Cold Shooting, Late Run Sink Cowgirls at Fresno State
The Wyoming Cowgirls struggled to find consistent offense Saturday afternoon and fell 53–36 on the road at Fresno State. Low-scoring second and fourth quarters proved costly, as the Bulldogs pulled away late by outscoring Wyoming by 16 points in the final period.
The opening quarter featured offensive challenges on both sides, with turnovers disrupting any early rhythm. Fresno State held a slim 4–2 lead at the first media timeout before Jane Rumpf knocked down a three-pointer to give Wyoming its first advantage of the game. Scoring remained limited the rest of the quarter, but a pair of three-pointers from Malene Pedersen helped the Cowgirls take an 11–6 lead into the second.
Henna Sandvik opened the second quarter with a layup, though Fresno State responded with a decisive run, scoring the next 10 points to regain the lead. Wyoming’s offense stalled for the remainder of the half, managing just two points in the second quarter as the Bulldogs closed on a 14–0 run to take a 20–13 advantage into the break.
Wyoming showed renewed energy to start the third quarter, scoring the first two baskets and using a 7–2 run to trim the deficit to two. A Payton Muma three-pointer, followed by a Muma steal and assist to Madi Symons, briefly put the Cowgirls in front at 27–24, prompting a Fresno State timeout. The Bulldogs responded by reclaiming control, edging ahead 30–28 at the third-quarter media timeout. Pedersen later tied the game at the free-throw line, but neither team found much offense late in the quarter, with Fresno State carrying a narrow 31–30 lead into the fourth.
The Bulldogs seized momentum early in the final period, scoring the first eight points to open up separation. Wyoming was unable to counter the surge, and Fresno State continued to extend the lead into double figures. The Cowgirls were limited to six points over the final 10 minutes, allowing the Bulldogs to secure the 53–36 win.
Pedersen led Wyoming with 17 points, accounting for nearly half of the Cowgirls’ scoring. Sandvik finished with seven points, while Symons added six. Muma paced Wyoming with three assists.
Wyoming shot 32.5 percent from the field and 4-of-14 from three-point range after starting the game 3-of-4 from deep. Fresno State finished at 40.4 percent shooting and outrebounded the Cowgirls 36–19, including a 10–0 edge in second-chance points. The Bulldogs also held advantages in points in the paint and points off turnovers, as Wyoming committed a season-high 24 turnovers. Rumpf provided the lone bench points for the Cowgirls.
The Cowgirls will break for the holidays before returning to action on December 31 with a road matchup at New Mexico. Tipoff in Albuquerque is scheduled for 1 p.m.