The Wyoming Cowgirls staged an impressive comeback on Saturday, ending their game against Nevada on a 17–0 run to claim a 45–42 victory.
After trailing for most of the matchup, Wyoming held Nevada scoreless for the final nine minutes, securing a dramatic win.
Both teams played strong defense from the start, with neither side gaining a clear advantage. Wyoming managed brief leads in the first quarter, including a pair of free throws from McKinley Dickerson and a layup from Malene Pedersen. However, offensive struggles continued for the Cowgirls in the second quarter, as they scored just one basket in the first four minutes. Nevada capitalized on this, stretching its lead to 26–13 before a late three-pointer from Emily Mellema cut the deficit to 26–16 at halftime.
Nevada extended its lead to 16 points early in the third quarter, but Wyoming slowly chipped away. Tess Barnes sparked a four-point run, and a three-point play from Kati Ollilainen brought the Cowgirls back within single digits. By the end of the third, Nevada led 37–28.
In the fourth quarter, Wyoming trailed by nine points with under five minutes left but then found its rhythm. A three-pointer from Barnes cut the deficit to two, followed by a turnaround jumper from Mellema that tied the game at 42–42.
With just over a minute left, Pedersen hit a corner three-pointer, giving Wyoming its first lead since the first quarter. Nevada had a final chance to tie the game in the closing seconds but missed a three-point attempt, allowing Pedersen to secure the rebound and Wyoming’s victory.
Barnes led all scorers with 13 points, while Mellema and Pedersen each added 10. Dickerson and Ollilainen contributed five points apiece, and Ola Ustowska led Wyoming with three assists.
Cap City News, University of Wyoming Athletics, County 17, and Oil City News contributed to this report.
