Cowgirls Open Season With Big Win

The score may give the impression of an easy victory, but for at least the first 35+ minutes of Friday's season-opening match, Idaho State gave Wyoming all it could handle. Justyna Podziemska's five three-pointers and a late-game charge helped the Cowgirls pull away from the Bengals.

LARAMIE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Cowgirl basketball team opened up the 2007-08 regular season with a 76-50 victory over the Idaho State Bengals on Friday night.

“I thought Justyna (Podziemska) was the difference in the game tonight,” said head coach Joe Legerski. “She finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and more importantly 5-7 from the three point line, which was one of the reasons we ended up winning tonight.

"It was a difficult night and a difficult opponent to open up with. Idaho State is a tough team. They play extremely hard, continue to come at you and don’t miss from the free throw line.”

Three players finished the night in double-figures for Wyoming, led by Podziemska who added four steals and two blocked shots to a seven-of-10 shooting performance. Sophomore Aubrey Vandiver finished with 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds in 26 minutes of play, while Hanna Zavecz recorded 14 points.

As a team, the Cowgirls shot 27-of-57 (.474) from the field and 14-of-18 (.778) from the free throw line.

Natalie Doma was the leading scorer and rebounder for the Bengals with 14 points and ten boards. Jenna Brown and Andrea Lightfoot each added nine points, while Michelle Grohs had eight.

Idaho State shot 15-of-51 (.294) from the field and a perfect 15-of-15 (1.00) from the free throw line.

After the two teams traded three point field goals, the Cowgirls went on a 6-0 scoring run to open up a 9-3 lead. Doma completed a three point play to pull the Bengals within three, but Wyoming responded by scoring 12 of the next 14 points to extend the lead to double-figures at 21-8.

Idaho State went over seven minutes without a basket, finally breaking the drought with a three-point field goal from Brown. That would start an 8-4 run to bring the Bengals to within six, 25-19. But the Cowgirls closed out the half by scoring five of the last seven points to take a 30-21 lead into the locker room.

Podziemska led all scorers with nine points, and Zavecz followed with six, while Jodi Bolerjack added five. Wyoming shot 11-of-27 (.407) from the field and 4-of-12 (.333) from beyond the arc.

Grohs led the way for Idaho State in the first half with six points, and Doma finished with five points and four rebounds. The Bengals were 7-of-20 (.350) from the field and 4-of-8 (.500) from beyond the arc.

The two teams played evenly for the first several minutes out of the halftime break until a 9-6 run by the Cowgirls put them up 46-33.

ISU responded by scoring the next seven points to pull within nine at 49-40 with 8:33 on the clock. Two three-pointers and a layup helped the Cowgirls regain a 13-point lead at 57-44.

It was never close after that as Wyoming closed out the game on a 15-0 run to win 76-50.

The Cowgirls will resume play next week on Thursday, Nov. 15, when they host the Kansas State Wildcats. The game is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Arena Auditorium.