“They were open and once I take my time and get my feet set, I'm pretty good at shooting. I was really happy. Just to go into the half with that lead was really good." -- UW junior Jade Kennedy on two big 3-pointers.
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UW-SDSU boxscore
by Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org
It wasn't the prettiest night shooting the ball for the Wyoming Cowgirls, but they hit some big shots when it counted, stopping San Diego State 63-51 on Wednesday.
The Cowgirls (6-4 MWC, 15-7) shot just 32 percent from the field, but got the ball to fall at the right time, and then hit some crucial free throws down the stretch in the second half.
"We talked about having to compete for 40 minutes tonight against a great San Diego State team," said UW head coach Joe Legerski said. "We knew that we couldn't let up, because they can score quickly, create turnovers, and we saw that in the first half. We would get out to an eight to 10-point lead and they would close that gap. The team showed great composure down the stretch, stepped up and made our free throws."
The big shots of the game came late in the first half with the Cowgirls clinging to a two-point lead. Jade Kennedy nailed a pair of 3-pointers in the final 42 second as Wyoming went into the locker room with an 30-22 lead.
“We’re up two in the closing minute and Jade Kennedy knocks down two threes,” Legerski said. “Big shots. It gave us a cushion to go up eight at the half. I thought that was important because it gave us some momentum going into the locker room. Jade can really shoot the basketball. She did not get a look in the second half, but she shot the ball extremely well, rebounded well and took care of the basketball. Jade also had nine rebounds. That’s huge.”
With a huge grin on her face, Kennedy said that yes, they were, "kind of big," those two 3-pointers.
“They were open and once I take my time and get my feet set, I'm pretty good at shooting," Kennedy said. I was really happy. Just to go into the half with that lead was really good.”
Junior Hillary Carlson, who scored a game-high 21 points, while grabbing 10 rebounds, said their confidence rose as they ran up the ramp at halftime.
“They (Kennedy's 3-pointers) were big, they got us going into the second half,” Carlson said.
The crazy shots came in the second half, as Carlson banked in a 3-pointer at the shot-clock buzzer to give Wyoming an 11-point lead with 13:37 to play and Aubrey Vandiver did the same on a 2-pointer with 5:37 left to put the Cowgirls up by 15.
“Every night out, I always say that you need a little luck," Legerski said. "Hillary’s 3-point banker with a second to go on the shot clock; Aubrey’s 2-point with the shot clock ready to expire, you need some luck on your side. Once again, it just gave us that cushion as well as it made the team feel that maybe tonight is our night.”
Jene Morris scored 12 points and Allison Duffy and Quense Davis both added 10 for San Diego State (6-4, 14-8), which shot just 29 percent from the field in the game (19 of-60).
A 3-pointer and three-point play by Vandiver put the Cowgirls up by 15 with 11 minutes left. San Diego State chipped away and cut the lead to nine with 1:44 left, but could get no closer. The Cowgirls hit 9 of 10 free throws down the stretch to clinch the win.
Vandiver finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds for Wyoming, her 13th double-double of the season. Kennedy and Emma Langford added 11 points each for the Cowgirls, who out-rebounded the Aztecs 50-43.
“None bigger tonight than our double-doubles, Aubrey and Hillary," Legerski said.
Vandiver played all 40 minutes, as did Kennedy. All five starters played at least 35 minutes, which was a necessity against the talented Aztecs, Legerski said.
"Tonight was a game where we had to play high minutes just because of San Diego State’s pressure and how they are able to turn you over in a hurry," Legerski said.
The Cowgirls out-rebounded the Aztecs 50-43 and had a 23-21 edge in offensive boards and an 18-12 advantage in second-chance points.
"We did a great job rebounding," Legerski said. "Going into the game, I knew we had to try and keep San Diego State close on the glass. To their credit they grabbed 21 offensive rebounds, but for us, we got 23."
The Cowgirls will be at TCU Saturday in another big league contest.
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