Cowgirls Brace For Bigger Cougars in WNIT Second Round [VIDEO]
Post-season basketball is all about survive and advance. The Wyoming Cowgirls face Washington State with that in mind in a second round WNIT game Saturday.
Wyoming (22-9) is coming off a 16-point victory Thursday night at home over Seattle.
Senior Hailey Ligocki was one of four Cowgirls who scored in double figures in that victory. She knows it was big to get that first postseason win; understands it’s tough on a quick turnaround, but is very thankful they’re playing at home.
Washington State (13-19) beat BYU 72-64 Thursday in Provo. An interesting note about the Cougars is three of their top four scorers this season are out due to injury. They are led by sophomore Alexys Swedlund. She averages 11.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Swedlund had 19 against BYU, while Caila Hailey added 17 points and eight steals. They were two of four Washington State players in double figures in Thursday’s victory.
This Cougars team averages 66 points per game, which is similar to Wyoming at 64.6. Washington State also holds an edge on the glass at nearly 40 per game to UW’s 35.7.
Wyoming head coach Joe Legerski knows the Cougars will be a challenge on a quick turnaround.
“Washington State has great size. They’ll be 6-3, 6-4 at the post; back-ups at 6-3; and then, the guard line scores really well for ‘em. The biggest thing we’re taking away right now is they forced BYU into 29 turnovers last (Thursday) night, and I know we cannot survive turning the ball over 20 times, so protecting the basketball’s going to be a big key.”
Today’s game will be the first meeting between the two schools in seven years (12/18/2010). The Cougars are 6-2 against the Cowgirls, but Wyoming won that last meeting by a final of 63-43 in Laramie.
Tip-off is at 2 p.m. from the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie.