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Wyoming Cowgirls basketball

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Wyoming Cowgirls basketball
2024–25 Wyoming Cowgirls basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Wyoming
Head coachHeather Ezell (3rd season)
ConferenceMountain West
LocationLaramie, Wyoming
ArenaArena-Auditorium
(capacity: 11,612)
NicknameCowgirls
ColorsBrown and gold[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament appearances
2008, 2021
Conference tournament champions
2021
Conference regular season champions
1990

The Wyoming Cowgirls basketball team is a women's college basketball team at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming. Competing in the Mountain West Conference, the organization has a tradition dating back to 1973.[2]

History

[edit]

The program began in 1973, with Bonnie Hulstrand as head coach. Following Hulstrand's leaving for the Idaho Vandals,[3] Margie Hunt McDonald led the team for 9 seasons, finishing her coaching career with over 100 wins and a winning record at Wyoming.[2] When McDonald left coaching to become the executive director of the High Country Athletic Conference,[4] Dan Richards coached the team for three seasons. Chad Lavin was hired as head coach in 1986 and coached the Cowgirls for 12 seasons, including the 1989–90 season, in which the Cowgirls won their only conference regular season title.[5] In 1998, Cheyenne, Wyoming native Cindy Fisher was hired as the head coach of the Cowgirls, and coached the team for five seasons, including the 2003 season, in which the Cowgirls appeared in the WNIT for the first time.[6] In 2003, Fisher resigned her position, citing personal reasons.[7]

On May 1, 2003, Wyoming announced the hiring of Utah assistant Joe Legerski as head coach.[8] At the end of his first season, Legerski won the Mountain West Conference coach of the year award after leading a team with 7 freshman and 10 underclassman to a 5th place finish in the conference.[9] In 2006, the Cowgirls achieved both the second 20–win season in the program's history and the program's second appearance in the WNIT.[10] The next season, the team continued to improve, again winning over 20 games and making the WNIT tournament for 2007. The Cowgirls made it to the championship game and defeated Wisconsin 72–56 to win the tournament in front of a record crowd of 15,462 in the Arena-Auditorium.[11] The 27 wins recorded by the 2006–07 team remain a program record. The Cowgirls continued to see improving results, finishing 24–7 and earning the program's first berth into the NCAA tournament, although the team lost in the first round to Pittsburgh.[12] Over the next 11 seasons, the Cowgirls recorded 7 more 20–win seasons and 6 more appearances in the WNIT. At the conclusion of the 2018–19 season, Joe Legerski announced he was retiring as head coach after 16 years.[13] Legerski won Mountain West conference coach of the year three times (2003–04, 2016–17, 2017–18) and retired as the program's winningest coach with a record of 314–186 (.628).

On May 7, 2019, longtime Cowgirl assistant Gerald Mattinson was named the seventh head coach in program history.[14] In Mattinson's first season as the head coach, the Cowgirls went 17–12, and reached the semifinals of the Mountain West tournament. In Mattinson's second season, the Cowgirls went 14–10, but won the Mountain West tournament, the first in program history.[15] The Cowgirls lost to UCLA in the Round of 64 of the NCAA tournament.[16]

Coaching records

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Tenure Coach Seasons Record Win Pct.
1973–1974 Bonnie Hulstrand 1 11–4 .733
1974–1983 Margie McDonald 9 123–114 .519
1983–1986 Dan Richards 3 23–60 .277
1986–1998 Chad Lavin 12 175–161 .521
1998–2003 Cindy Fisher 5 59–81 .421
2003–2019 Joe Legerski 16 314–186 .628
2019–2022 Gerald Mattinson 3 48–35 .578
2022–present Heather Ezell 2 41–26 .612
Totals 8 coaches 51 seasons 794–667 .543

Postseason

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NCAA tournament

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The Cowgirls have appeared in the NCAA tournament two times. Their record is 0–2.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result/Score
2008 11 First round (6) Pittsburgh L 58–63
2021 14 First round (3) #9 UCLA L 48–69

WNIT

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The Cowgirls have appeared in the WNIT 12 times. Their combined record is 22–11. They won the tournament in 2007.

