Cowgirls Defeat Ball State

Behind another double-double from Fallon Lewis, the Wyoming basketball team (7-2 overall) earned a 71-51 victory over the Ball State Cardinals (3-5 overall) on Saturday afternoon.

Four Cowgirls finished the night in double-figures led by Kayla Woodward. She recorded a team high 19 points while adding six rebounds. She was followed by Lewis with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Kaitlyn Mileto added 16 points and Kaylie Rader finished with 11. Wyoming was 25-60 (.417) from the field and our rebounded the Cardinals, 47-35.

Ball State was led by Nathalie Fontaine with 20 points in her 37 minutes of action, while Shelbie Justice recorded ten points. They were led by Renee Bennett with eight boards. The Cardinals shot 14-52 (.269) from the field and 19-25 (.760) from the free throw line.

It was low scoring through the first four minutes of the game as the teams combined for 11 points with Wyoming taking the early 7-4 lead. Out of the media timeout, the Cowgirls would go on a 6-0 run over the next three minutes to extend the lead to nine, 13-4, with 13:04 left on the clock. Free throws by Justice would end a five minute scoring drought by Ball State making it 13-6. A three-point field goal by Woodward started a 12-5 run increasing the margin to 14, 25-11. The Cardinals would chip away at the lead and score the next 10 of 12 to pull within six, 27-21. A basket by Fallon Lewis ended a three-minute scoreless drought for Wyoming, but Ball State inched closer with free throws to make it 29-27. Four points to close out the half gave Wyoming a 33-27 lead going into the locker room.

Woodward led all scorers with 12 followed by Sibrel with eight and Mileto with six. Lewis finished with a team high five rebounds. The Cowgirls shot 12-30 (.400) from the field and recorded 21 rebounds.  Ball State was led by Nathalie Fontaine with ten points while Justice added seven.  The Cardinals shot 7-27 (.259) from the field and 10-13 (.769) from the free throw line.

Out of the halftime break, the Cowgirls scored seven straight points to give them a 13-point advantage, 40-27. The Cardinals finally got back in the scoring column with a shot by Fontaine with 15 minutes left on clock, which was answered with a three-point field goal by Woodward to make it, 43-29. Over the next four minute stretch, the two teams played evenly with the Cowgirls still maintaining a 52-37 lead. Started by a three-point play, Ball State scored five straight to close the gap to ten, 52-42. Wyoming responded with an 11-0 run to give them a 21-point lead, 63-42. Two free throws by Brandy Woody stopped a four minute scoreless stretch for the Cardinals. The lead was never in jeopardy as the Cowgirls went on to the 71-51 victory.

The Cowgirls will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 17, against the Montana Lady Griz. The game is set for 7:00 p.m. in the Arena Auditorium.