SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Dec. 6, 2024) – The Wyoming Cowgirls could not overcome a third quarter run by Missouri State in a 62-50 loss to the Lady Bears inside the Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, Mo. on Friday evening. The Cowgirls made a late run in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Bears would hold on for the win.
"We put ourselves in a position to have to play perfect in the fourth quarter and that is not a recipe for success," UW head coach Heather Ezell said. "Our focus was lacking tonight on the defensive end, and we had to scramble and catch up. They hit some kick out threes and that hurt us tonight."
The Cowgirls were led by Allyson Fertig with 15 points and 10 rebounds. It was her 36th career double-double. She was 5-of-8 from the field. Emily Mellema and Tess Barnes added 11 points each. It was the 27th double-figure game of Mellema's career and 18th for Barnes. Malene Pedersen added 10 points for her 46th career game in double figures.
Wyoming was held to 39 percent from the field for the night and recorded only two three-pointers in the contest. Missouri State shot 43 percent for the night and recorded a 38-30 advantage on the boards. Wyoming recorded 17 turnovers with the Lady Bears scoring 22 points off the miscues.
The Cowgirls took an early 7-2 lead with Mellema knocking down a three-pointer two minutes into the frame. Missouri State answered with a 12-2 run to take a 14-9 lead. MSU would ride that momentum to take a 18-14 lead after one quarter shooting over 50 percent from the field.
Tess Barnes added a and-one play to make it a one-point game at 18-17 in the opening two minutes of the second quarter. The Cowgirls went scoreless for nearly six minutes with the Lady Bears taking a 28-19 lead with ninety seconds left in the first quarter. Fertig ended the run for Missouri State and Barnes added bucket as Wyoming trailed 28-23 at the half.
Pedersen added an and-one play and Fertig added a layup off a turnover for a 28-28 game in the opening 70 seconds of the third quarter. The Cowgirls took the lead at 30-28 on a layup from Mellema . That lead was short lived with the Lady Bears going on a 11-0 run to build a nine-point advantage at 39-30 halfway through the third quarter.
Wyoming used the free throw line to make it a five-point game with 3:15 left in the third frame. But the Lady Bears pushed the lead back to nine points and then double digits with the Lady Bears taking a 50-36 lead into the fourth quarter.
Another run by the Lady Bears pushed their lead to 18-points at 56-38 three and a half minutes into the final quarter. The Cowgirls went on a 12-0 run highlighted by a three-pointer from Pedersen for a 56-50 game with just over two minutes left. Four different Cowgirls added a tally during the run. Missouri State hit a three-pointer for a 59-50 game with 45 seconds left on their way to the win.
Missouri State was led by Kaemyn Bekemeier with 15 points and eight rebounds. Sarah Lithacum added 14 points hitting seven field goals.
The Cowgirls remain on the road with a trip to South Dakota on December 15 with a noon start.