Jan. 31, 2008
Final Stats
Box Score PDF Format 
The UTEP women's basketball notched its 12th straight win-extending the school-record streak-, but more importantly stayed unbeaten in Conference USA play (7-0), with a thrilling 69-64 overtime triumph at SMU on Thursday evening.
"It was a tremendous team win," head coach Keitha Adams said. "We really battled against a very talented SMU team, and I'm proud of our efforts."
UTEP (16-2, 7-0 C-USA) showed tremendous resiliency in recording its program-best fifth consecutive road victory, overcoming 26 turnovers and continuously playing catch up. SMU (14-7, 4-3 C-USA) had a chance to win it in regulation, but Izabela Piekarska swatted one of her season-high six shots to send the contest into an extra period.
UTEP quickly took control in overtime, courtesy of a basket by Piekarska, who finished 19 points to pace the Orange and Blue. After SMU's Brittany Gilliam tied the tilt with a lay-up, Timika Williams pushed the Miners back ahead by drilling a long two from the baseline. Williams, who joined Piekarska in double figures with 17 points, finished 8-of-10 from the floor on a great shooting night by the sophomore.
Natasha Lacy, who recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards, padded UTEP's advantage with a pressure-packed jumper to make it 65-61 in favor of the Orange and Blue with 2:22 remaining. Although the Miners never trailed from that point, that is not to say it was without drama.
The Mustangs, who boasted a record of 10-1 against UTEP in Moody Coliseum entering the tilt, refused to go down without a fight. Gilliam sunk three free throws over the next minute and a half to bring SMU within one (65-64) with only 1:33 remaining. The Mustangs actually had a chance to forge ahead, but Gilliam's jumper was off target and Williams cleared for the Miners.
Jareica Hughes, who had a well-rounded game with 12 points, nine boards, five assists and four steals, then took over. The sensational sophomore slowly walked the ball up the court and milked the shot clock to six before sinking a long two to give UTEP a 67-64 edge with 27 seconds left.
After Jillian Samuels, the C-USA leader on three pointers, misfired on a contested three, Hughes picked up the loose change and raced ahead for an uncontested lay-up. SMU managed a wild shot at the buzzer, but it was of no consequence.
It was a back and forth ball game- there were 14 lead changes and eight ties, but close throughout as neither squad managed more than a six-point advantage. After a sluggish start on the boards, the Miners roared back to out-rebound SMU by one (45-44), and remain unbeaten on the year when doing so.
SMU enjoyed a three-point half-time lead, marking just the fifth occasion this season that the Orange and Blue trailed at the break. Samuels gave the Mustangs a six-point edge at the onset of the second half, but the Miners did not rattle.
Rather, they continued to battle and eventually tied the tilt at 38 after a short jumper by Hughes. UTEP then twice forged ahead by four, only to have SMU battle back. The Mustangs led by three (55-52) with four minutes left, but the Orange and Blue answered that deficit with a 7-0 spurt over the next three minutes.
The result was a four-point Miners lead with only 52 seconds left, but SMU rattled off four straight points to tie the contest at 59 with 19 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Hughes was stripped crossing the timeline, and SMU called time out to set up what it hoped would be the game-winning-play.
Piekarska and UTEP had other ideas, though, as the imposing 6-5 center stayed stride for stride with Dodds and sent the shot out of harms way to force overtime.
The Miners will be back in action at Tulsa at 12 p.m. MST on Saturday. The tilt will be carried live locally in El Paso on KHRO 1650 AM.
