Four free throws in the final 15 seconds allowed the San Diego State Aztecs to beat the Wyoming Cowgirls 68-62 Thursday night in California.

Wyoming put together an 11-4 in the final minute, but it wasn’t enough. Down 60-51, key three’s from Marta Gomez and Taylor Rusk, along with three-point by Clara Tapia and a basket from Natalie Baker got Cowgirls within 64-62

After two free throws from Cheyenne Greenhouse, a turnover by Tapia with 10 seconds left led to the final free throws from Te’a Adams in the Mountain West opener for both teams.

Head coach Joe Legerski said in a release from the University of Wyoming,

“I thought there were runs on both ends. We got up by eight, San Diego State got up by nine and with a minute left we got it down to one possession. Give San Diego State credit, they made free throws which was a big part of the win tonight.”

Legerski went on to say, “We have to get back in the gym, work on some things. I thought we broke down twice in defensive transition, both times same players and San Diego State responded with two three’s. We figure that out and all of a sudden you are looking at a different ball game. We battled, but they shot 76 percent from the free throw line, and we had to take our chances getting back in to the game. We need to shoot better than we did especially in the third quarter which was a difference in the game. We left some opportunities out there, and we need to address that.”

San Diego State (7-5, 1-0) went 19-25 from the foul line, 76 percent. McKynzie Fort led the Aztecs with 20 points. They shot 42.6 percent from the field.

Wyoming (7-5, 0-1) was led by Rusk with 14 points. Gomez added 11 off the bench, while Baker and Liv Roberts scored 10 apiece. The Cowgirls shot 35.6 percent from the field, but did make 10-25 from deep.

UW got up 16-8 early in the second of a Roberts three. San Diego State battled back and an 8-2 run at the end of the half trimmed it to 27-26 Wyoming at halftime. The Aztecs took the lead for good early in the third, but Rusk three tied it at 41-41. In the fourth, San Diego State pushed their lead to nine, but UW never went away. They got within three at 52-49, but a turnover and missed three on back-to-back possessions kept the Aztecs in front.

The Cowgirls return to action at home next Wednesday, Jan. 3 versus Nevada.

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