Lady Plainsmen Roll Past South for First Conference Win

Jennifer Aadland scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Laramie Lady Plainsmen to their first conference win, 56-32, over Cheyenne South.

Thursday’s home game got off to a slow start, but once Laramie took the lead, they rolled to victory.

Lady Plainsmen head coach Laura Pollard said the mental side of their preparation was key.

“We went in with everybody putting the information on the board (from our scouting report.) I was telling players to get up and say what are they (South) going to be in… the thinking part of it really energized them.”

The Bison made the first basket of the game on an Angelina Liggett three. The Lady Plainsmen scored six straight and took the lead for good. They extended to a 20-11 lead at the end of the first on an Aadland three. She scored nine in the quarter.

Laramie (6-9, 1-2) dominated the second quarter. They held South to a single free throw. It was 31-12 at halftime. LHS opened the second half with a quick 7-0 surge. Eventually the Lady Plainsmen led 45-15 in the third before subs played the majority of the fourth quarter, which gave Laramie a chance to rest their starters and veterans for tomorrow’s game.

The Lady Plainsmen shot 42 percent for the game. They had a 33-28 edge on the glass and forced 30 turnovers by the Bison. Lexi Pulley and Kylee Cox added eight points apiece, while Sekoya Romero scored seven and Kayla Vasquez had six.

Pollard said their 3-2 zone also confused the South.

“We didn’t have that the first time around. I think it’s a good defense for us.”

Cheyenne South (4-11, 0-3) struggled and shot 25 percent. Felizia Sena led the way with 12 points.

Laramie returns to the road Friday with a game in Gillette against No. 1 ranked Thunder Basin at 6 p.m.

Laramie Plainsmen

Laramie struggled again and lost its fifth straight game in a 63-58 set-back to Cheyenne South at home Thursday night.

The Bison jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead and capitalized on eight first quarter turnovers by the Plainsmen. It was 19-9 after the opening period. Laramie fought back in to it with a solid second, as they out-scored South 14-10. Five different players scored, as LHS pulled within 29-23 at half. It was nearly a three-point game, but Chad Browning’s three at the buzzer rattled out.

It was the Bison again that surged to an 11-point lead before another rally by Laramie. Back-to-back three’s from Tyler Oppie helped the Plainsmen close within 43-40, but Tanner Weinberger answered with a three for South. It was 48-43 after three. South stretched the lead to 11 points twice in the fourth before a rally fell short by LHS.

Plainsmen head coach Travis Brown said they didn’t bring effort against the Bison.

“They out-played us. They wanted it more than us, and it showed. We’ve got to figure out how to put the pieces together.”

Laramie (6-9, 0-3) shot 26 percent from the field. They were 6-27, 22 percent, from three. The Plainsmen did have 45-33 edge on the glass, but points off 18 turnovers were key. Asa Williams led LHS with 16 points, while Frank Crum added 12 points and 8 rebounds.

South (6-8, 1-2) shot 49 percent for the game. Cameron Bird had a game-high 18 points. Kobe Floyd added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The one area that kept Laramie in the game was the Bison’s free throw shooting. South went 14-29 at the line, 48 percent.

The Plainsmen have dropped eight of nine since a 5-1 start and a No. 1 ranking. They head back on the road for another key conference game at Thunder Basin against the Bolts Friday at 7:30 p.m.