Long time has past since thriller

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — More than four months ago, Wyoming lost a heartbreaker at Kansas State when the Wildcats won 68-62 in overtime after tying the game at the end of regulation on a shot from just beyond half-court.

“I’ve moved on from that,” Wyoming coach Joe Legerski said. “It was a great basketball game that night. They made a few more plays than we did and got the victory.”

But Legerski said the circumstances will be different when the two teams meet again at 7 tonight in Laramie in the semifinals of the WNIT. The winner plays either Western Kentucky or Wisconsin for the championship on Saturday.

“We had the opportunity to play Kansas State earlier, and it was a great ball game, but we have to just focus on what we’re trying to get accomplished and where we’re trying to get is to Saturday’s championship game,” he said.

Kansas State coach Deb Patterson acknowledged the “miracle” shot in the first game but said her team also has moved on and matured.

“I think we just finally understood the intensity with which each individual on the floor needed to compete for the full 40 minutes,” Patterson said.

The Cowgirls (25-9) beat Nevada, Missouri, Oregon and South Dakota State to reach the WNIT semifinals, while the Wildcats (19-14) posted wins over Southern Illinois, Illinois and Auburn in their quest for a second straight WNIT championship.

Wyoming is led by Hanna Zavecz, who averages 13.6 points, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals a game. Justyna Podziemska contributes 12.8 points and 6.4 rebounds a contest.

Patterson said her Wildcats must be disciplined against Wyoming.

Kansas State is led by Kimberly Dietz, who averages 13.3 points and 3.1 rebounds a game. Claire Coggins is adding 12.3 points and 3.4 rebounds, and freshman Ashley Sweat has been a major contributor in the postseason, scoring 15 points against Southern Illinois and 21 against Auburn.

“They’ve become where they’ve had to rely on other players to step up,” Legerski said, noting an injury to starting forward Marlies Gipson that has kept her out of the lineup. “And Ashley Sweat has done that for them. She has come through and has played very well.”

Patterson said she wasn’t concerned about her players adjusting to the 7,220-foot altitude of Laramie. She noted Kansas State plays a conference game at Colorado every year and the Wildcats played at Wyoming in 2005.

Kansas State is 9-1 all-time in the WNIT and holds a 4-1 advantage over Wyoming in the five previous meetings between the two teams.

The Wildcats tied for last place in the Big 12 Conference with a 4-12 record but compiled a 15-2 record against nonconference opponents.