Cowgirls Open 2026 at Home Against San Diego State
- University of Wyoming Athletics Press Release
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
LARAMIE, Wyo. (Jan. 1, 2026) – The Wyoming Cowgirls return home to open play in the New Year with a Saturday matinee contest against San Diego State inside the Arena-Auditorium. Tip time is 2 p.m., against the Aztecs.
Saturday’s game will be broadcast live on the Mountain West Network and can be heard across the Cowgirl Radio Network with David Settle and Jennifer Aadland on the call.
ABOUT THE COWGIRLS
Wyoming (4-8, 1-2 MW) is looking to snap a two-game skid, both on the road as it’s coming off a 62-48 loss at New Mexico. Malene Pedersen (22) and Logann Alvar (10) both finished in double figures in the loss. It was Pedersen’s 13th career 20-point game and her fourth this season. Pedersen has also scored in double figures in 32 consecutive games dating back to last season and has led the Cowgirls in scoring in all 12 games this season.
Pedersen’s 17.3 points per game leads the Mountain West while her 48.1-percent shooting from the floor and 47.4-percent shooting from 3-point range, both rank second in the league. Pedersen’s 3-point percentage ranks 14th in the nation. Her 2.25 3-pointers made per game ranks third in the conference, as do her 77 made field goals this season.
Heidur Karlsdottir recorded a career-high 10 rebounds at UNM and tied a career-best with two blocks in the game. Lana Beslic led UW with four assists in the loss and is second on the team with 29 assists. Payton Muma continues to lead the Cowgirls in assists (33) and steals (17). Pedersen, who is fourth on the team with 28 assists, is second on the team with 11 steals.
As a team, Wyoming ranks third in the MW in both assists (13.8) and opponent 3-point percentage (28.8). The Cowgirls, who have recorded 20-plus assists in three games in 2025-26, have assisted on over 65-percent of their field goals this season. UW, who is fifth in opponent scoring, allowing just 59.2 points per game, also ranks fifth averaging 2.9 blocks a contest. The Cowgirls’ stingy defense is effective without fouling their opponents. Wyoming leads the league and is 10th in the country averaging just 12.8 personal fouls a game.
SCOUTING SAN DIEGO STATE
San Diego State has a better than plus-10 scoring margin on the season and is one of the top defenses in the Mountain West, allowing just 59.1 points per game and an opponent field goal percentage of 37.4. The Aztecs average 69.3 a contest and are shooting 41.5-percent from the field and 33-percent from 3-point range. SDSU averages 13.8 assists per game and commits just 13.1 turnovers a contest while forcing its opponents into 16.1 turnovers. San Diego State averages 36.7 rebounds per game.
Naomi Panganiban leads the Aztecs in scoring with nearly 13 points per game. Panganiban is second on the team with 19 made 3-pointers and is shooting 37.3-percent from beyond-the-arc. Nat Martinez also scores in double figures, averaging 11.6 points per game and is second on the team with 30 assists. Nala Williams leads SDSU averaging 3.5 assists per game and has a team-high 18 steals. Bailey Barnhard is averaging a team-best 5.8 rebounds per contest and leads the way with nine blocks this season.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST SAN DIEGO STATE
Wyoming leads the all-time series with the Aztecs, 39-32. The Cowgirls are 25-8 in the series in Laramie and have won nine of the last 10 at home against San Diego State. Last season, UW swept the regular-season series but lost in triple overtime in the Mountain West Tournament Championship Game.
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