Cowgirls Fall in Triple Overtime as SDSU Wins MWC Championship

Photo by Troy Babbitt, UW Athletics

LAS VEGAS – The Cowgirls' championship dreams were dashed in triple overtime.

Second-seeded Wyoming lost a 72-68 heartbreaker to No. 4 San Diego State in the Mountain West Tournament title game on Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Cowgirls (22-11) had a chance to tie the score in the closing seconds of the third overtime, but Emily Mellema's jumper rimmed out.

Mountain West Player of the Year Allyson Fertig finished with 17 points and 18 rebounds, Malene Pedersen scored a team-high 19 points, and McKinley Dickerson added 10 points to lead UW.

"I think we've grown so much as a team, especially from last year," Pedersen said. "I think we could tell that we were much tougher this season throughout and definitely finishing really strong. Unfortunately, just could not get it today."

Veronica Sheffey had 24 points, including two free throws to ice the game, to lead the Aztecs (25-9).

UW held SDSU to 37.5% from the field but only shot 36.9% in the heavyweight defensive fight.

After Pedersen made a 3-pointer to get UW within 61-59 with 57.9 seconds left in the second overtime, Dickerson appeared to take a charge on the other end. The officials called a block, and Naomi Panganiban made two free throws.

Pedersen scored with 19.6 seconds left, and the Cowgirls forced a turnover. Mellema was fouled and made one of two free throws to make the score 63-62 with 11.3 seconds left.

Sheffey also went 1-for-2 at the line after being fouled, which gave the Cowgirls a chance to tie the score on the final possession.

Fertig was fouled with 6.2 seconds left and made both pressure attempts to tie the score 64-64 and force a third overtime as Sheffey's shot at the horn rimmed out.

SDSU scored the first five points of OT, which was the largest deficit (52-47) either team faced in the game.

Dickerson made a 3-pointer to get UW within 52-50. After a jumper by Sheffey, Fertig scored to make the score 54-52.

Mellema tied the score 54-54 with 6.3 seconds left. UW had a chance to win the game with 1.7 seconds left after a stop and timeout, but Mellema's desperation shot was blocked.

Both teams ratcheted up the defensive intensity in the fourth quarter.

"We just had a few go in and out. That happens in basketball," Dickerson said. "We ran our offense just like we've always run it. We were getting to the block, getting Al inside. We just had a few that didn't go in; didn't go our way."

The Cowgirls only had one field goal in the frame until Fertig tied the score 47-47 with 1:26 remaining.

Mellema missed a contested layup in the final minute, and the Aztecs called timeout with possession and 25.0 seconds left.

UW was able to get a stop as Fertig dove to the floor to secure the rebound after a missed shot by Panganiban.

Pedersen hit a clutch corner 3 to tie the score, and Dickerson gave UW a 43-41 lead before coming up with a steal late in the third quarter.

Ezell acknowledged how difficult the loss was for her team. "Yeah, I hurt for them. You know, to see the faces in the locker room, to know how bad they're hurting, I wish I could take it away from them. Like I told them, they gave me everything they had. There's no doubt, if something rolls a little bit different, we might be still out there."

McKinley Dickerson reflected on the emotional toll of the game. "They're my sisters, right? They're my second family. It's been an incredible ride, and I'm extremely grateful for it. We're leaving a legacy we're building under Heather. Heather is going to build one. I'm just proud to be a part of it."

With a postseason invitation looming, Ezell remains confident in her team’s future. "They'll stay strong. That's what I told them, is they have another chance to do this, to put the uniform on, to represent the university, to represent the Cowgirls, and to represent each other."

Ezell's wish: "I wish we had five more minutes."