The WSU women’s basketball team bounced back from a 80-70 home loss to Saint Mary’s College with a 63-50 victory over the previously unbeaten Wyoming Cowgirls on Saturday.

“It feels good to come out with a win,” Head Coach June Daugherty said. “We were able to beat an undefeated team, and I thought our defense was good, and we used the shot clock against them well on defense.” The Cougars did much better shooting the ball than their previous game against the SMC Gaels, improving to 32.8 percent from the field. WSU forced 19 turnovers but only managed eight points off of them. WSU also held a slight 22-20 scoring advantage in the paint. The Cougars outrebounded the Cowgirls 43-39 as well.

The Cowgirls jumped out to an early lead but never got ahead by more than three points. WSU battled back and took an 8-6 lead at the 14:39 mark in the first half. The Cougars led the rest of the way. WSU led 27-12 with 1:24 left in the half, and the Cowgirls cut the lead to 27-14 heading into the break.

WSU got its largest lead of the game with 5:38 left to play, a 57-37 advantage. Wyoming cut the lead to 11 with 1:15 left but couldn’t get any closer the rest of the way.

“Tonight, I just worked hard on defense, because that is how we are supposed to play,” freshman Carly Noyes said.

Sophomore guard Jazmine Perkins paced the Cougars with 17 points, six rebounds and three assists. So out-rebounded sophomore guard April Cook added 16 points, while freshman guard KiKi Moore chipped in 11 points, four assists and a team-leading eight rebounds.

“We worked hard in the offseason, and we like to get up the court and run the ball,” Moore said. “Rebounds were just coming toward me tonight, and I just grabbed them.” Aubrey Vandiver led Wyoming with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Randi Richardson added 10 and a team-high four steals. Emma Langford chipped in 10 to go along with nine rebounds.

The Cougars (3-4) head to Bozeman, Mont., for a Friday showdown with the Montana State Bobcats (6-2). The Bobcats are coming off an 89-59 victory over Montana State-Northern. They will play Boise State on Wednesday before facing the Cougars.