Saint Marys rallies late, beats Wyoming Cowgirls 56 47

The University of Wyoming Cowgirls opened their 2025 season on November 4 with a home game that slipped away in the final minutes when Saint Marys produced a decisive run to turn a Wyoming lead into a 56 to 47 victory. Early in the matchup the teams traded scores and the game remained tight through the first half, but Wyoming built a lead in the middle quarters by forcing turnovers and converting on fast break opportunities.

Wyoming relied heavily on the offense from Malene Pedersen, who provided much of the Cowgirls scoring throughout the night. Pedersen’s contributions kept Wyoming in position to win, but the Cowgirls defense faltered late. Saint Marys closed the contest with a sustained stretch of stops and high efficiency at the free throw line, converting crucial attempts down the stretch to preserve the margin.

The flow of the game shifted in the fourth quarter when the Gaels executed a run that erased Wyoming’s advantage and flipped momentum. Wyoming was unable to respond with consistent offense during that span, and defensive rotations broke down on a number of possessions that led to quality shots for Saint Marys. The final sequence underscored the difference, as the Gaels capitalized at the free throw line to seal the result.

For local fans and supporters in Albany County the loss highlights both optimism and concern. The Cowgirls showed the defensive intensity earlier in the game that many expected under the current staff, and Pedersen’s scoring offers a reliable offensive foundation. At the same time the team’s late defensive breakdowns and inability to close out possession management provide clear areas for improvement if Wyoming hopes to contend in a competitive conference slate.

From an institutional perspective the opener serves as an early evaluation point for coaching decisions and roster roles. Non conference performance will shape rotations and minutes distribution ahead of the Mountain West schedule, and how the staff responds to closing game situations will matter for both player development and fan confidence. Attendance and local engagement often hinge on early season results, so the Cowgirls’ ability to convert competitive outings into wins will carry community significance.

Wyoming now turns attention to its upcoming slate of non conference opponents as the program looks to build consistency. For Albany County spectators the season opener offered a reminder that the Cowgirls have promising pieces while underscoring the work required to translate those pieces into sustained success.