LARAMIE - Perhaps the University of Wyoming women's basketball team had to get reacclimated to its home arena after starting its season with a pair of road games.

The Cowgirls came out cold against visiting North Dakota and hit just 8 of their first 21 shots and found themselves trailing by 11.

UW readjusted to the familiar shooting background midway through the first half and rolled to a 100-75 win before a crowd of 2,162 Thursday at the Arena-Auditorium.

"The pace of the game was very fast," sixth-year UW coach Joe Legerski said. "North Dakota came out with a great deal of energy and shot the ball really well. We had to adjust to that pace of game."

The Fighting Sioux (1-2) hit 14 of 22 shots (63.6 percent) through the first 11 minutes, 21 seconds to build a 34-23 lead. They scored off penetration, in the low post and from outside. However, Wyoming (2-1) held North Dakota to 2-for-8 the rest of the half and forced eight turnovers during that stretch to take a 51-38 lead into the intermission.

"That 28-4 run is about as good as you could put together," Legerski said.

Freshman guard Emma Langford scored 16 of UW's 28 points during that swing. She finished with 26 points on 9-for-19 shooting (6 of 8 from 3) and added six assists, five rebounds and three steals. In the first half, Langford scored 24 of her 26 points.

"I guess I got my confidence with the first few (shots) I got," Langford said. "I got into the open and the girls got me the ball and I kept shooting. It was working out well."

UW senior center Elisabeth Dissen also did a good job of limiting North Dakota center Kierah Kimbrough's chances down low. That allowed UW's guards to defend the Sioux's outside shooters a little more closely and force turnovers.

"Obviously, Wyoming is bigger and more physical, and I think that's what wore us down," North Dakota coach Gene Roebuck said.

The Sioux used a zone for much of the game, but the Cowgirls still were able to capitalize on mismatches inside, and hit some outside shots. Dissen netted 15 points on 7-for-7 shooting. Sophomore Jade Kennedy added another 16 down low.

"Everybody was shooting really well, which forced (North Dakota) to get out on our guards," Dissen said. "That opened the middle and we got some amazing passes."

Cheyenne East grad Megan McGuffey chipped in with 11 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals. The senior was 9 of 10 from the free throw line. The assists were a game-high.

"Most of those were just from our zone principles," McGuffey said. "(Langford) did a great job of getting to the open spots and, fortunately, I got her the ball and she was able to hit those shots.

"The young players are getting used to the system (and getting to the right place)."

Century Club

The number 100 was significant for the Cowgirls for the second time in three games. Their Nov. 14 win at Denver was Legerski's 100th as UW's head man.

Thursday, it was the number of points the Cowgirls netted. That win marked the 13th time in the 36-year history of UW women's hoops they have scored 100 or more points. The last time came on Nov. 18, 2001 in a 101-47 win over visiting Sacramento State. The most UW has ever scored came on Feb. 29, 1992 when it topped Colorado State 117-57.

All of the 100-point games have come in Laramie. Six of them came under Chad Lavin, who guided UW from 1987-98. Five came under Margie McDonald (1975-83). The other was under the guidance of Cindy Fisher (1999-2003). Fisher currently is the head coach at the University of San Diego and is a Cheyenne Central graduate.

Fabulous firsts

Freshmen Ashley Sickles, Leah Fitzgerald and Brenna Freeze all saw the first regular season action of their UW careers Thursday. Sickles finished with eight points in 15 minutes. Fitzgerald and Freeze finished with two points apiece.

Junior center Mallory Cline also saw the first minutes of her year.

Starting forward Rebecca Vanderjagt's bucket at the 8:30 mark of the first half marked the first time she's scored a point in a game this season. It was just the senior's seventh shot in three games. Vanderjagt finished with six points on 2-for-2 shooting. She also converted 2 of 4 free throws.

Thursday's game was the first-ever meeting between UW and North Dakota. The Fighting Sioux are in their first season as a transitional member of the NCAA's Div. I.

Up next

The Cowgirls host Gonzaga (3-0) at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Arena-Auditorium. UW leads the all-time series 1-0 with the last meeting coming Nov. 24, 1989.