Fresno State Pulls Away Late From Cowgirls
Bulldogs outscore Wyoming by 16 in the final 10 minutes
FRESNO, Calif. (Dec. 20, 2025) – Low-scoring second and fourth quarters doomed the Wyoming Cowgirls Saturday on the road at Fresno State in a 53-36 loss. The Bulldogs outscored Wyoming by 16 in the fourth quarter to pull away late.
Both teams struggled offensively to open the game as turnovers hurt both early. Fresno State led 4-2 at the first media timeout. Out of the timeout, a Jane Rumpf 3-pointer gave the Cowgirls their first lead of the day. Things continued to be tough on the offensive end for both teams the rest of the quarter. A pair of Malene Pedersen 3-pointers gave UW an 11-6 lead going into the second quarter.
After a Henna Sandvik layup opened the scoring in the second quarter, it was Fresno State's turn to make a run, scoring the next 10 points to reclaim the lead, 16-13 at the media timeout. Following the timeout, the Wyoming offensive cold spell remained as the Bulldog run continued. The Cowgirls scored just two points in the second and trailed 20-13 at the half. Fresno State ended the half on a 14-0 run.
The Cowgirls opened the second half with the first two baskets and on a 7-2 run to cut the deficit down to just two. The strong start to the third continued from there, as a Payton Muma 3-pointer and then a steal and assist from Muma to Madi Symons gave Wyoming a 27-24 advantage, leading to a Fresno State timeout with 6:25 remaining in the third. Out of the timeout, the Bulldogs reclaimed control and the lead. The score was 30-28 in favor of Fresno State at the third quarter media. Out of the media, a pair at the free-throw line from Pedersen briefly tied things before both teams traded stops and turnovers the rest of the frame. The Bulldogs led 31-30 going into the fourth.
Fresno State scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to take control late as the Cowgirls called a timeout with 6:52 left to play. The Bulldogs continued their run after the timeout and built the advantage up to double digits. Much like in the second quarter, UW struggled to put the ball in the hoop in the fourth, scoring just six points in the game's final 10 minutes.
Pedersen was the only Cowgirl in double figures as she scored 17 of Wyoming's 36 points. Sandvik and Symons added seven and six, respectively. Muma led UW with three assists in the loss.
The Cowgirls shot 32.5-percent (13-40) from the floor and went 4-for-14 from 3-point range after beginning the game making 3-of-4 from beyond-the-arc. Fresno State shot 19-of-47 (40.4-Percent) and made a pair from deep. The Bulldogs out-rebounded Wyoming 36-19 and had a 10-0 edge in second-chance points.
Fresno State outscored the Cowgirls 32-18 in points in the paint and had a 23-13 advantage in points off turnovers. UW turned the ball over a season-high 24 times. Rumpf accounted for the only bench points for Wyoming in the loss.
The Cowgirls are now off for the holiday break and will return to action December 31 for a road contest at New Mexico. Tip off in Albuquerque is set for 1 p.m.
-WYO-