# Wyoming Cowgirls basketball

The Wyoming Cowgirls basketball team is a women's college basketball team at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming. Competing in the Mountain West Conference, the organization has a tradition dating back to 1973.

## History

The program began in 1973, with Bonnie Hulstrand as head coach. Following Hulstrand's leaving for the Idaho Vandals, Margie Hunt McDonald led the team for 9 seasons, finishing her coaching career with over 100 wins and a winning record at Wyoming. When McDonald left coaching to become the executive director of the High Country Athletic Conference, Dan Richards coached the team for three seasons. Chad Lavin was hired as head coach in 1986 and coached the Cowgirls for 12 seasons, including the 1989–90 season, in which the Cowgirls won their only conference regular season title. In 1998, Cheyenne, Wyoming native Cindy Fisher was hired as the head coach of the Cowgirls, and coached the team for five seasons, including the 2003 season, in which the Cowgirls appeared in the WNIT for the first time. In 2003, Fisher resigned her position, citing personal reasons.
On May 1, 2003, Wyoming announced the hiring of Utah assistant Joe Legerski as head coach. At the end of his first season, Legerski won the Mountain West Conference coach of the year award after leading a team with 7 freshman and 10 underclassman to a 5th place finish in the conference. In 2006, the Cowgirls achieved both the second 20–win season in the program's history and the program's second appearance in the WNIT. The next season, the team continued to improve, again winning over 20 games and making the WNIT tournament for 2007. The Cowgirls made it to the championship game and defeated Wisconsin 72–56 to win the tournament in front of a record crowd of 15,462 in the Arena-Auditorium. The 27 wins recorded by the 2006–07 team remain a program record. The Cowgirls continued to see improving results, finishing 24–7 and earning the program's first berth into the NCAA tournament, although the team lost in the first round to Pittsburgh. Over the next 11 seasons, the Cowgirls recorded 7 more 20–win seasons and 6 more appearances in the WNIT. At the conclusion of the 2018–19 season, Joe Legerski announced he was retiring as head coach after 16 years. Legerski won Mountain West conference coach of the year three times (2003–04, 2016–17, 2017–18) and retired as the program's winningest coach with a record of 314–186 (.628).
On May 7, 2019, longtime Cowgirl assistant Gerald Mattinson was named the seventh head coach in program history. In Mattinson's first season as the head coach, the Cowgirls went 17–12, and reached the semifinals of the Mountain West tournament. In Mattinson's second season, the Cowgirls went 14–10, but won the Mountain West tournament, the first in program history. The Cowgirls lost to UCLA in the Round of 64 of the NCAA tournament.

## Coaching records

| Tenure | Coach | Seasons | Record | Win Pct. |
| 1973–1974 | Bonnie Hulstrand | 1 | 11–4 | .733 |
| 1974–1983 | Margie McDonald | 9 | 123–114 | .519 |
| 1983–1986 | Dan Richards | 3 | 23–60 | .277 |
| 1986–1998 | Chad Lavin | 12 | 175–161 | .521 |
| 1998–2003 | Cindy Fisher | 5 | 59–81 | .421 |
| 2003–2019 | Joe Legerski | 16 | 314–186 | .628 |
| 2019–2022 | Gerald Mattinson | 3 | 48–35 | .578 |
| 2022–present | Heather Ezell | 2 | 41–26 | .612 |
| Totals | 8 coaches | 51 seasons | 794–667 | .543 |

## Postseason
### NCAA tournament

The Cowgirls have appeared in the NCAA tournament two times. Their record is 0–2.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result/Score |
| 2008 | 11 | First round | (6) Pittsburgh | L 58–63 |
| 2021 | 14 | First round | (3) #9 UCLA | L 48–69 |

