10/29/2026 10:17:00 AM | Women's Basketball, Pokes Insider
Versatile senior transfer impacts Wyoming on both ends of the floor
LARAMIE – The Wyoming women's basketball team held its annual local media day a week ago in the Arena-Auditorium.
Senior guard Payton Muma was asked which of the nine newcomers on the 2026-27 roster had stood out during summer and fall practices.
"I mean, I would say Norah's a great player," Muma said matter-of-factly.
That would be Norah Clark, a 6-foot-1 graduate transfer who appeared in 81 games at UT Martin before joining the Cowgirls for her senior season.
During UW's 75-50 victory over Colorado Christian in Monday's exhibition game, Clark scored the team's first seven points and led the Cowgirls in scoring.
Clark showed off her moves in the post, her mid-range game and her ability to push the ball up the floor in transition.
Her experience and versatility will help head coach Heather Ezell fill the void left by Malene Pedersen's graduation.
"That's why we recruited her," Ezell said. "I saw a lot of the pieces of Norah's game translate into the things that we lost between not just Malene, but also what Henna (Sandvik) did with her mid-range game. I thought you can kind of combine those two players, and I think Nora can kind of give you some different flashes of them."
Clark is from Springfield, Mo., which is also Ezell's hometown. Clark was a baby when Ezell was a McDonald's All-American recruit and too young to remember her new coach burying 3s and leading Iowa State to the Elite Eight.
However, their shared hometown did factor in Clark's decision to become a Cowgirl.
"My high school head coach, she's good friends with Heather, so there was that connection there. Then also her being from Springfield made me feel pretty good about going 13 hours away from home," Clark said. "She'll get in here and practice with us and start playing. I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, she is amazing and she's 39 years old.'
"It's just amazing playing for her and the type of coach she is. She really believes in me and us, so it's really nice to play for somebody like that."
During her career at UT Martin, Clark averaged 7.2 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 42% from the field, 33% from 3-point range and 75% from the free-throw line.
Clark's impact will take some pressure off point guard Kati Ollilainen and preseason all-Mountain West forward Jane Rumpf, who both spoke highly of their new teammate at the MW basketball media day event in Las Vegas.
"It's just like hand in glove. It just works," Clark said of her instant chemistry with her new teammates. "Kati is a phenomenal point guard. She's amazing. She takes care of the ball; she does what we need her to do. You have to trust your point guard, and I do. I trust her wholeheartedly, and I've only played with her for like a month and a half now.
"Then Jane's amazing. She's really a comfort because she's been here, she kind of knows the ropes of everything and so she's kind of been a real ease for me as far as getting to know the way they do things here."
Clark fits nicely into UW's motion offense, but the "Cowgirl tough" identity Ezell is preaching is about the other end of the court.
"Norah can score around the rim, she can also raise up and shoot in the mid-range, obviously knock down 3s, but I love her toughness," Ezell said. "She can defend and she can defend any position. At one point we put her on (Colorado Christian's) four player because we needed somebody to guard her. She has flexibility on both ends of the court."
The Cowgirls host South Dakota Mines in the final exhibition game at 6 p.m. Friday in the Arena-Auditorium before the regular season opens against Santa Clara next Monday.
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.
Don't just watch the game — change it. The most powerful way to support University of Wyoming student-athletes is by joining the Cowboy Joe Club. Your membership fuels scholarships, provides essential resources, and helps Cowboys and Cowgirls succeed both in the classroom and in competition. Your gift is not just support — it's access. As a member, you'll enjoy exclusive benefits that bring you closer to the action than ever before. Be a champion. Join our team. Visit CowboyJoeClub.com or call 307-766-6242.
Senior guard Payton Muma was asked which of the nine newcomers on the 2026-27 roster had stood out during summer and fall practices.
"I mean, I would say Norah's a great player," Muma said matter-of-factly.
That would be Norah Clark, a 6-foot-1 graduate transfer who appeared in 81 games at UT Martin before joining the Cowgirls for her senior season.
During UW's 75-50 victory over Colorado Christian in Monday's exhibition game, Clark scored the team's first seven points and led the Cowgirls in scoring.
Clark showed off her moves in the post, her mid-range game and her ability to push the ball up the floor in transition.
Her experience and versatility will help head coach Heather Ezell fill the void left by Malene Pedersen's graduation.
"That's why we recruited her," Ezell said. "I saw a lot of the pieces of Norah's game translate into the things that we lost between not just Malene, but also what Henna (Sandvik) did with her mid-range game. I thought you can kind of combine those two players, and I think Nora can kind of give you some different flashes of them."
Clark is from Springfield, Mo., which is also Ezell's hometown. Clark was a baby when Ezell was a McDonald's All-American recruit and too young to remember her new coach burying 3s and leading Iowa State to the Elite Eight.
However, their shared hometown did factor in Clark's decision to become a Cowgirl.
"My high school head coach, she's good friends with Heather, so there was that connection there. Then also her being from Springfield made me feel pretty good about going 13 hours away from home," Clark said. "She'll get in here and practice with us and start playing. I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, she is amazing and she's 39 years old.'
"It's just amazing playing for her and the type of coach she is. She really believes in me and us, so it's really nice to play for somebody like that."
During her career at UT Martin, Clark averaged 7.2 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 42% from the field, 33% from 3-point range and 75% from the free-throw line.
Clark's impact will take some pressure off point guard Kati Ollilainen and preseason all-Mountain West forward Jane Rumpf, who both spoke highly of their new teammate at the MW basketball media day event in Las Vegas.
"It's just like hand in glove. It just works," Clark said of her instant chemistry with her new teammates. "Kati is a phenomenal point guard. She's amazing. She takes care of the ball; she does what we need her to do. You have to trust your point guard, and I do. I trust her wholeheartedly, and I've only played with her for like a month and a half now.
"Then Jane's amazing. She's really a comfort because she's been here, she kind of knows the ropes of everything and so she's kind of been a real ease for me as far as getting to know the way they do things here."
Clark fits nicely into UW's motion offense, but the "Cowgirl tough" identity Ezell is preaching is about the other end of the court.
"Norah can score around the rim, she can also raise up and shoot in the mid-range, obviously knock down 3s, but I love her toughness," Ezell said. "She can defend and she can defend any position. At one point we put her on (Colorado Christian's) four player because we needed somebody to guard her. She has flexibility on both ends of the court."
The Cowgirls host South Dakota Mines in the final exhibition game at 6 p.m. Friday in the Arena-Auditorium before the regular season opens against Santa Clara next Monday.
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.
Don't just watch the game — change it. The most powerful way to support University of Wyoming student-athletes is by joining the Cowboy Joe Club. Your membership fuels scholarships, provides essential resources, and helps Cowboys and Cowgirls succeed both in the classroom and in competition. Your gift is not just support — it's access. As a member, you'll enjoy exclusive benefits that bring you closer to the action than ever before. Be a champion. Join our team. Visit CowboyJoeClub.com or call 307-766-6242.
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