Wyoming Cowgirls | |||
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University | University of Wyoming | ||
Head coach | Heather Ezell (2nd season) | ||
Conference | Mountain West | ||
Location | Laramie, Wyoming | ||
Arena | Arena-Auditorium (Capacity: 11,612) | ||
Nickname | Cowgirls | ||
Colors | Brown and gold [1] | ||
Uniforms | |||
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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]
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]
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 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 |
The University of Wyoming men's basketball program, which competes in the Mountain West Conference, with the schools first recorded game dating back to 1905. Wyoming won the 1943 NCAA championship under Hall of Fame coach Everett Shelton and behind star guard Ken Sailors, who pioneered the jump shot that is now the standard in basketball. Wyoming has made a total of 16 appearances in the NCAA tournament. Since the Mountain West was formed in 1999, Wyoming has won two conference titles, including an outright championship in 2002. Prior to that, Wyoming won five championships in the Western Athletic Conference, eight championships in the Skyline Conference, and one championship in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
The Wyoming Cowboys and Cowgirls are the athletic teams that represent the University of Wyoming, located in Laramie. Wyoming is a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW) and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 17 NCAA-sanctioned sports. Two Wyoming teams compete in other conferences in sports that the MW does not sponsor. The men's swimming and diving team competes in the Western Athletic Conference, and the wrestling team competes in the Big 12 Conference.
Lawrence Alan Shyatt is an American basketball coach. He last served as an assistant coach of the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Joseph Julius Legerski is the retired former head women's basketball coach at the University of Wyoming.
The 2014–15 Wyoming Cowgirls basketball team represents University of Wyoming in the 2014–15 college basketball season. The Cowgirls, led by twelfth year head coach Joe Legerski. The Cowgirls played their home games at the Arena-Auditorium and were members of the Mountain West Conference. They finish the season 16–14, 10–8 in Mountain West play for a tie to finish in fifth place. They advance to the quarterfinals of the 2015 Mountain West Conference women's basketball tournament where they lost to Fresno State in the quarterfinals.
The 2016–17 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team represented the University of Wyoming during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Their head coach was Allen Edwards in his first year. They played their home games at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyoming as a member of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 23–15, 8–10 in Mountain West play to finish in seventh place. They lost in the first round of the Mountain West tournament to Air Force. They were invited to the College Basketball Invitational where they defeated Eastern Washington, UMKC and Utah Valley to advance to the best-of-three finals series against Coastal Carolina. They defeated Coastal Carolina 2 games to 1 to become CBI champions. They become the second consecutive Mountain West team to win the CBI after Nevada in 2016.
The 2017–18 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team represented the University of Wyoming during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by Allen Edwards in his second year as head coach at Wyoming. The Cowboys played their home games at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyoming as members of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 20–13, 10–8 in Mountain West play to finish in sixth place. They defeated San Jose State in the first round of the Mountain West tournament before losing in the quarterfinals to New Mexico. Despite having 20 wins, they did not participate in a postseason tournament.
The 2017–18 Wyoming Cowgirls basketball team represent the University of Wyoming in the 2016–17 college basketball season. The Cowgirls are led by fifteenth year head coach Joe Legerski. The Cowgirls played their home games at the Arena-Auditorium and are members of the Mountain West Conference. They Finished the season 22-11, 13-5 in Mountain West play to finish in third place. They lost in the semifinals of the Mountain West tournament to Nevada. They were invited to the 2018 Women's National Invitation Tournament where they won in the first round against New Mexico State, but lost in the second round.
The 2018–19 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team represented the University of Wyoming during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by Allen Edwards in his third year as head coach at Wyoming. The Cowboys played their home games at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyoming as members of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 8–24, 4–14 in Mountain West play to finish in tenth place. They lost in the first round of the Mountain West tournament to New Mexico.
The 2018–19 Wyoming Cowgirls basketball team will represent the University of Wyoming in the 2018–19 college basketball season. The Cowgirls are led by head coach Joe Legerski in his 16th and final season. The Cowgirls will play their home games at the Arena-Auditorium and were members of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 25–9, 13–5 in Mountain West play to finish in third place. They advanced to the championship game of the Mountain West tournament where they lost to Boise. They received an at-large to the 2019 Women's National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Northern Colorado, South Alabama and Pepperdine in the first, second and third rounds before losing to Arizona in the quarterfinals.
