BOISE, Idaho (Jan. 27, 2023) – The Wyoming Cowgirls look to win their fifth-straight on the road Saturday with a trip to Boise State for a 2 p.m., tip. Dating back to last season, the Cowgirls have won 7-of-9 on the road in conference play.
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on the Mountain West Network and can be heard on the Cowgirl Radio Network with David Settle on the call.
ABOUT THE COWGIRLS
Wyoming (13-7, 6-3 MW) is coming off a gritty comeback victory Thursday at Utah State. The Cowgirls trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half Thursday before fighting all the way back for the 64-52 win. UW held the Aggies to just 16 points in the second half, 5-of-24 shooting and 2-for-12 from 3-point range in the game's final 20 minutes. The Cowgirls hit a season-high 19 free throws in the win and went 14-of-16 at the line in the fourth quarter.
In late game situations this season, the Cowgirls have been outstanding at the free-throw line late in games. In the final minute of games and in overtime periods as a whole, Wyoming is 34-for-37 (91.9-percent) at the line. A total of eight Cowgirls have hit freebies in those situations with Emily Mellema and Quinn Weidemann leading the way with eight makes each.
The Cowgirls were led in the contest by Allyson Fertig and Mellema with 15 points each. Fertig recorded her fifth double-double of the season as she added a game-high 12 rebounds in the win. In the second half alone, Fertig had 11 points and seven boards. Mellema, meanwhile, scored in double figures for the fourth time in the last five games and recorded a career-high five steals. Over the last five games, Mellema is second on the team averaging 11 points per game, is shooting 47-percent from the field and is 22-for-25 at the free-throw line.
UW has been outstanding on the road during league play this season, posting a 4-1 record away from home. In those five road conference contests, the Cowgirls are averaging 62.6 points per game and allowing 57.2 points per game. Despite shooting just under 27-percent from 3-point range on the road, the Cowgirls are shooting 44-percent as a team from the floor and is an outstanding 72-of-80 (90-percent) from the free-throw line. Wyoming is also out-rebounding its opponents by nearly 10 boards per contest in the five road games.
SCOUTING BOISE STATE
Boise State is led by Elodie Lalotte's 11.1 points per game. Lalotte, who is shooting 52.3-percent from the field, is second on the team with 15 steals and 6.8 rebounds per game. The Broncos have a trio of strong freshmen in 2022-23, led by Dani Bayes, who is averaging 9.4 points per game and has made a team-high 40 3-pointers. Mya Hansen and Natalie Pasco are the other two heralded freshmen, and are averaging 9.1 and 6.9 points per game, respectively. Abby Muse leads the Broncos with eight boards per contest and is averaging a league-leading 2.7 blocks per contest.
As a team, BSU is averaging 66.5 points per game and allows just 63.7 a contest. The Broncos are shooting just over 40-percent from the field and 33-percent from 3-point range. Boise opponents are shooting at just a 37.3-percent clip and 32.1-percent from beyond-the-arc. The Broncos are one of the best rebounding teams in the Mountain West, averaging 41.4 rebounds a contest and have a plus-seven rebounding margin. Seven of BSU's nine victories this season have come at home.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST BOISE STATE
Wyoming trails the all-time series with the Broncos, 14-18 and is just 2-13 in the series in Boise. The Cowgirls have lost five-straight on the road in the series, including a 70-59 loss at ExtraMile Arena last season. The Cowgirls defeated the Broncos, 61-47 at home in 2022, earning the season-split with BSU. Paula Salazar scored a career-high 15 points off the bench in the victory last season.
-WYO-