Year Round Opponent Result/Score
2003 First round
Second round		 Montana
Colorado State		 W 76–74 OT
L 64–73
2006 Second round
Third round		 Oregon State
Nebraska		 W 67–49
L 67–72
2007 First round
Second round
Third round
Quarterfinal
Semifinal
Championship		 Nevada
Missouri
Oregon
South Dakota State
Kansas State
Wisconsin		 W 84–56
W 73–67
W 64–62
W 70–59
W 89–79 3OT
W 72–56
2010 First round
Second round
Third round		 Nevada
Texas Tech
BYU		 W 74–53
W 68–57 OT
L 63–67
2011 First round
Second round
Third round		 Portland State
Oklahoma State
Colorado		 W 79–44
W 75–71
L 58–70
2013 First round Northern Colorado L 63–71
2017 First round
Second round		 Seattle
Washington State		 W 68–52
L 68–67 OT
2018 First round
Second round		 New Mexico State
U.C. Davis		 W 67–59
L 72–64
2019 First round
Second round
Third round
Quarterfinal		 Northern Colorado
South Alabama
Pepperdine
Arizona		 W 68–60
W 78–71
W 61–60
L 47–67
2022 First round
Second round
Third round		 Idaho State
Tulsa
UCLA		 W 76–73OT
W 97–903OT
L 81–823OT
2023 First round
Second round		 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi
Kansas State		 W 75–41
L 55-71
2024 Second round
Super 16
Great 8		 UTSA
South Dakota
Minnesota		 W 80–64
W 84–52
L 54–65

NWIT

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The Cowgirls appeared in the NWIT 1 time. Their record is 0–3.

Year Opponent Result/Score
1990 Toledo
Fresno State
Maine		 L 58–75
L 63–67
L 48–68

Team records

[edit]
As of 2022–23 season

Career leaders

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Career Scoring Leaders
Seasons Player Points
1985–89 Christine Fairless 1933
1984–87 Michele Hoppes 1842
1992–95 Amy Burnett 1782
2012–15 Kayla Woodward 1769
2005–08 Hanna Zavecz 1746
1999–2003 Carrie Bacon 1692
2007–11 Aubrey Vandiver 1654
1980–83 Rita Makovicka 1578
1989–92 Marie Kauffman 1526
1979–82 Lori Kline 1521
Career Rebounding Leaders
Seasons Player Rebounds
1984–87 Michele Hoppes 1104
1980–83 Rita Makovicka 1006
1979–82 Lori Kline 947
2007–11 Aubrey Vandiver 936
1976–79 Linda Gilpin 890
1989–92 Marie Kauffman 872
1992–95 Amy Burnett 829
2012–15 Kayla Woodward 812
2010–13 Chaundra Sewell 785
1977–79 Dale Ann Meeker 770
Career Assists Leaders
Seasons Player Assists
1985–88 Lisa Daniels 573
2013–16 Marquelle Dent 514
2005–08 Hanna Zavecz 432
1991–94 Anna Knight 396
2017–19 Clara Tapia 394
2001–04 Brenda Pickup 391
2018–23 Tommi Olson 375
1983–86 Jenny Przekwas 374
1988–90 Mickey Alexander 352
2002–05 Ashley Elliott 330
Career Blocks Leaders
Seasons Player Blocks
1979–82 Lori Kline 322
2008–11 Hillary Carlson 212
2005–08 Hanna Zavecz 162
1984–87 Michele Hoppes 134
1994–97 Jessica Thompson 117
2021-present Allyson Fertig 97
2006–09 Rebecca Vanderjagt 94
2010–13 Chaundra Sewell 81
1987–91 Yvette Plumlee 79
2009–13 Ashley Sickles 77
Career Steals Leaders
Seasons Player Steals
1985–88 Lisa Daniels 279
2005–08 Hanna Zavecz 226
2001–04 Brenda Pickup 209
2002–05 Ashley Elliott 187
1987–91 Yvette Plumlee 187
2013–16 Marquelle Dent 181
2018–23 Tommi Olson 172
1999–2003 Carrie Bacon 169
2007–11 Aubrey Vandiver 156
1983–86 Jenny Przkewas 155
Career Games played Leaders
Seasons Player Games
2018–23 Quinn Weidemann 149
2007–11 Aubrey Vandiver 133
2018–23 Tommi Olson 128
2017–20 Taylor Rusk 128
2016–19 Marta Gomez 128
2005–08 Dominique Sisk 125
2006–09 Megan McGuffey 125
2005–08 Hanna Zavecz 124
2005–08 Jodi Bolerjack 124
2010–13 Chaundra Sewell 124

