LAS VEGAS, Nev. – No. 11 Utah State women’s basketball (8-23, 2-16 MW) lost, 64-59, to No. 3 Wyoming (17-11, 12-6 MW) in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Air Force Reserve Mountain West Women’s Basketball Championships inside the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev., on Monday night.
USU was led by senior forward Hailey Bassett with 18 points, junior guard Emmie Harris with a career-high 13 points and sophomore guard Steph Gorman with 10.
The teams were back-and-forth throughout the first quarter until a Bassett 3-pointer and a layup from senior guard Lindsey Jensen-Baker put the Aggies up seven, 24-17, at the end of the period. The Cowgirls trimmed the lead to three, 24-21, with 8:46 to go in the second, but Utah State held Wyoming scoreless for the next 7:47 and used a 15-4 run to lead, 39-25, at the half.
Wyoming came out hot in the third quarter, outscoring the Aggies, 17-5, to cut the USU lead to 44-42 going into the final stanza. The Cowgirls opened the fourth period with a 10-0 run to take the 52-44 lead with 5:51 remaining. A 3-pointer from Harris and a jumper from Gorman trimmed the lead to three, 52-49, with 4:40 to play, but the Aggies were not able to take back the lead as Wyoming took the 64-59 win.
The Cowgirls were led by sophomore forward Tereza Vitulova with 19 points.
USU shot 44.9 percent (22-of-49) from the field, 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from behind the arc and 66.7 percent (6-of-9) at the free throw line. Wyoming shot 45.8 percent (22-of-48) from the floor, 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from behind the 3-point line and 92.9 percent (13-of-14) at the free throw line.