LARAMIE – Malene Pedersen leads the Mountain West in scoring.
 
The decorated senior guard is averaging 19.3 points, but Wyoming is only scoring 55.5 points per game so far this season.
 
Looking to spark the Cowgirl offense, head coach Heather Ezell inserted Jane Rumpf into the starting lineup on Saturday against San Diego State, the conference's best defensive team. The true freshman scored 11 points in the first half of the 72-55 loss in which the defensive effort cost the team.
 
"I thought Jane came out firing like I wanted her to," Ezell said.
 
Rumpf, a talented 6-foot-2 forward from Denver, made three 3-pointers in the first quarter to help give UW a 24-19 lead.
 
"Emotions were high," Rumpf said when asked about making her first career start. "I know hearing (that) from Coach Heather just gave me a full boost of confidence. All the other coaches had full faith in me and them reminding me all week in practice, 'Just keep working hard. Just keep doing what you are doing.'"
 
During her prep career at Regis Jesuit, Rumpf was a three-time all-conference selection who led the program to an appearance in the Class 6A championship game and an Elite Eight. Early in the recruiting process she was "set on not going anywhere close to home."
 
The long list of schools showing interest in Rumpf included Boston, Columbia, Florida Gulf Coast, Fresno State, Grand Canyon, Nevada, Pepperdine, Santa Clara and Washington State. She was also recruited locally by Air Force, Colorado, Colorado State and Denver.
 
Fortunately for the Cowgirls, Regis head coach Jordan Kasemodel (Kelly), who is from Gillette and played at UW from 2013-16, told Rumpf to keep an open mind.
 
"She just kept reminding me how well I fit into the program, how well we know the coaches, the connections I had here," Rumpf said. "Then I came on both my visits and I was like, I just know this is the place."
 
Pedersen, Henna Sandvik and Logann Alvar – who combined for 43 points and 13 rebounds against the Aztecs – are the leaders of this UW team as the program retools from the post-Allyson Fertig era.
 
Rumpf has an opportunity to grow with the group before stepping fully into the spotlight as a sophomore.
 
"Huge," Ezell said of the opportunity. "I told her (Friday) this is your chance and don't shy away from it. To her credit, I know all 11 points come in the first half, but I told her don't shy away from any shot."
 
Having the green light to take some of the scoring pressure off Pedersen's shoulders is something Rumpf is embracing.
 
"The seniors now constantly remind me in practice to keep doing what you're doing, you're working hard," Rumpf said. "Hearing that from all our leadership is such a good boost in confidence and makes me feel so good."
 
Rumpf and the Cowgirls (4-9, 1-3) return to action  Wednesday at Nevada (7:30 p.m., MW Network).
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.
 
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