Single-season leaders

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Single–Season Scoring Leaders
Season Player Points
2010–11 Aubrey Vandiver 625
1994–95 Amy Burnett 614
2010–11 Hillary Carlson 572
1993–94 Amy Burnett 568
1986–87 Michele Hoppes 566
1988–89 Christine Fairless 551
2014–15 Marquelle Dent 531
2018–19 Marta Gomez 530
1987–88 Christine Fairless 523
2013–14 Kayla Woodward 519
Single–Season Rebounding Leaders
Season Player Rebounds
2009–10 Aubrey Vandiver 323
2012–13 Chaundra Sewell 310
2013–14 Fallon Lewis 305
2010–11 Aubrey Vandiver 303
1984–85 Michele Hoppes 298
2022–23 Allyson Fertig 296
2018–19 Bailee Cotton 293
1993–94 Amy Burnett 286
1981–82 Rita Makovicka 285
1979–80 Sue Owens 281
Single–Season Assists Leaders
Season Player Assists
1986–87 Lisa Daniels 249
1991–92 Valerie Harrison 195
1989–90 Mickey Alexander 190
2014–15 Marquelle Dent 180
1985–86 Jenny Przekwas 163
1988–89 Mickey Alexander 162
2015–16 Marquelle Dent 161
1984–85 Jenny Przekwas 157
1987–88 Lisa Daniels 156
2016–17 Clara Tapia 145
Single–Season Blocks Leaders
Season Player Blocks
2009–10 Hillary Carlson 98
1981–82 Lori Kline 93
1980–81 Lori Kline 85
1982–83 Lori Kline 80
2010–11 Hillary Carlson 73
2022–23 Allyson Fertig 69
1979–80 Lori Kline 64
2007–08 Hanna Zavecz 51
2006–07 Hanna Zavecz 49
1994–95 Jessica Thompson 45
Single–Season Steals Leaders
Season Player Steals
2000–01 Jessica Gibbs 78
2003–04 Brenda Pickup 75
1984–85 Jenny Przekwas 75
2004–05 Ashley Elliott 74
2005–06 Hanna Zavecz 69
1989–90 Yvette Plumlee 68
1982–83 Kristy Bennett 68
1979–80 Sara St. Clair 68
1979–80 Kellie Cardona 67
1981–82 Kristy Bennett 66
2014–15 Marquelle Dent 66

References

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  1. ^ "Primary Colors" (PDF). Wyoming Athletics Brand Guide. May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Hammond, Bob (26 June 2010). "Wyoming Sports Hall honors McDonald, 2010 class tonight". Casper Star Tribune. Laramie Boomerang. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  3. ^ Wiebe, Stephen (30 January 2014). "Basketball team born — Women's basketball program has been growing for 39 years". The University of Idaho Argonaut. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  4. ^ Shumur, Sally Ann (23 February 2020). "Women's basketball coach Margie McDonald paved the way for Cowgirls' success". Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Chad Lavin - Women's Basketball". csurams.com. Colorado State University. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Field selected for 2003 Postseason WNIT". womensnit.com. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Citing personal reasons, Wyoming's Fisher quits". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 22 April 2003. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  8. ^ Kiggins, Steve (1 May 2003). "UW goes with Legerski as women's basketball coach". Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  9. ^ Gullberg, Ron (9 March 2004). "Cowgirls coach wins top honor". Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Wyoming's Legerski gets two-year extension". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  11. ^ "COWGIRLS ARE WNIT CHAMPIONS!". gowyo.com. Associated Press. 31 March 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  12. ^ "WYOMING COWGIRL BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES 2008-09 SCHEDULE". gowyo.com. University of Wyoming. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  13. ^ Potter, Davis (26 April 2019). "After four decades, it's 'the right time' to retire for Joe Legerski". Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Gerald Mattinson Named Next Cowgirl Basketball Head Coach". gowyo.com. University of Wyoming. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  15. ^ Potter, Davis (11 March 2021). "For Wyoming's own Gerald Mattinson, delivering a historic title is 'extra special'". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  16. ^ Potter, Davis (22 March 2021). "Cowgirls' historic season ends with first-round loss to UCLA". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
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