### WNIT

The Cowgirls have appeared in the WNIT 12 times. Their combined record is 22–11. They won the tournament in 2007.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result/Score |
| 2003 | First round Second round | Montana Colorado State | W 76–74 $^{OT}$ L 64–73 |
| 2006 | Second round Third round | Oregon State Nebraska | W 67–49 L 67–72 |
| 2007 | First round Second round Third round Quarterfinal Semifinal Championship | Nevada Missouri Oregon South Dakota State Kansas State Wisconsin | W 84–56 W 73–67 W 64–62 W 70–59 W 89–79 $^{3OT}$ W 72–56 |
| 2010 | First round Second round Third round | Nevada Texas Tech BYU | W 74–53 W 68–57 $^{OT}$ L 63–67 |
| 2011 | First round Second round Third round | Portland State Oklahoma State Colorado | W 79–44 W 75–71 L 58–70 |
| 2013 | First round | Northern Colorado | L 63–71 |
| 2017 | First round Second round | Seattle Washington State | W 68–52 L 68–67 $^{OT}$ |
| 2018 | First round Second round | New Mexico State U.C. Davis | W 67–59 L 72–64 |
| 2019 | First round Second round Third round Quarterfinal | Northern Colorado South Alabama Pepperdine Arizona | W 68–60 W 78–71 W 61–60 L 47–67 |
| 2022 | First round Second round Third round | Idaho State Tulsa UCLA | W 76–73$^{OT}$ W 97–90$^{3OT}$ L 81–82$^{3OT}$ |
| 2023 | First round Second round | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Kansas State | W 75–41 L 55-71 |
| 2024 | Second round Super 16 Great 8 | UTSA South Dakota Minnesota | W 80–64 W 84–52 L 54–65 |

### NWIT

The Cowgirls appeared in the NWIT 1 time. Their record is 0–3.
| Year | Opponent | Result/Score |
| 1990 | Toledo Fresno State Maine | L 58–75 L 63–67 L 48–68 |

## Team records

    As of 2022–23 season

### Career leaders

Career Scoring Leaders :
| Seasons | Player | Points |
| 1985–89 | Christine Fairless | 1933 |
| 1984–87 | Michele Hoppes | 1842 |
| 1992–95 | Amy Burnett | 1782 |
| 2012–15 | Kayla Woodward | 1769 |
| 2005–08 | Hanna Zavecz | 1746 |
| 1999–2003 | Carrie Bacon | 1692 |
| 2007–11 | Aubrey Vandiver | 1654 |
| 1980–83 | Rita Makovicka | 1578 |
| 1989–92 | Marie Kauffman | 1526 |
| 1979–82 | Lori Kline | 1521 |
Career Rebounding Leaders :
| Seasons | Player | Rebounds |
| 1984–87 | Michele Hoppes | 1104 |
| 1980–83 | Rita Makovicka | 1006 |
| 1979–82 | Lori Kline | 947 |
| 2007–11 | Aubrey Vandiver | 936 |
| 1976–79 | Linda Gilpin | 890 |
| 1989–92 | Marie Kauffman | 872 |
| 1992–95 | Amy Burnett | 829 |
| 2012–15 | Kayla Woodward | 812 |
| 2010–13 | Chaundra Sewell | 785 |
| 1977–79 | Dale Ann Meeker | 770 |
Career Assists Leaders :
| Seasons | Player | Assists |
| 1985–88 | Lisa Daniels | 573 |
| 2013–16 | Marquelle Dent | 514 |
| 2005–08 | Hanna Zavecz | 432 |
| 1991–94 | Anna Knight | 396 |
| 2017–19 | Clara Tapia | 394 |
| 2001–04 | Brenda Pickup | 391 |
| 2018–23 | Tommi Olson | 375 |
| 1983–86 | Jenny Przekwas | 374 |
| 1988–90 | Mickey Alexander | 352 |
| 2002–05 | Ashley Elliott | 330 |
Career Blocks Leaders :
| Seasons | Player | Blocks |
| 1979–82 | Lori Kline | 322 |
| 2008–11 | Hillary Carlson | 212 |
| 2005–08 | Hanna Zavecz | 162 |
| 1984–87 | Michele Hoppes | 134 |
| 1994–97 | Jessica Thompson | 117 |
| 2021-present | Allyson Fertig | 97 |
| 2006–09 | Rebecca Vanderjagt | 94 |
| 2010–13 | Chaundra Sewell | 81 |
| 1987–91 | Yvette Plumlee | 79 |
| 2009–13 | Ashley Sickles | 77 |
Career Steals Leaders :
| Seasons | Player | Steals |
| 1985–88 | Lisa Daniels | 279 |
| 2005–08 | Hanna Zavecz | 226 |
| 2001–04 | Brenda Pickup | 209 |
| 2002–05 | Ashley Elliott | 187 |
| 1987–91 | Yvette Plumlee | 187 |
| 2013–16 | Marquelle Dent | 181 |
| 2018–23 | Tommi Olson | 172 |
| 1999–2003 | Carrie Bacon | 169 |
| 2007–11 | Aubrey Vandiver | 156 |
| 1983–86 | Jenny Przkewas | 155 |
Career Games played Leaders :
| Seasons | Player | Games |
| 2018–23 | Quinn Weidemann | 149 |
| 2007–11 | Aubrey Vandiver | 133 |
| 2018–23 | Tommi Olson | 128 |
| 2017–20 | Taylor Rusk | 128 |
| 2016–19 | Marta Gomez | 128 |
| 2005–08 | Dominique Sisk | 125 |
| 2006–09 | Megan McGuffey | 125 |
| 2005–08 | Hanna Zavecz | 124 |
| 2005–08 | Jodi Bolerjack | 124 |
| 2010–13 | Chaundra Sewell | 124 |

