COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 2, 2019) – Senior Sladjana Rakovic scored the overtime-forcing layup in Wyoming's 59-56 overtime win over Air Force (8-19, 4-12 MW). Then, in overtime, she added a steal, layup, assist and rebound to will the Cowgirls (19-6, 12-4 MW) to the overtime win. It's Wyoming's first overtime win since topping South Dakota at home in 2017, 69-62.

"It's tough to win. Period. Even more difficult on the road," said head coach Joe Legerski. "We talked earlier that this Air Force team has a winning record at home, and they're very talented. We were up and down today"
 
The Cowgirls were led by seniors Marta Gomez, Bailee Cotton and Rakovic on the day. Gomez had her second double-double this season and of her career with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Cotton had her sixth double-double this season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Both seniors were effective on the defensive end, as Cotton had three blocks and Gomez had three steals. Rakovic's exploits at the end of the game were just as important as the first 39 minutes, as she finished with 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.
 
Junior Taylor Rusk added eight points and three rebounds, senior Clara Tapia added nine points and was one of two Cowgirls to have three assists.
 
The Cowgirls shot 44.4 percent (24-of-54) from the field, 22.2 percent (2-of-9) from three and 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from the free throw line. The Cowgirls tied their season high with 19 turnovers, and had 13 assists on the day.
 
Air Force was led by Kaelin Immel's game-high 18 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Riley Snyder added 15 points and six rebounds to go along with a block and a steal.
 
The Falcons shot 33.9 percent (21-of-62) from the field, 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from three and 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from the free throw line. Air Force had eight assists and 11 turnovers on the day.
 
The Falcons scored first in the game, but the Cowgirls rattled off an 11-0 run to answer that was sparked by a Gomez three and capped by a Gomez layup. However, the Cowgirls went cold and only scored two more points in the final 4:34, while Air Force chipped into the lead. After one quarter, the Cowgirls led 13-10.
 
Air Force started the second period's scoring with a long jumper, but Cotton answered with a post move down low. Tapia found Rusk for a fastbreak layup, and after a pair of Cotton free throws, the Cowgirls held a 20-14 lead with 6:20 to play in the first half. Freshman Quinn Weidemann converted a layup with 2:30 to play in the half to put Wyoming up 26-17. The Falcons scored a three at the buzzer, and despite 12 uncharacteristic turnovers, the Cowgirls led 26-20 at the halftime break.
 
After a Cowgirl turnover, the Falcons scored a layup to start the second half, but Rusk answered on the next possession with a driving layup of her own. Both teams entered prolonged scoring droughts, but Cotton curled into the lane for a layup, and Immel answered on the other end to spark a 6-0 Falcon run. Gomez snapped a four-minute drought with a three ball, and the Cowgirl lead went back up to five, 33-28. The Falcons added a jumper at the buzzer, and Wyoming took a 33-32 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
After a free throw by freshman Karla Erjavec, Immel hit a three, and the Falcons took the lead, 35-34, to start the final frame. Rakovic scored in the paint to answer and give Wyoming back the lead. Air Force hit a three, and held the 38-36 lead with 4:45 to play in the game.
 
Gomez posted up for a jumper in the paint to cut the AF lead to one point, 42-41, with 2:48 left in the game. With 37.0 seconds left, the Cowgirls fouled to send the Falcons to the line. Air Force converted both, and Gomez's three rimmed out, leading to another Cowgirl foul. After Air Force missed a total of three crunch-time free throws, Rakovic scored a driving layup to tie the game and 47 and send it to overtime.
 
Gomez scored the first points of overtime on a layup. After a defensive stop, Tapia scored a pair of free throws to put the Cowgirls up 51-47. After a pair of Falcon free throws, Rakovic again drove the lane and scored a layup.
 
The teams traded baskets, and with one minute left in overtime, the Cowgirls led 55-53. Gomez scored a jumper in the paint, and the Cowgirls got a stop on the other end. However, the Falcons earned a stop of their own and Immel drained a three to cut it to a one-point game, 57-56.
 
With 3.6 seconds left in overtime, the Falcons sent Gomez to the line where the Mountain West's top free throw shooter calmly sank both to keep the Cowgirls up, 59-56, and Air Force's desperation three was no good.
 
The Cowgirls return to action on Monday, March 4, when they host San José State in the Arena-Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. That game is Wyoming's "Senior Night," and the Cowgirls will honor all six seniors prior to tipoff.