By Christian Lasher
Bigger, faster, stronger. That’s the look of the University of Wyoming Cowgirls basketball team as they hit the hardwood for the 2023-2024 season. UW posted a 23-11 record last season. A season that earned the ladies a second-place finish in the Mountain West Conference and an appearance in the Mountain West Tournament Championship Game.
The Cowgirls also made their fifth straight postseason run making it to the second round of the Women's NIT.
Second-year Head Coach Heather Ezell’s squad returns as a team full of experience. UW has only 5 new faces as 10 players were on the team last year. The ladies will be without long-time teammates Tommi Olson and Quinn Weidemann, who graduated last spring.
Junior Center Allyson Fertig (Preseason MWC All-League Selection) says, “We are going to really miss Quinn and Tommi because they were great teammates, leaders, and people in general. We have big shoes to fill. We have some girls who really want to step up and are willing to take on that leadership role. It will take some time. I want to step up into that role as well, but it will take some development in my own character. I am really excited with our new group of freshmen. They are very unique in their skill set. They are very athletic and speedy and strong and I am excited to see what they do.”
Junior Guard Emily Mellema says she is excited for the season and is taking what she learned in the WNIT to help her in her veteran role. “I am looking forward to taking after Tommi and stepping into that point guard role. One thing that me and Allyson and Tess (Barnes) have really made a priority is getting into that leadership role and leading our team.” She adds, “Any time you can play in the postseason, there’s a lot to learn…different people step into different roles and it kind of gives you an idea of what the year is going to look like. It is really fun.”
Off Season Workouts
When asked about the identity of this year’s squad, Mellema beams with pride regarding the offseason workout regimen. “I personally have focused a lot on getting stronger in the offseason. All of us have really bought into that side of basketball. It’s not all basketball but also how important the weight room and conditioning are.”
Fertig agrees, “I give a lot of credit to Coach (Mike) Cotterman (Director of Sports Performance for Olympic Sports,) he is really great. I have seen remarkable differences in myself. I’ve gotten way stronger in the off-season. I’ve seen it in a lot of our girls too. If you look at Emily from Freshman year to now, it’s like wow, she’s really developed physically and it’s great to see and she’s a lot more powerful.”
Fertig adds, “The credit goes to Coach C for pushing us and putting us in those situations to get stronger and faster. We don’t just focus on the basketball we focus on the physical…the strength and conditioning as well.”
After a physical loss in the conference tournament championship game to The University of Nevada Las Vegas, the focus shifted to conditioning.
Mellema says, “UNLV is a great team and they will be good again this year. It’s fun anytime we can play them. Being strong and being able to play off of Allyson who has gotten a lot stronger too and being able to get to the rim is something we’ve all been working on.”
Familiar Foes on the Schedule
The Cowgirls will face a tough non-conference schedule this season. Some games of note: Nebraska, BYU, and Creighton at home, Gonzaga, Oklahoma State, and Montana State on the road.
“We have a lot of good games on the schedule. I am really excited. I am most excited for Gonzaga. I will have a lot of family will be at that one. We almost got them last year. It was a tough loss. They were a school I always looked up to when I was younger and went to their team camps. I know their coaches pretty well and have a few friends on their team. I am really excited about that one.’ Mellema says.
Fertig adds, “A big one I’ve been thinking about is Nebraska. We’ve played them very well but have lost there a lot lately. We play them on my birthday, and I don’t want to lose on my birthday, I don’t want to lose to Nebraska a third time! A lot of them are exciting, I went to Gonzaga my freshman year and that was really fun. (I’m excited for) some of the other games too because I’ve never been there.”
Of course, the ladies have favorite places to play within the Mountain West Conference.
Fertig tells us, “I love our trips to San Diego. Their arena is pretty cool and you have the beach…we don’t have that in Wyoming! Colorado State is fun to play at. It’s so competitive and it’s the Border War. They have a great turnout of fans. I’ve never won at CSU so that is another one of my goals. This year I am going to be like, ‘We have to be focused in guys, I want to win!’ It’s a big rivalry because the fans really get into it. I am excited that the new girls to experience that. Just to see the atmosphere here in Laramie and in Fort Collins.”
Mellema adds, “CSU is always fun…just the environment and what comes with that. Playing the Lobos in the PIT in New Mexico is great. I have a lot of friends who play at Boise. I have a lot of family that comes to that game. I like playing everywhere.”
Leadership Breeds Championships
Mellema on her leadership role: “Confidence in general in college basketball is tough to learn and so important to playing well at this level so I try and tell them all the time that everyone makes mistakes and right now is the best time to make them (in practice) so having confidence and playing with a little bit of swagger is something we talk about.” She adds to her list of goals this year, “Staring in my role and doing the little things. Doing what I can do to find new ways to score. Being aggressive and being confident and coming into a basketball role and leading this team into something bigger than that.”
Fertig adds a message to the fans, “Our big goal is to get into the conference championship again and be able to win. I am 100% sure that is everyone’s goal on this team. I am really excited for this year, we have a lot of skilled players and I feel like we will have a lot of breakthrough players that might become favorites of Cowgirl Basketball.”
Mellema agrees, “The culture the coaches have formed here with the program is great. They really know what they are doing. Starting with Coach G (Gerald Mattinson) and now with Coach Heather. I am really thankful I got the year with Coach G and I am very thankful now to have Heather leading us this year. They really are building something good here. I’m excited to be a part of it.
The Cowgirls tip off the season with an exhibition game on November 2nd in Laramie versus Western Colorado.
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