Cowgirls treating Border War like any other game
By
Published 1-25-2008
When it comes down to records, the University of Wyoming Cowgirls and the Colorado State University Rams are on different playing fields.
But, as any Border War fan knows, records aren’t much of a predictor when either team travels on Route 287.
“They will come out ready for us,” Cowgirl Aubrey Vandiver said. “It’s the Border War and anything can happen. It doesn’t matter what their record is, and it doesn’t matter what our record is.”
The No.18-ranked Cowgirls continued their undefeated Mountain West Conference streak with an 87-39 win over the UNLV Lady Rebels Wednesday night. The Cowgirls defeated the same UNLV team that took down No. 13 George Washington on Nov. 30. The win propelled Wyoming to 17-1 overall.
“We hope it (the UNLV win) will carry us in the next games, too,” said senior Justyna Podziemska, who threw down a double-double against the Lady Rebels. “We have a lot of confidence. Each night we count on everybody to come focused on the court, but we have to prepare for them (CSU) separate).”
The Rams (0-4 MWC, 3-16 overall) have yet to break into the win column in the young MWC season. Their only wins have come against CSU-Pueblo, Navy and Pacific all in their home confines.
Their latest falter came Wednesday night in Fort Collins when they dropped their fourth straight MWC match-up, 56-43, to in-state foe Air Force.
The Border War has long struck Wyoming and Colorado State fans as a rivalry that is to be taken seriously, but Vandiver said the Cowgirls are looking to play a good game and not focus too much on everything else that is involved.
“It is always fun to play CSU because it is more than a basketball game,” she said. “There is always a rivalry between us and CSU, and a lot of people feel that a lot. But our team is pretty mellow, and we are just going to approach it like any other game.”
Podziemska echoed Vandiver, saying that the excitement is there, but each game has to be treated the same.
“It is special, but we just have to remember it is just one of our 16 conference games,” Podziemska said.
All-American candidate Hanna Zavecz leads the Cowgirls with 14.8 points per game. Podziemska and Vandiver follow with 12.4 and 11.3 points, respectively.
The struggling Rams are led by Sara Hunter and Juanise Cornell with 10.4 and 8.5 points per game.
“We just have to go out there are play how we play,” UW head coach Joe Legerski said. “Every opponent is another opportunity. I know being on this side of the state the CSU/Wyoming game is a big deal.”
“I know it will be difficult. CSU took us to overtime last year. Big challenges are going to come up.”
Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colo.
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