The Wyoming Cowgirls closed out their non-conference schedule with a commanding 73-41 win against North Dakota on Saturday.
Playing their first home game in a month, the Cowgirls delivered a strong performance to end 2024 and mark the program’s 800th victory.
Wyoming’s defense was the key to success, forcing 29 turnovers and tallying a season-high 16 steals—the most since 2018. The Cowgirls capitalized on these opportunities, scoring 29 points off turnovers while limiting the Fighting Hawks to just six points from Wyoming’s 10 miscues.
Head Coach Heather Ezell praised her team’s adaptability:
“We saw something different again, we did not expect North Dakota to come out in a zone to start. It was something we hadn’t practiced for, but I think that’s where this team is at. You can throw something like that at them, and they were immediately ready to get into our zone offense and execute it.”
Wyoming set the tone early, jumping to an 8-2 lead and finishing the first quarter ahead 16-11. The Cowgirls extended their lead in the second quarter with a 6-0 run, fueled by four straight North Dakota turnovers, and entered halftime up 34-21.
The third quarter mirrored the team’s strong opening, with the Cowgirls pushing their lead to 18 points by the end of the period. Wyoming’s reserves played the majority of the fourth quarter, further extending the lead in the closing minutes.
Tess Barnes led all scorers with 16 points, shooting 5-of-9 from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Allyson Fertig added 15 points and eight rebounds, while Malene Pedersen contributed 13 points. Emily Mellema stood out defensively with a career-high six steals, just shy of the program’s all-time top-10 single-game record.
Wyoming’s well-rounded performance was evident across multiple categories:
- Shooting Efficiency: The Cowgirls shot 43.1% (25-of-58) from the field, compared to UND’s 43% (18-of-42).
- Free Throws: Wyoming excelled at the line, hitting 18-of-19, while North Dakota managed just 3-of-4.
- Points in the Paint: The Cowgirls outscored the Fighting Hawks 36-26 inside.
Despite shooting just 5-of-22 from beyond the arc, Wyoming’s dominance in turnovers and second-chance points (10 to North Dakota’s two) secured their decisive win.
With non-conference play complete, the Cowgirls turn their attention to Mountain West competition. They open league play against Utah State at home on New Year’s Day at 2 p.m.
With input from 7220 Sports and KGAB AM 650.
