• SMC ends game on nine-point run as Cowgirls shoot just 34-percent

Saint Mary’s was able to hit tough shots late and then made its free throws in the final minute as a 13-4 run from the Gaels over the final 5:29 Tuesday night proved to be the difference in the Wyoming Cowgirls’ 56-47 season-opening loss.

Malene Pedersen’s baseline midrange jumper was the first bucket of the season for the Cowgirls as things were slow offensively for both teams to begin. The score was tied 8-8 at the first media timeout. Out of the timeout, the defenses remained strong before an 8-0 Wyoming run gave it a 16-8 lead. The Gaels were able to cut into the Cowgirl lead with back-to-back hoops before a Pedersen buzzer-beating 3-pointer pushed the UW advantage to 19-12 after one.

Pedersen again opened the scoring for Wyoming with a midrange jumper to begin the second quarter. A Henna Sandvik putback with 7:04 in the quarter pushed the Cowgirl advantage to double digits, 23-12 and forced an SMC timeout. Following the timeout, the UW offense fell out of rhythm as the Gaels went on a run to end the half and were able to cut the deficit down to just 26-23 going into halftime.

The third quarter saw Wyoming’s offensive struggles continue as Saint Mary’s tied things at 26-26 before a Pedersen 3-pointer broke the tie. From there, the Gaels were able to surge in front for the first time since early in the game before a pair at the free-throw line from Logann Alvar reclaimed the Cowgirl lead at 31-30 at the media timeout. After the media, the UW offense continued to sputter, especially with turnovers as SMC was able to go in front by three. Following four free throws by Wyoming, the Gaels were able to get one at the stripe, and it was 35-35 going to the fourth.

Things went back-and-forth to begin the fourth as both teams put it in the bucket early in the frame. Out of a media timeout, the two continued to exchange hoops before the defenses started stepping up again. Cowgirl turnovers down the stretch cost them as Saint Mary’s was able to hit tough shots down the stretch and were able to hold off UW late thanks to free throws and its defense.

“I thought we came out the gate and played really well in the first quarter,” said Head Coach Heather Ezell.

“We executed on both ends. They pushed up the pressure there in the second quarter and caused some turnovers and were able to get back into the game and then I think we relaxed a little bit. Which allowed them to get back into it. Then, after halftime, this is what you can get with a young team, there’s going to be ups and downs. We came out of halftime not ready to play and they really executed what they were wanting to do, and we did not.”

Wyoming shot just 34.1-percent (15-44) from the field and went 3-of-17 from beyond-the-arc while committing 20 turnovers. SMC shot 46.3-percent (19-41) overall and made 2-of-6 from deep. The Cowgirls hit 14-of-19 at the free-throw line and enjoyed a slim margin on the boards, 31-26.

SMC had a 20-14 advantage in points off turnovers and got a big boost from its bench as Saint Mary’s reserves scored 38 points to the Cowgirls’ 16. The Gaels also outscored Wyoming 32-18 in the paint. Wyoming had a 7-6 edge in second-chance points on five more offensive rebounds.

Pedersen led all scorers on the night with 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Payton Muma scored nine off the bench while Sandvik and Alvar scored eight and seven, respectively. Lana Beslic and Sandvik led the way with two steals each while Sandvik’s six boards were a game high. Four Cowgirls tallied two assists each to lead the way.

The Cowgirls now look to bounce back with a second consecutive home contest Friday night at 6:30 as Long Beach State comes to town.