In a competitive Mountain West Conference matchup, the Wyoming Cowgirls fell to the New Mexico Lobos, 73-67, on Wednesday night.
Despite an impressive shooting performance, turnovers and missed opportunities proved costly, snapping Wyoming’s three-game winning streak.
Wyoming, known for its sharp offensive execution, outshot New Mexico from the field, posting a 52% shooting rate compared to the Lobos’ 45.5%. The Cowgirls also showcased their signature ball movement, recording 21 assists on 25 made baskets. However, their 15 turnovers, compared to New Mexico’s seven, tipped the scales in the Lobos’ favor, leading to a crucial 14-7 advantage in points off turnovers.
Wyoming head coach Heather Ezell highlighted the impact of those errors.
“When I look at these stats, I think, man, we shot the ball well. But the turnover bug and those timely offensive rebounds hurt us in critical moments,” Ezell said.
Senior Allyson Fertig led the Cowgirls with 17 points and six rebounds, battling hard in the paint against New Mexico’s physical defense. Tess Barnes added 15 points, hitting 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, while Malene Pedersen contributed 14 points and seven assists. Wyoming’s balanced attack kept them within striking distance for much of the game.
The Cowgirls trimmed a halftime deficit to two points, entering the fourth quarter down 53-51. Pedersen tied the game early in the final period, but the Lobos responded with a decisive 7-0 run, sparked by backcourt steals and fast-break points from their standout guards.
New Mexico guards Destinee Hooks and Viane Cumber proved uncontainable for Wyoming. Hooks led all scorers with 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting and delivered key baskets whenever the Cowgirls threatened. Cumber added 16 points, including a pivotal floater following a steal, which halted a Wyoming run and swung momentum back to New Mexico.
The Lobos’ defense was equally critical, limiting Wyoming to just four offensive rebounds and no second-chance points.
“Wyoming shot the ball incredibly well, but we made enough defensive plays to hold on,” New Mexico head coach Mike Bradbury said.
The loss drops Wyoming to 8-7 overall and 2-1 in Mountain West play. Despite the setback, the Cowgirls demonstrated resilience and offensive proficiency, attributes they’ll aim to capitalize on when they return home to face San Diego State on Saturday.
With input from Casper Star Tribune and Albuquerque Journal.
