A strong start and finish helped the Wyoming Cowgirls extend their winning streak to seven with a 58-46 victory over San Jose State Saturday in Laramie.

Liv Roberts scored 20 points and Bailee Cotton added 16 points and eight rebounds.

The Cowgirls opened the game on a 16-2 run. Cotton scored eight in that span, which included a pair of three-point plays. Roberts added a pair of three’s. It was 20-11 after the first quarter. Wyoming extended to a 36-24 lead at halftime. Back-to-back baskets by Roberts in the paint increased the UW lead to 41-26 early in the second half.

San Jose State held the Cowgirls to two points the rest of the third quarter. Cydni Lewis scored nine for the Spartans, who closed within 43-37 at the end of the quarter. A basket by Mikaylah Wilson cut it to 43-39 at the 8:37 mark of the fourth.

The Cowgirls responded with a 14-2 run. Six different UW players contributed points in the spurt. That included two field goals in the paint from Marta Gomez. With 2:34 left, they held a 57-44 lead. The Spartans were held to just nine points in the final quarter.

Wyoming (14-5, 7-1) shot only 39 percent from the field. They were just 4-14 from deep. The Cowgirls did have a 39-32 edge on the glass.

San Jose State (6-14, 3-6) was led by Fieme’a Hafoka with 10 points. The Spartans shot 36 percent for the game. They were held 26 points below their season scoring average.

UW will stay at home for their next game, as they host Colorado State in Laramie for the second edition of the Border War Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The Cowgirls won the first meeting in Fort Collins, 53-49, on Jan. 13.

More From KOWB 1290