Tuck’s Take: Wyoming’s Fertig One Step Closer to Cementing Legacy

LAS VEGAS, Nev., -- You never walk away from the table, especially in this town, when you're on a heater.

A late 21-4 run propelled Wyoming past a feisty Fresno State team, 57-45, Tuesday night in the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament. Heather Ezell and her senior-laden Cowgirls are now one victory away from punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

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San Diego State, a squad they swept during the regular season, is the only thing standing in the way of the program's third trip to March Madness since its inception in 1973.

Ezell emphatically pumped her fists in the air at midcourt and flashed the "W" signal with both hands, aiming that postgame celebration in the direction of the pro-Wyoming crowd inside the Thomas and Mack Center.

There was meaning behind it -- this ride isn't ending tonight.

"I told (the fans) senior night after beating UNLV, they come to Vegas and watch us cut down the nets," she said. "I'm holding to my promise. That's what I want, to make sure they're going to hold to theirs and be in the stands."

Hanna Zavecz, Aubrey Vandiver and Megan McGuffey busted out the scissors in 2008. Quinn Weidemann and Tommi Olson climbed the ladder in '21.

Now, it's Allyson Fertig's turn.

This generational talent -- and newly crowned conference player of the year -- is getting her second crack at the ultimate goal after falling short inside this building two years ago.

The double-teams didn't work. Bring a third? Good luck.

Battered and bruised, the Glendo product has just gotten better as the lights have grown brighter. She fought through an aggressive zone defense, capping this one with a team-high 17 points against the Bulldogs. She snagged 18 boards.

"It's my job to rebound," Fertig said with a smile."... I've really taken that rebounding role on."

Among many other aspects of the game.

In roughly 24 hours, in victories over Air Force and Fresno State, Fertig's box score is overflowing: 35 points, 31 rebounds, 17-of-25 from the field, two blocks and, maybe the most-impressive stat, only three personal fouls. Or maybe it's the fact she played 73 of a possible 80 minutes.

No other player in tournament history has had consecutive 15-and-15 performances.

"I think all year I had to tell her about the four-minute timeout there to stop running the court so hard," Ezell added. "'Hey, I've got to conserve you a little, I don't want to take you off the floor, but I don't need sprinting every possession to go down to the offensive end when they're in a zone and they're just triple teaming you.'"

The 6-foot-4 senior finished in double-figures for the 30th time (96th in her career) this season. That's in 31 appearances. She missed the tilt in Reno with a barking ankle. It's the 15th time she's reached double-digits in rebounding.

That makes 14 double-doubles this winter, 45 during her four seasons in Laramie.

"She keeps the ball up really high and long arms and legs," Fresno State's junior forward Mia Jacobs said of Fertig. "She uses her elbows to wrap around you. It's hard to guard even. If we're sending two, she does a good job using her pivots and things like that, too."

On the defensive end, Fertig limited forwards Kylee Fox and Maria Konstantinidou to just 4-of-13 shooting from the floor. The latter didn't score a single point after netting 11 in the lone meeting between these two during the regular season.

"I always laugh that they list all of her awards," joked Emily Mellema, who finished with 11 points, including a trio of triples. "I just say, it's boring, at this point. It's like, what's next, at this point? So, we're just used to it. (She's) Just an incredible player, incredible career. I always say, I'm just really glad I can be a part of it."

While this isn't necessarily a "Win one for Al" situation -- there are five other contributing seniors on this roster --  it would be only fitting that she cap this decorated ride with one that magical moment on Selection Sunday.

It's her time.

'No, nothing surprises me that Al does," Ezell said. "... The way she's prepared herself and the work she's done is an inspiration to everybody of what you can do when you put that work in."

The Cowgirls and Aztecs will meet Wednesday night at 8:30 Mountain Time. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

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