LARAMIE -- All Joe Legerski could do was smile.

Wyoming freshman Chaundra Sewell had just fouled out of her first game at the Division I level.

And while she lasted just 11 minutes before picking up five fouls, Legerski had seen enough in his team's 72-36 exhibition victory over Adams State to know that his youngsters are going to be able to contribute.

"[Sewell] went out after it. She went up and grabbed a couple rebounds that I think had everybody in the place oohing and awing. I thought Chaundra played really well. She's going to challenge you inside and has a winner's mentality.

"It was good to see her really step up and play well that way."

Sewell wasted little time showing off her aggressiveness and she certainly filled the stat sheet for playing less than a dozen minutes.

The Broomfield, Colo., native had a team-high seven rebounds, scored three points, blocked two shots and picked up a steal.

And while her foul trouble may be more of a concern down the road, coaches certainly like to see freshmen come out of the gates with an aggressive attitude rather than the alternative.

"You never know how your freshmen are going to respond. They've been playing hard in practice, been competing.

"Chaundra came out and [competed] and I thought Rebecca Campigli played well."

The Cowgirls stormed out to a 10-0 lead and used a 15-0 run to start the second half to put the game away early, allowing Legerski to empty his bench early and often.

Campigli wound up playing 25 minutes, the second most of any player on the team.

"It's really good to get out there finally," the Australia native said. "It feels like preseason has gone on forever, so this had been a much-anticipated game. And to sit on the bench and watch the girls start off so strongly, it was really nice to come out with the confidence that they had my back.

"It does take the pressure off, that's for sure."

Campigli was 2-of-6 from the floor for eight points and added three assists, two rebounds and a steal.

She went through some growing pains as well though, turning the ball over three times as she gained a feel -- mostly from her freshman cohort -- as to just how more physical she might have to play.

"We play a 24-second shot clock [in Australia] so the speed of the game is much different," Campigli said. "And it's much more aggressive [here]. Like Chaundra, that doesn't happen there. It's a new experience, but I'm getting it, I'm learning to adapt to it."

There will be more lessons to learn along the way.

But Sewell and Campigli showed in their first game that they are eager to learn and as long as they continue to work aggressively at it, they'll get plenty of chances to continue adapting.

Contact sports reporter Eric Schmoldt at eric.schmoldt@trib.com. Check out his blog at tribtown.trib.com/ESchmoldt/blog

COWGIRLS TRACKER

MONDAY: The Wyoming women's basketball team opened its 2009-10 campaign with a 72-36 exhibition victory over Adams State.

GETTING INVOLVED: UW coach Joe Legerski was able to empty his bench in the rout and freshmen Chaundra Sewell and Bec Campigli had solid debuts.

SHE SAID IT: "It feels like preseason has gone on forever, so this had been a much-anticipated game." -- Campigli.

UP NEXT: The Cowgirls will host their second and final exhibition against CSU-Pueblo at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Arena-Auditorium.