LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of fortune, the Wyoming Cowgirls rode a blistering first-half shooting performance to an 82-72 upset victory over the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels in a Mountain West Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Wyoming and avenged a 29-point home loss to UNLV just over a month ago. The Cowgirls, who entered the game with a 9-15 record, defied a national statistical projection that gave them less than a 7 percent chance to win, overcoming a 15.5-point pregame spread to hand the 16-8 Rebels a costly conference defeat.

The most important part of the game was Wyoming’s explosive and efficient second quarter, which turned a tight contest into a commanding lead they would never relinquish. Leading by just a single point after a back-and-forth first period, the Cowgirls unleashed a 25-point barrage in the second quarter while holding the potent UNLV offense to only 13 points. The catalyst was a lethal outside shooting display led by Malene Pedersen and Henna Sandvik. The duo combined for multiple three-pointers during the period, stretching the UNLV defense and creating driving lanes. Wyoming shot 9 of 16 from the floor in the quarter, including 5 of 10 from beyond the arc, transforming a 20-19 edge into a 45-32 halftime advantage.

UNLV, led by a game-high 30 points from Meadow Roland of Fresno, California, attempted to mount several comebacks in the second half. The Rebels cut the deficit to nine points late in the third quarter and again to eight points with under four minutes to play in the fourth. Each time, Wyoming had an answer, usually from Pedersen or Sandvik. A critical sequence came with just over four minutes left in the game when UNLV, trailing by ten, committed a turnover. Wyoming’s Malene Pedersen capitalized with a jump shot, and after a UNLV miss, she was fouled and sank two free throws to push the lead back to 14 and effectively seal the game.

Wyoming’s victory was built on exceptional shot-making and capitalizing on UNLV mistakes. The Cowgirls shot 46.7 percent from the field and a remarkable 44.4 percent from three-point range, making 16 long-range shots. They also committed three fewer turnovers than UNLV and converted those 16 Rebel miscues into 15 points. In contrast, UNLV managed only 6-of-19 shooting from three-point territory and was outscored by 30 points from beyond the arc, a deficit too large to overcome despite a 28-14 advantage in points in the paint.

Pedersen, a guard from Aabyhoej, Denmark, led Wyoming with 26 points, adding four assists. Sandvik, a forward from Helsinki, Finland, was equally formidable, scoring 25 points, grabbing three assists, and recording two blocks. Jane Rumpf of Denver contributed 20 points, primarily from the perimeter, as the trio accounted for 71 of Wyoming’s 82 points. Roland’s 30-point, five-assist effort paced UNLV, while Jasmyn Lott of Frisco, Texas, added 14 points. UNLV’s Aaliyah Alexander of Federal Way, Washington, dished out eight assists.

The loss damages UNLV’s position in the Mountain West standings, while Wyoming gains a significant confidence boost. The announced attendance was 862. Wyoming improves to 9-15 overall, while UNLV falls to 16-8. Both teams return to conference play on Saturday, with Wyoming hosting Boise State and UNLV welcoming Grand Canyon.