Aggies Sour Cowgirls Home Finale, 84-80

Utah State rallied from a five-point deficit with 2:47 to play, and spoiled the Wyoming Cowgirls last home game Tuesday night in Laramie. The Aggies pulled out an 84-80 victory to sweep the regular season series from UW.

The Cowgirls led 75-70 before the Utah State finished the game on a 14-5 run. Three free throws by Makenlee Williams and a 3-point play by Ingrida Strikas tied it at 76. Then a steal by Williams led to a lay-up that gave them a two-point lead. It was all part of a 10-1 run, and the Aggies knocked down six of eight free throws that sealed their victory.

Utah State (14-15, 8-10) won despite having four players foul out of the game. That included the conference's leading scorer Jennifer Schlott, who picked up her fifth foul with 8:50 left.

The Cowgirls had rattled off a 16-4 run and took a 62-60 lead about two minutes before Schlott fouled out. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Kaitlyn Mileto gave Wyoming their first lead since it was 11-9 at the 16:39 mark of the first half.

Mileto finished with a career-high 30 points, which included seven 3-pointers. Senior Fallon Lewis scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Wyoming only shot 34.4 percent (21-61) from the field. They were 10-34 (29.4%) from beyond the arc and 28-40 (70%) at the foul line.

Schlott led all scorers in the game with 31 points, but only four came in the second half. Stephanie Bairstow scored 16 points, while Strikas and Williams added 15 and 10, respectively. Utah State shot 41 percent from the field. They went 22-26 (84.6%) at the stripe and out-rebounded UW 46-41.

The first half was the Schlott show, as she poured in 27 points and had an answer every time Wyoming tried to rally. The Aggies led 51-41 at half, thanks to 54.5 percent shooting from the floor. That also included nine 3-point field goals.

The loss spoiled Senior Night for the Cowgirls, as Lewis, Chelan Landry and Kaylee Hoffman played their final game at the Arena-Auditorium. It also was UW's first home defeat in Mountain West Conference and just their second home loss this season.

Wyoming wraps up the regular season at conference champ Colorado State on Friday night. Game time is at 7 p.m.