### Single-season leaders

Single–Season Scoring Leaders :
| Season | Player | Points |
| 2010–11 | Aubrey Vandiver | 625 |
| 1994–95 | Amy Burnett | 614 |
| 2010–11 | Hillary Carlson | 572 |
| 1993–94 | Amy Burnett | 568 |
| 1986–87 | Michele Hoppes | 566 |
| 1988–89 | Christine Fairless | 551 |
| 2014–15 | Marquelle Dent | 531 |
| 2018–19 | Marta Gomez | 530 |
| 1987–88 | Christine Fairless | 523 |
| 2013–14 | Kayla Woodward | 519 |
Single–Season Rebounding Leaders :
| Season | Player | Rebounds |
| 2009–10 | Aubrey Vandiver | 323 |
| 2012–13 | Chaundra Sewell | 310 |
| 2013–14 | Fallon Lewis | 305 |
| 2010–11 | Aubrey Vandiver | 303 |
| 1984–85 | Michele Hoppes | 298 |
| 2022–23 | Allyson Fertig | 296 |
| 2018–19 | Bailee Cotton | 293 |
| 1993–94 | Amy Burnett | 286 |
| 1981–82 | Rita Makovicka | 285 |
| 1979–80 | Sue Owens | 281 |
Single–Season Assists Leaders :
| Season | Player | Assists |
| 1986–87 | Lisa Daniels | 249 |
| 1991–92 | Valerie Harrison | 195 |
| 1989–90 | Mickey Alexander | 190 |
| 2014–15 | Marquelle Dent | 180 |
| 1985–86 | Jenny Przekwas | 163 |
| 1988–89 | Mickey Alexander | 162 |
| 2015–16 | Marquelle Dent | 161 |
| 1984–85 | Jenny Przekwas | 157 |
| 1987–88 | Lisa Daniels | 156 |
| 2016–17 | Clara Tapia | 145 |
Single–Season Blocks Leaders :
| Season | Player | Blocks |
| 2009–10 | Hillary Carlson | 98 |
| 1981–82 | Lori Kline | 93 |
| 1980–81 | Lori Kline | 85 |
| 1982–83 | Lori Kline | 80 |
| 2010–11 | Hillary Carlson | 73 |
| 2022–23 | Allyson Fertig | 69 |
| 1979–80 | Lori Kline | 64 |
| 2007–08 | Hanna Zavecz | 51 |
| 2006–07 | Hanna Zavecz | 49 |
| 1994–95 | Jessica Thompson | 45 |
Single–Season Steals Leaders :
| Season | Player | Steals |
| 2000–01 | Jessica Gibbs | 78 |
| 2003–04 | Brenda Pickup | 75 |
| 1984–85 | Jenny Przekwas | 75 |
| 2004–05 | Ashley Elliott | 74 |
| 2005–06 | Hanna Zavecz | 69 |
| 1989–90 | Yvette Plumlee | 68 |
| 1982–83 | Kristy Bennett | 68 |
| 1979–80 | Sara St. Clair | 68 |
| 1979–80 | Kellie Cardona | 67 |
| 1981–82 | Kristy Bennett | 66 |
| 2014–15 | Marquelle Dent | 66 |