Laramie – Another record crowd, another Wyoming win, and another chance for the Cowgirls to build on what might be their best season ever.
Jodi Bolerjack scored 16 points, including five free throws in the last two minutes, to lead Wyoming to a 70-59 victory over South Dakota State in the WNIT quarterfinals Sunday.
It was the third game in a row the Cowgirls (25-9) have set an attendance record, this time 11,253.
“I thought it definitely impacted the game,” South Dakota State coach Aaron Johnston said of the biggest crowd his team has seen all season.
“I’ve played in front of more people,” Wyoming coach Joe Legerski said. “But when we hit those three 3s in the first half, it was deafening down on the floor.”
With the win, the Cowgirls advanced farther than they’ve gone in postseason play and tied the 1978-79 team, which finished 25-7, for the most wins in school history.
Wyoming will play at home Wednesday night against Kansas State in the semifinals, a rematch of a Nov. 17 game at Manhattan, Kan., that Kansas State won 68-62 in overtime.
After Jennifer Warkenthien hit two free throws to bring South Dakota State (25-6) to within 32-30 early in the second half, the Cowgirls used a 16-0 run to pull away.
It started with Bolerjack’s 3-pointer on an assist from Justyna Podziemska. Podziem- ska then got a wide-open layup and a 3-pointer of her own. Hanna Zavecz’s baseline reverse, a jumper from Bolerjack and two baskets by Elisabeth Dissen made it 48-30 with 12:27 left.
Women’s NIT glance11D
