Courtesy of Braidon Nourse

LAS VEGAS – No. 2 Wyoming stepped up to Emily Mellema’s halftime challenges.

“Kindly” as it was (or wasn’t), Mellema said she called for more threatening abilities to make plays and, more importantly, a bit more confidence shooting the ball and in possession.

Her team obliged, running away from No. 6 Fresno State, 57-45, for a spot in the Credit Union 1 Mountain West Basketball Championship final against No. 4 San Diego State.

As much as Allyson Fertig was completely dominant in the first half, she was really the only player making huge contributions in the first period, perhaps outside of Mellema herself, who contributed five points and four rebounds (11 and nine for the game).

But Fertig was just different. In the first half alone, she had 10 points and seven rebounds. Her game totals of 17 points and 18 rebounds made her only the second player to ever record multiple MW tournament games with at least 15 of each.

At this point, for teammates of the forward, not much ever comes as a surprise, even when their center continues to have historical night after historical night.

For Fertig herself, maybe a bit Nikola Jokic-esque, it’s all in a good day’s work.

“It’s my job to rebound,” she said. “For now with our team dynamics and stuff, I’ve really taken that rebounding role on. But I would say awesome job with my teammates. Emily had nine rebounds. We had a bunch of other guards clean up the boards really well today, it wasn’t just me. But just really emphasizing that that’s my role, rebounding.”

Carrying only a one-point lead into the locker room for halftime, the Cowgirls had to find other outlets for scoring and playmaking.

Insert Malene Pedersen. Ten of her 14 points and six of her eight assists (a career high) came in the second half alone. She and Mellema combined for 12 of the team’s 17 assists on 21 made shots, an impressive indicator of the groove the Cowgirls finally found.

“I’ll shout out (Pedersen’s) eight assists. That was incredible for her, and 14 points, she’s really been our spark this tournament so far. All year, she’s been incredible,” Mellema said. “I think that’s what our team thrives on, getting everyone involved and sharing the ball. I’m glad I could be a part of that, but that means our teammates were making baskets. Kudos to Malene.”

Against a small but physical Fresno State team, Wyoming found early success through wing entry passes to Fertig in the post. And she made it look way too easy to get around and put up a high-percentage layup.

Ola Ustowska helped the early charge, too, with three early 3s. Something to watch for Wednesday’s championship game, she’s getting hot at the right time — it was her first conference game this season with multiple triples.

Later in the game, others stepped up in a big way to bury the game for Wyoming.

“They were starting to send not just double but triple teams (onto Fertig) and we were able to find some open baskets or open people and knock down those shots, just like we were able to do yesterday (against Air Force),” Cowgirls coach Heather Ezell said. “It comes down to exactly what these ladies said, is we have confidence in every one of them. Get their feet set and knock down shots. If we find them at the right time, on time and on target, we’re going to get our feet set and knock it down.”

Wyoming’s date with San Diego State on Wednesday will be the first championship game to not feature UNLV since 2021.

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