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THEMTN.TV SCOREBOARD

WBK: Cowgirls Fall to Badgers, 63-59


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Dec. 15, 2010

LARAMIE, Wyo. --The Wyoming Cowgirl basketball team (6-3 overall) suffered their first home defeat as they fell to the Wisconsin Badgers (5-7 overall) in overtime, 63-59, on Wednesday night in Laramie.

Three Cowgirls finished the night in double-figures led by senior Aubrey Vandiver. She recorded her third straight double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds in 45 minutes of play. Jade Kennedy recorded 12 points and seven rebounds while playing 45 minutes, and Hillary Carlson added ten points and five blocked shots. Wyoming was 18-49 (.367) from the field and 15-20 (.750) from beyond the free throw line.

Four out of five starters were in double-digits for the Badgers. Lin Zastrow recorded a team high 18 points followed by Alyssa Karel with 14 points. Taylor Wurtz finished with 12 points and a team high 11 rebounds while Tara Steinbauer added ten points. Wisconsin shot 26-55 (.473) from the field and out rebounded the Cowgirls 36-32.

"That was a great basketball game," said head coach Joe Legerski. "Those are difficult when you're on the losing end because both teams played hard for 45 minutes. I thought both groups were tired down the stretch and Wisconsin made plays. When you're up six with two minutes to go you need to get a stop or you need to make a play, and to Wisconsin's credit they came down and ended up getting to the foul line, made a jump shot, and then we made partial rotation at the end and they tip it in to tie the game. They had all the momentum going into overtime.

"What a performance by Aubrey tonight," he added. "Twenty-four points, 11 rebounds, and at times commanded not only a double team but a triple team. I thought we got a big lift from Ashley Sickles tonight. With Hillary Carlson in foul trouble, we needed somebody to be able to step up and contribute and Ashley did that."

Wisconsin got on the board first with a three-point field goal from Taylor Wurtz. Hillary Carlson hit two free throws for Wyoming's first points. A three-point field goal by Aubrey Vandiver gave the Cowgirls their first lead of the game, 5-3, but the Badgers went on a 6-0 run to take a 9-5 lead through the first media timeout. Jade Kennedy would end a three minute drought for UW to pull them to within one, 9-8. After a Taylor Wurtz three-point field goal, an 8-0 run by the Cowgirls including six points by Jade Kennedy gave the Cowgirls a 16-12 lead. The Badgers responded with a 10-3 run to regain a 22-19 advantage. Two Chaundra Sewell baskets put Wyoming back ahead by one, 23-22. The two teams traded a couple baskets until Wisconsin went up three, 28-25. Despite scoring just one point in the final five minutes of the half, the Cowgirls went into the halftime break down two, 28-26.

The teams played even through the first media timeout of the second half as the Badgers maintained a 35-33 lead. It was low scoring through the next four minute stretch as the two teams combined for nine points. With the score 39-36 in favor of Wisconsin, Aubrey Vandiver scored the next seven straight points to give Wyoming their first lead since the first half, 43-41. The Badgers would score three of the next four to tie it up at 44 with just over five minutes in the game. Ashley Sickles would hit a big three-point field goal which gave Wyoming a 47-44 lead. After a Wisconsin basket, another five straight points by Aubrey Vandiver extended the lead back to five, 51-46. Lin Zastrow would hit a basket to end the two minute drought, but a Jade Kennedy basket increased the lead back to six, 54-48, with 1:57 on the clock. Unfortunately, two free throws and a couple of baskets tied it up with 12 seconds to go. Hillary Carlson missed a jumper at the buzzer as the Badgers forced overtime.

In the overtime, the momentum continued on the side of Wisconsin as they went on a 6-2 run to take the 60-56 lead. Wyoming was able to pull to within two, 60-58, but that would be as close as they would get. The Badgers came away with the 63-59 victory.

The Cowgirls will close out the week by hosting the Washington State Cougars, on Saturday, Dec. 18. The game is set for 2:00 p.m. in the Arena Auditorium.