A career-high-tying 27 points from senior Marta Gomez and an inspired combined performance from Wyoming’s two centers, senior Bailee Cotton and freshman Tereza Vitulova, powered the Cowgirls to a 66-58 win over Montana State Tuesday night.
“I’m very proud of this team,” veteran head coach Joe Legerski said. “It was a difficult basketball game against a quality opponent. I thought Montana State came out with all the energy in the third quarter. Trying to get us to find some energy in the fourth quarter was our biggest challenge. We just didn’t give in, and that’s a big part of what this team does.”
The Cowgirls exacted revenge over a four-point loss to the Bobcats suffered last season in Bozeman, Mont. Wyoming expertly closed the game in the fourth quarter after blowing a halftime lead in the third frame. The competitive game featured eight ties and nine lead changes, and the 2,381 fans in attendance were treated to an intense contest.
“I thought Marta Gomez was excellent tonight,” Legerski said. “She carried us in the first half, and she carried us in the fourth quarter. I’m just happy the ball kept finding Marta, and I knew on that last three, there was no doubt she was knocking that shot down. You could see the confidence she was playing with. Then, to have her step to the free throw line at the end to seal it was big for us.”
Gomez tied her career high with 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting – making four three-point field goals in the process. Cotton and Vitulova scored nine and 15 points, respectively, while pulling down 10 and six rebounds, respectively, a season high number for both.
“I was happy with how Bailee (Cotton) and Tereza (Vitulova) played in the five (position),” Legerski said. “When you take a look at the numbers for what they were able to do tonight: 24 points and 16 rebounds out of that position. To have a double-double in that neighborhood really helps us.”
Junior Taylor Rusk was a playmaker on offense, tallying a season-high five assists and zero turnovers to go with 10 points. Rusk made three of the six attempts she made from beyond the arc, as well. Cotton was also a force defensively, recording a season-high three steals and a block on the night.
Senior Clara Tapia made her first three pointer of the season to open the scoring for the Cowgirls, tying the game at 3-3 in the early going. Gomez hit a trey of her own, to put UW up 6-3 before Rusk scored a free throw after getting fouled on a dribble drive to the basket. The Bobcats answered with a short 4-0 run to tie the game at 7-all. Gomez, playing in her 100th career game, drained her second three of the quarter to put Wyoming up 10-7 heading into the media timeout. The Bobcats only made two more free throws the rest of the period sandwiched around a Rusk three point basket, ending the first frame 13-9.
Gomez scored five of the Cowgirls’ first seven points of the second quarter, while Vitulova chipped in a layup to keep pace with the Bobcats, as Wyoming led 20-13 leading into the media timeout in the second quarter. Gomez scored a free throw, and a Cotton jumper pushed the lead to 23-13 before the Bobcats scored a driving layup. Montana State answered with a 5-0 run that Gomez quelled with a turnaround jumper on the baseline. Then, Vitulova battled for an offensive rebound and added a layup. The Bobcats responded with a layup at the buzzer, and Wyoming took a 27-20 at the break.
The Bobcats scored seven of the half’s first 10 points to bring themselves within three points, but Gomez grabbed two offensive boards on one possession and scored a layup to extend Wyoming’s lead back to five. However, a quick 7-0 run gave MSU a 34-32 lead heading into the media timeout. Vitulova was fouled grabbing an offensive rebound, and a pair of free throws ended a 2:14 scoreless drought for Wyoming. Vitulova scored a turnaround jumper and a free throw to keep Wyoming within one, as Montana State had made 9-of-12 field goals to start the quarter. Vitulova scored a layup to tie the game at 41-all, and Montana State called a timeout with 1:13 remaining in the third period. Rusk drained a three ball after the stoppage, and the Cowgirls took a 44-41 lead into the final quarter.
To open the fourth period, Cotton took her team-leading seventh charge of the season on the defensive end, and Vitulova battled for a tough layup to extend Wyoming’s lead to 46-41. A layup and a pair of free throws brought the Bobcats right back to within one. But, after a Cotton layup and an MSU three, the game was tied for the seventh time at 48-all. A layup under the basket put the Bobcats up 50-48 heading into the final media timeout of the night. Cotton corralled an offensive rebound – one of four from her on the night – and scored a layup to tie the game yet again. The Cowgirls used a quick 6-3 run to force a Bobcat timeout with the Cowgirls leading, 56-53 with 1:45 remaining.
The Bobcats executed out of the timeout, scoring a jumper, and Wyoming called a timeout of its own while leading 56-55 with 1:26 left. The Cowgirls ran a play that left Gomez wide open for a three, and she drilled it – her fourth of the night – to give the Cowgirls a 59-55 lead. After a defensive stop, the Bobcats started the foul game, but they had four to give. After four seconds came off the clock, Tapia went to the line in the bonus, and made both free throws to put UW up 61-55 with 36.7 seconds left.
With 32 seconds left, Montana State went to the free throw line, but only made one to cut Wyoming’s lead to five, 61-56. After Gomez made a pair of free throws, the Bobcats took their final timeout. The Cowgirls defended well, and Gomez grabbed a rebound and was fouled. She converted both shots again – she’s a perfect eight-of-eight on free throws with under a minute left in the game this season. A Bobcat basket and a Cotton free throw ended the game with a Cowgirls win, 66-58.
Overall, the Cowgirls shot 39.7 percent (23-of-58) from the field, 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from three and 75.0 percent (12-of-16) from the free throw line. Wyoming had 15 assists to 11 turnovers. Montana State shot 43.4 percent (25-of-53) from the field, 33.3 percent (6-of-18) from three and 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from the free throw line. The Bobcats had 16 turnovers to eight assist.
The Cowgirls are back in action on Tuesday, Dec. 4, when they host Denver in the Arena-Auditorium. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
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