Dec. 21, 2011
LARAMIE, Wyo. -
UC Irvine Final Stats
Behind a career high 24 from Ashley Sickles, the Wyoming Cowgirl basketball team (4-7 overall) defeated the UC Irvine Anteaters, 51-42, on Wednesday night in Laramie. The Cowgirls earn their fourth victory of the season while the Anteaters are 4-8 overall.
"Two very different halves of basketball which I've become accustomed to," said head coach Joe Legerski. "I thought Chaundra Sewell got us off to a great start with a double-double by halftime. She was very aggressive on the boards. Kaitlyn Mileto hit some three's early and it made us more comfortable. In the second half, it was Ashley Sickles. She scored 16 of our 19 points. We knew that we could get her the ball along the baseline in their zone.
Three Cowgirls finished the night in double-figures led by junior Ashley Sickles. She recorded a career high 24 points plus three blocked shots in 39 minutes of play. Kaitlyn Mileto added 13 points while Chaundra Sewell recorded a double-double with ten points and a career high 13 rebounds. Wyoming shot 19-45 (.422) from the field while out rebounding the Anteaters, 42-32.
UC Irvine was led by Jazmyne White and Anete Klintsone with eight points each. White led the way with eight rebounds as well. The Anteaters were 15-55 (.273) from the field and 4-18 (.222) from beyond the arc.
Wyoming scored first with a basket from Chaundra Sewell in the first minute of the game. The Anteaters answered with six straight to go ahead by four, 6-2. A three point field goal by Kaitlyn Mileto ended a three minute drought to make it 6-5. That would spark a 9-2 run from the Cowgirls to give them a 14-8 advantage. Two free throws from Kiara Belen stopped the run but a three point basket from Kaylee Hoffman increased it back to seven, 17-10, with 12 minutes on the clock. A basket from the Anteaters brought them to within four, 17-13. Wyoming would respond with 13 straight points to give them a double-figure lead, 30-13. A free throw from Jasmine Bernard stopped a nine minute scoring drought for UCI. Two free shots by Ashley Sickles to close out the half gave Wyoming a 32-14 going into the lockerroom.
UC Irvine scored six of the first eight points out of the break to pull within 14, 34-20. Two baskets from Ashley Sickles gave the Cowgirls an 18-point advantage, 38-20. Seven unanswered from the Anteaters closed the gap to 11, 38-27. After a free throw from Brenna Freeze and a basket by Mileto, UCI went on a 5-0 run to make it a nine point game, 41-32, with seven minutes remaining. Wyoming responded with four points to reclaim a double-digit lead, 45-32. Despite being outscored down the remaining four minutes, the Cowgirls pulled out the 51-42 victory.
Wyoming will return to action on Thursday, Dec. 29. They will host the Bowling Green Falcons beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Arena Auditorium.
