Cowgirls rally past Lady Rebels

by Wyoming Sports.org

LAS VEGAS -- The Wyoming Cowgirls didn't have to win with style points, but just win as they close the final month of the regular season.

Wyoming did just that on Wednesday, stopping UNLV 50-44 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The win was the second straight in league play and third in the last four games for the Cowgirls, 13-11, 5-6 in the Mountain West.

Wyoming seemed to be in control for much of the first half, leading by 10, before the Lady Rebels scrapped away, holding the Cowgirls scoreless in the final six minutes for a 27-23 halftime lead. Wyoming wouldn't score again until three minutes into the second half and they regained their momentum.

“We had a 10-point lead in the first half and everyone makes runs,” Wyoming coach Joe Legerski. “We weren’t aggressive with trying to get to the basket, which we did a better job in the second half. We were driving to the basket and moving in our offense."

Two Cowgirls finished with double figures, led by sophomore Hillary Carlson with a team-high 18 points, along with eight rebounds. Senior Megan McGuffey recorded a double-double, with 14 points and 12 rebounds. The Cowgirls were 19-of-51 (.373) from the field, 9-of-15 (.600) from the free-throw line, while out rebounding UNLV 42-39.

"Megan McGuffey did a good job of getting to the open area, as she finished with a double-double and Hillary Carlson with 18 points and eight rebounds was a great effort by both players," Legerski said.

UNLV was led by Erica Helms with 14 points and Shamela Hampton with 12 points and 14 rebounds. The Lady Rebels were 17-of-57 (.298) from the field and 5-of-13 (.385) from the free-throw line.

It took the teams a couple of minutes to get anything going offensively until an Erica Helms basket made it 29-23. The Cowgirls would finally get back in the scoring column with McGuffey's-point field goal to end a nine minute scoring drought stemming back from the first half. That would start a 9-2 run for Wyoming to give them a one point lead, 32-31.

Wyoming used a 9-2 run for a seven-point lead and UNLV would get no closer than five the rest of the way.

The Cowgirls will stay on the road to face TCU on Saturday in Fort Worth, beginning at 4 p.m.