Cowgirls and Cowboys Fall Short to Utah State

Both Wyoming basketball teams lost to Utah State in Mountain West Conference games Saturday in Logan, UT, and Laramie, respectively.

The Wyoming Cowgirls lost on the road, 50-42, while the Wyoming Cowboys lost at home, 71-55. Both teams will have their first bye in the Mountain West schedule rotation during this upcoming mid-week.

Wyoming Cowgirls

The Cowgirls shot just 33 percent and had 17 turnovers in their defeat. Karla Erjavec led the way with 14 points and four assists, while Marta Gomez added 11 points and six rebounds.

UW was only 4-of-21, 19 percent, from beyond the arc. It was the first time all season the Cowgirls shot less than 30 percent from three-point range.

The game was tied, 34-34, entering the fourth quarter. Utah State scored the first six points for a 40-34 advantage. The Aggies knocked down six-of-eight free throws and won by eight.

Shannon Dufficy led Utah State with 24 points and 14 rebounds.

Wyoming is now 9-4 overall and 2-2 in the Mountain West. They host New Mexico Saturday at 2 p.m.

Wyoming Cowboys

A late first-half surge by Utah State helped the Aggies pull out a 71-55 win over the Cowboys at the Arena-Auditorium last Saturday.

Sam Merrill led Utah State with 22 points and eight rebounds. The Aggies shot 47 percent in the game. That was after a slow start of 25 percent in the first 10 minutes and 0-9 from deep.

Bolstered by their defense, Wyoming got off to a good start and held a 16-8 lead midway through the first half. Late in the half, Utah State made six of their last seven shots and vaulted in front 32-25 by the break.

The Cowboys got as close as three points, at 39-36, with 14:31 left, but the Aggies responded with an 11-1 run. That made it 50-37, and UW got no closer than nine the rest of the game.

Justin James led the Pokes with 27 points and 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. Trevon Taylor added 14 points. Wyoming shot 40 percent from the floor. They were out-rebounded 40-29.

The Cowboys fall to 4-13 overall and 0-4 in MW play. They are at New Mexico Saturday. The game starts at 4 p.m.