Richardson steps up for some scoring punch

Richard Anderson photo
Wyoming sophomore Randi Richardson moves past some CSU players on Wednesday.

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

It’s almost likes teams are daring Randi Richardson to shoot the ball. Maybe it’s even a double-dog dare.

On Wednesday, Richardson answered with a dare of her own: “Here it is, try to stop me.”

Richardson, along with sophomore reserve Jade Kennedy, hit five 3-pointers to kick-start the Wyoming offense in the 71-62 win over Colorado State in the Arena-Auditorium.

When the Cowgirls' big guns came out firing blanks to begin the game, Richardson (2.8 points a game) and Kennedy (4.0 ppg) were the Wyoming offense for the first 10 minutes of the opening half, scoring 12 of the team‘s first 16 points. The Cowgirl mainstays -- sophomore Hillary Carlson (16 points) and freshmen Emma Langford (17) and Kristen Scheffler (12) -- later picked it up with an improved final 30 minutes.

Wide open for much of the night, Richardson stepped up to the task.

“It’s now my job to step up and make that shot,” said Richardson, who finished with 12 points. “If I do, I can make it a little easier on my teammates.”

The Cowgirls, after struggling offensively in the 13-point loss to TCU on Saturday, came out and missed nine of their first 10 shots on Wednesday against the Rams. Fortunately, CSU didn’t shoot much better and only led 8-7 early. Kennedy came off the bench and hit two straight 3-pointers and Richardson added another in an 11-0 run and Wyoming led 35-22 at halftime.

Wyoming coach Joe Legerski said that Wednesday‘s game was about different players stepping up.

“They were doubling up Randi Richardson, creating some problems for Hillary at the block and Randi steps up and knocks down three 3-pointers,” Legerski said. “I thought that was big to get us going, because we couldn’t hit a shot early, couldn’t get something inside. They were leaving Randi open and it was important that she hits some shots, and she did.

“Jade came in a gave us a huge lift with her two 3s. Those are names we are not used to see scoring a great deal. I really believe that was a big part of our success tonight, was different players stepping up.”

Richardson went into the game hitting on just 6 of 40 3-pointers (15 percent). She was 3-of-5 on Wednesday.

“We work on our shot every day,” Richardson said. “It’s just about having the mindset to shoot the ball and actually looking for my shot and having confidence in it. I’ve just been preparing myself to shoot the ball.”

CSU coach Kristen Holt said their strategy of doubling up on Carlson backfired.

“Randi Richardson made us pay,” Holt said.