March 5, 2008

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

Complete Game Statistics in PDF Format
Wyoming Season Statistics in PDF Format

The Wyoming Cowgirl basketball team (24-5 overall, 12-4 in the MWC) closed out the regular season with a 68-34 victory over the BYU Cougars (13-14 overall, 7-8 in the MWC) on Wednesday night in Laramie. It was the final home game for seniors Amy and Jodi Bolerjack, Justyna Podziemska, Dominique Sisk and Hanna Zavecz.

"This was a good win for us," said UW head coach Joe Legerski. "I'm so happy for these seniors and the way they played tonight. I thought we showed up with a great deal of emotion, which is usually the case on this night, and got off to a great start. We thought we did a good job in the first half, rebounded the ball well, which gave us opportunities on the offensive end. To start the second half, I thought both teams looked like they were drained mentally. I think we attacked the zone and Jodi (Bolerjack) hit the big three, Hanna hit a couple of shots, and next thing you know it's a huge lead for us."

Three Cowgirls finished the evening in double-figures led by Zavecz. She recorded a season high 28 points, along with seven rebounds and four assists. Podziemska added 11 points and Sisk recorded ten points. Sophomore Aubrey Vandiver had a team high ten rebounds along with her seven points. Wyoming shot 21-60 (.350) from the field, while out rebounding the Cougars, 48-33.

BYU was led by Ashley Cheesman with nine points and seven rebounds. Cassie King and Mindy Nielson each finished with six points. The Cougars shot 13-46 (.283) from the field and 3-16 (.188) from beyond the arc.

Wyoming scored the first point of the game with a free throw from Bolerjack and then the Cougars answered with a basket to take their first lead of the game 2-1. The Cowgirls responded with six straight points to regain a five point lead, 7-2, through the first media timeout. That lead would be extended to double-figures, 15-2, with an 8-0 scoring run. The Cougars went cold as they went over eight minutes with out a basket. Wyoming continued to lead, 22-7, as they scored seven of the next ten points with just over seven minutes left on the clock. The Cougars would chip in to the lead with a small run to make it 24-12, but Megan McGuffey hit a basket to make it 26-12 with a little over three minutes left in the half. The teams would trade a couple of baskets and then the Cowgirls would close out the half on an 8-2 run to take a 34-17 lead in to the locker room.

Wyoming was led at halftime in scoring by Zavecz with ten points and five rebounds. She was followed by Podziemska with nine. Vandiver led the way with eight rebounds. The Cowgirls shot 12-33 (.364) from the field, while out rebounding the Cougars 25-16.

BYU was led by Cheesman with five points, while Nielson added four points. The Cougars shot 6-22 (.273) from the field and 2-9 (.222) from beyond the arc.

The Cougars scored the first four of five points right out of the break to make the score, 35-21, until a three-point field goal finally got Wyoming on the board with 17 minutes left in the half. Both teams would score for over five minutes until two free throws by Zavecz ended the scoring drought. BYU would score the next four points to make it a 15 point game, 40-25, but the Cowgirls answered back with eight straight to make it a 23 point game, 48-25. King would hit the basket for the Cougars to end the run, but a three-point field goal by Bolerjack was the answer from the Cowgirls. The lead or the game was never in jeopardy as the Cowgirls went on to the 68-34 victory.

The Cowgirls will now play in the Mountain West Conference tournament beginning on Wednesday, March 11 in Las Vegas, Nev.