Redemption for Wyoming After Last Year's Conference Tournament Loss

LARAMIE, Wyo. (Feb. 1, 2025) – Clad in Lavender for the annual “Bounce Cancer” Game, the home team, Wyoming Cowgirls, improved to 13-9 and 7-3 in Mountain West Conference play Saturday with a 79-45 pounding of Boise State.
The Cowgirls shot 55.6% from the field and just over 36% from behind the arc.
With a blistering defensive performance, Wyoming added eight steals in the game and scored 20 points off turnovers.
Head Coach Heather Ezell said, “That's some of the best execution I've seen on both ends. We got out and executed in transition, we talked about on offense, (that we need) to run, run, run…we had those opportunities and were able to take advantage of it.”
She added, “We really executed, my seniors had a little chip on their shoulders knowing Boise was who knocked them out (of the MWC Tournament) last year, and they came out and executed to a T.”
After fighting an illness the past several days, senior guard Emily Mellema poured in 22 points and added 4 steals in the win.
Ezell praised her senior, “What a game she had. That is healthy, Em, playing at a very, very high level on both ends, and what a difference that makes when your point guard is doing that.”
Mellema said, “I had a pretty brutal week prior to this. It is really good to be healthy again. I am feeling close to 100% now and everything comes a little easier when you're not just trying to get through the day."
The last time the two teams faced each other ended with the Broncos halting Wyoming's championship hopes in the MWC Tournament last year with a 64-52 win in Las Vegas.
When asked if the Cowgirls played with a chip on their shoulders, Mellema added, “I did…that’s a game I have been waiting for since March. I didn’t sleep for days, that one ate me up a lot. So I was pretty excited to play them again. I told the team that now we have to go do it again at their place and if we meet them in the tournament.”
Mellema was red-hot in the 4th quarter adding three field goals and a 3-pointer at the 5:28 mark.
She said with a smile, “The starters were all still in there at the start of the fourth so we were like let’s have some fun and don’t let up. I think I listened to myself and I had a lot of fun just going to get mine.”
Senior Allyson Fertig had another double-double on the night, scoring 22 points and adding 17 rebounds.
Fertig said, “Everyone was loose and playing their best and having fun with it. It is really nice to have that confidence booster especially going into February. My plan is to go undefeated in February.”
Ezell said about Fertig. “People had said that it seemed like the post players for Boise were always a bug-a-boo for her…not tonight. She came out with a chip on her shoulder going 'I am not going to let them bully me'…she finished through contact and was able to be really productive.”
Melene Pederson contributed 15 points in the win, “She is executing at a high level and I am really happy at the way she defended too.” Ezell added.
Tatum Thompson led Boise State with 11 points.
The Cowgirls have an extended period before their next game at San Diego State against the Aztecs on February 8th at 2 PM Mountain Time.
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