Feb. 3, 2014
Julian Washburn, Men's Basketball
Julian Washburn averaged 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists while helping UTEP to a couple of wins. The Miners knocked off Louisiana Tech (89-79) to move into a tie for first place in C-USA, then rallied past Rice 68-57. Washburn scored a season-high 21 points in 39 minutes versus the Bulldogs while also crossing the 1,000-point mark. He now has 1,019 career points. He followed that up with 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 39 minutes against the Owls. For the week, he shot 52.2 percent (12-for-23) from the field and 91.7 percent (11-for-12) from the line. At 6-8, Washburn was instrumental in holding 6-3 Kenneth Smith from LA Tech (five points, 2-8 FGs), 5-9 Max Guercy from Rice (11 points, 3-11 FGs) and 6-3 Austin Ramljak from Rice (3 points, 1-5 FGs) in check with his defense.
Women's Basketball
Kayla Thornton helped keep UTEP in the hunt by recording two double-doubles in as many games last week. She opened up week by putting up 15 points and 11 rebounds while also recording five steals in 28 minutes of action in the 77-50 rout of Marshall on Jan. 29.
The senior followed that up with a monstrous double-double (29 points, 18 boards) in guiding UTEP to a come-from-behind 86-72 win at Tulane. She had a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) by halftime, which helped the Miners stick around (trailed 35-28) heading into the break. The El Paso native then was instrumental in the second half with 19 points & eight rebounds, including coming alive from three-point range.
