Wyoming Hosts South Dakota Friday Night
Super 16 tilt set for 6:30 p.m.
LARAMIE, Wyo. (March 27, 2024) – The Wyoming Cowgirls host the Super 16 Round of the WNIT Friday at 6:30 p.m., as the Cowgirls welcome South Dakota to town.
Friday’s game will be broadcast live on the Mountain West Network and can be heard across the Cowgirl Radio Network with David Settle on the call.
ABOUT THE COWGIRLS
Wyoming (17-14) is coming off an 80-64 win over UTSA Sunday in the second round of the WNIT. Malene Pedersen tied a career-high with 24 points in the win, her first 20-point game of the season and the third of her career. Off the bench, McKinley Dickerson scored 16 points, including nine in the first quarter to surpass 1,000 career points. Dickerson became the 29th member of the exclusive club in program history.
The Cowgirls assisted on 21 of their 28 made field goals against the Roadrunners and were led by Emily Mellema’s career-high seven assists. Allyson Fertig recorded her fourth double-double in the last five games in the win, as she poured in 17 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. Fertig also led UW with four blocks in the victory.
With the win, Wyoming improved to 21-10 all-time in the WNIT. For the season, Fertig is now up to 13.8 points per game to lead the team. Fertig, who is shooting just under 60-percent from the floor this season, also leads the Cowgirls averaging 8.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Mellema and Ola Ustowska are tied for the team lead with 94 assists each on the year. Pedersen is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.1 points per contest.
SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota is led by two-time First Team All-Summit honoree Grace Larkins, who leads the Coyotes averaging 16.6 points per game. Larkins also leads the team with 7.4 rebounds per game and has a team-high 174 assists (5.0 APG) and 56 steals. Kendall Holmes, who was named to the All-Newcomer Team in the Summit, is the other ‘yote averaging in double figures, as she scores 11.4 points per contest.
As a team, USD is scoring 71.4 points per game, while allowing just over 64 a contest. The ‘yotes shoot the ball at 43-percent clip, including nearly 33-percent from beyond-the-arc. South Dakota opponents, meanwhile, shoot it at 39.3-percent and under 28-percent from 3-point range. USD is plus-5.7 in rebounding this season and averages better than three assists per game more than its foes. The Coyotes do commit more turnovers than their opponents, however (-2.2). South Dakota is 7-5 this season in true road games and is 10-8 overall, away from home.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST SOUTH DAKOTA
The Cowgirls are 2-3 all-time in the series with the Coyotes and won the last meeting with USD, 69-62 in overtime in December of 2016. Wyoming is 2-0 at home against South Dakota all-time.
TICKETS
Tickets are currently on sale for the Super 16. Tickets can be purchased online at www.GoWyo.com/tickets, over the phone at 307-766-7220 or in-person at the Wyoming Ticket Office. Courtside tickets are $50, general admission tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for youth and students. Season ticket holders will have their regular seats and can renew their tickets at GoWyo.com/renew or by calling the UW ticket office.