LARAMIE, Wyo. – Each Friday leading up to the exhibition game against Western State, the Cowgirl coaching staff will share their favorite memories, both on- and off-the-court, from the 2017-18 season. First up is the Wyoming come-from-behind win against New Mexico in the Mountain West Tournament.

"Beating a team three times is always tough," assistant coach Heather Ezell said. "New Mexico came out in the first half and really played well. But our players had the confidence they could win, and they really showed that in the second half. They didn't give up, and they made plays to get themselves back in the game. I was really proud that they just kept fighting and were able to pull out the big win!"

The Cowgirls had already defeated the Lobos twice during the regular season – an 11-point win at home and a one-point, thrilling victory on the road – before the teams would match up in the postseason. In fact, the game in Albuquerque was just nine days prior to the tournament game. The teams were familiar with each other and wasted no time getting started as they traded baskets until New Mexico took a 10-8 lead with 3:25 remaining in the first quarter.

That sparked a 23-10 run for the Lobos, who handed the Cowgirls their largest first-half deficit of the season at 17 points. Wyoming walked into the locker room at halftime eventually trailing 33-18. The Cowgirls were shooting less than 30 percent from the field, only attempted four free throws and hadn't even made a three-pointer in the first half.

All that changed as the teams started the second half. The Cowgirls scored the first seven points out of the break as three different players scored: Liv Roberts converted from the charity stripe, Taylor Rusk scored a pair of layups, and Clara Tapia added two more from the free throw line. The Cowgirls were back in the game, and with 5:05 left in the third quarter, New Mexico had its last double-digit lead of the game. By the end of the third frame, Wyoming had erased a 15-point deficit and took a 43-42 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Cowgirls never trailed in the final frame, and clutch free throws from Natalie Baker, Marta Gomez and Tapia iced the comeback win, 69-66, for Wyoming. The Cowgirls were led by Rusk's career-high 21 points, Baker's perfect 8-of-8 performance from the free throw line, and a pair of second-half Gomez three-pointers.

It was a thrilling comeback win for the Cowgirls during one of the biggest games of the season. With the victory, Wyoming completed the tough 3-0 season sweep of the Lobos.