The 2019–20 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team represented the University of Wyoming during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by Allen Edwards in his fourth and final year as head coach at Wyoming. The Cowboys played their home games at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyoming as members of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 9–24, 2–16 in Mountain West play to finish in last place. As the 11 seed, they upset Colorado State and Nevada to reach the semifinals of the Mountain West tournament where they lost to Utah State. They became the first ever 11 seed to win a game at the Mountain West tournament.
The 2019–20 Wyoming Cowgirls basketball team will represent the University of Wyoming in the 2019–20 college basketball season. The Cowgirls are led by first-year head coach Gerald Mattinson, hired following the retirement of longtime coach Joe Legerski. The Cowgirls will play their home games at the Arena-Auditorium and are members of the Mountain West Conference.
Gerald Alan Mattinson is an American retired basketball coach. He was a longtime women's basketball coach at the University of Wyoming, first as an assistant coach from 2003 to 2019 and head coach from 2019 to 2022.
The 2020–21 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team represented the University of Wyoming during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by Jeff Linder in his first year as head coach at Wyoming. The Cowboys played their home games at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyoming as members of the Mountain West Conference. In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Cowboys finished the season 14–11, 7–9 in Mountain West play to finish in seventh place. They defeated San Jose State in the first round of the Mountain West tournament before losing to San Diego State in the quarterfinals.
The 2020–21 Wyoming Cowgirls basketball team represented the University of Wyoming in the 2020–21 college basketball season. The Cowgirls were led by head coach Gerald Mattinson, in his second season. The Cowgirls played their home games at the Arena-Auditorium and are members of the Mountain West Conference. The beginning of the season was delayed until at least November 25, as a result of the COVID–19 pandemic.
The 2021–22 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team represented the University of Wyoming during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by Jeff Linder in his second year as head coach at Wyoming. The Cowboys played their home games at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyoming as members of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 25–9, 13–5 in MWC play to finish in fourth place. They defeated UNLV in the quarterfinals of the MWC tournament before losing to Boise State in the semifinals. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as a No. 12 seed in the East region where they lost in the First Four to Indiana.
The 2021–22 Wyoming Cowgirls basketball team represents the University of Wyoming in the 2021–22 college basketball season. The Cowgirls are led by head coach Gerald Mattinson, in his third season. The Cowgirls play their home games at the Arena-Auditorium and are members of the Mountain West Conference. The Cowgirls finished tied for 3rd in the Mountain West Conference, but exited the Mountain West Conference Women's Basketball tournament in the quarterfinal round, losing to Colorado State 51-38 due to an embarrassing 4th quarter performance.
The 2022–23 Colorado State Rams women's basketball team represents Colorado State University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Rams, led by eleventh year head coach Ryun Williams, play their home games at Moby Arena, and are members of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 20–12, 12–6 in Mountain West play to finish in 3rd place in the conference. The Rams advanced to the semifinals of the Mountain West women's basketball tournament, beating 6 seed Boise State,before falling to 2 seed and foe, Wyoming. The Rams earned an invite to the 2023 Women's National Invitation Tournament, where they fell to Northern Iowa in the 1st round, 88–76, and were without the assistance of multiple players due to injury.
The 2022–23 Wyoming Cowgirls basketball team represented the University of Wyoming in the 2022–23 college basketball season. The Cowgirls were led by head coach Heather Ezell, in her first season. The Cowgirls played their home games at the Arena-Auditorium, and were members of the Mountain West Conference. The Cowgirls finished 2nd in the Mountain West Conference, and lost in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference Women's Basketball tournament to UNLV 71–60. The Cowgirls were invited to the WNIT, and lost in the 2nd round to Kansas State 71–55.
The 2023–24 Wyoming Cowgirls basketball team represented the University of Wyoming in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Cowgirls were led by head coach Heather Ezell, in her second season. The Cowgirls played their home games at the Arena-Auditorium, and were members of the Mountain West Conference.