Pedersen Scores Career High as Wyoming Loses in First Round
- University of Wyoming Athletics Press Release
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Air Force shot 21 more shots than the Wyoming Cowgirls Saturday, thanks to offensive rebounds and Wyoming turnovers as the Cowgirls lost in the opening round of the Credit Union 1 Mountain West Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship, 60-53.
Both teams started off strong on offense as the Cowgirls had an early four-point advantage. From there, Air Force countered back to tie things at 8-8 at the first media timeout of the contest. Following the timeout, the two traded hoops before the Falcons surged in front to end the quarter and led 16-11 after the first.
After Wyoming scored the first hoop of the second quarter, the offense went into a lull as AFA continued to hold the advantage. The Cowgirls would get to within one a couple of times before the media but trailed 27-21 at the timeout as the Falcons answered right back as UW failed to get defensive stops, much like late in its previous meeting against Air Force. Out of the timeout, each team got one more field goal as the Falcons carried a 29-23 advantage into halftime.
The two traded layups to begin the second half before Malene Pedersen's second 3-pointer of the game got the Cowgirls to within five. Wyoming couldn't get the stops on defense it needed, however, and trailed 37-30 at the third quarter media timeout. After the media, Air Force's offensive execution remained as UW couldn't trim the margin down much. The Cowgirls called a timeout with 2:13 left in the third after falling behind 43-32. Pedersen did what she could for Wyoming to keep pace, but the AFA lead remained at 11, 47-36, going to the fourth.
The Cowgirls would get the first two points of the fourth quarter before the Falcons responded to go back up by double digits. Wyoming eventually clawed back, cutting the deficit to 49-44 with 6:30 to go after four at the free-throw line from Pedersen. UW had its chances to get even closer but the turnover bug bit back before Air Force would respond, lengthening its lead back up to 52-44 at the media timeout with 4:12 remaining. Out of the timeout, a Madi Symons driving layup got the Cowgirls back to within six before a Pedersen 3-pointer with three minutes to play cut it to 52-49.
Wyoming would force an Air Force shot clock violation on the next possession but turned the ball over with a chance to tie or get within one. The Cowgirl comeback would be halted as the Falcons would hit a 3-pointer off an offensive rebound and then score on their next possession, forcing a UW timeout with 48 seconds left, trailing by eight. AFA would salt the game away from there at the free-throw line.
In her final game in the Brown & Gold, Pedersen saved her best for last and was the only Cowgirl to finish in double figures as she poured in career-high 29 points on 8-of-13 shooting and went 10-for-10 at the free-throw line while making all three of Wyoming's 3-pointers in the loss. Pedersen concludes her illustrious career seventh in career scoring with 1,713 points, sixth with 639 field goals 10th in career 3-pointers made, first in career free-throw percentage and tied for sixth with 130 career games played.
Henna Sandvik added eight while Madi Symons and Heidur Karlsdottir scored six and five, respectively off the bench. Karlsdottir also recorded a team-best, three assists and three blocked shots.
The Cowgirls shot 45.2-percent in the loss and went just 3-of-15 from 3-pointe range. Air Force shot 39.7-percent and made just 2-of-13 from deep. Wyoming also made four more free throws Saturday. The Falcons did most of their damage on points off turnovers (14-4) and second-chance points (14-16). The Cowgirls committed 19 turnovers while AFA had just six. Air Force also had eight more offensive rebounds.
Wyoming's season ends at 10-20 overall.
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