mark this season to the Cowgirls 21 offensive boards in the win over Weber State. Ironically, it was a late put-back and free throw by Carlson that broke the tie for the win.
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