Oct. 15, 2008
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -
The UTEP women's basketball team has been predicted to finish third in the upcoming 2008-09 season, as voted upon by the league's 12 coaches it was announced Wednesday. The announcement is the latest sign of just how far the Miners have come under the direction of head coach Keitha Adams and her staff. Just two years ago, UTEP was tabbed for a 10th-place outcome in this very same poll.
Further proof of that is the forecast from the coaches that Jareica Hughes will repeat as the league's player of the year. Prior to her arrival in the Sun City in 2006, which coincided as the start of this amazing run (50-12 record), the Miners never had a player who was closely considered for that honor. Hughes changed all of that last season, becoming just the first Miner and second sophomore in C-USA history to be so distinguished.
"We're thrilled to get the new season started," Adams said. "We've had a taste of success last year and want to continue. First and foremost us playing team basketball and being unselfish is a primary goal. Our conference will be tough from top to bottom, and we'll need to be ready to compete and play hard every night out."
Adams and her staff, with the help of players like Hughes, not to mention WNBA draftees Natasha Lacy and Izabela Piekarska (UTEP was one of just eight teams in the country with multiple players chosen in the 2008 draft), have elevated the program to heights even the most ardent of UTEP fan could imagine.
After inheriting a team which won just six games, Adams has developed the Orange and Blue into a regionally and nationally-known program.
The Miners have secured back-to-back 20-win seasons, garnered national rankings from both major polls, emerged victorious in an NCAA tournament tilt and appeared on seven nationally-televised games. The Miners are only of only 29 teams nationally, and one of a mere 12 non-BCS squads, to boast 50 or more victories since the past two seasons.
The Orange and Blue were especially impressive last year, with advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament (first ever appearance in postseason event), claiming the program's initial and just the second league title ever by a women's squad at UTEP, snaring a spot in the final edition of both top-25 points and finishing an unprecedented 16-0 in Conference USA play among the accomplishments.
Looking at the 2008-09 campaign, the Orange and Blue are blessed with a young, but talented squad. Hughes highlights the six returning letterwinners, and for good reason. She has compiled some gaudy numbers in just two years.
Hughes is the only player in program history to have compiled more than 800 points, 300 assists and 100 steals, and is rapidly climbing career charts at UTEP. She ranks third in steals (166), fourth in assists (308), seventh in three-pointers made (73) and 13th in points (816). It is possible that she could break school standard in all of those categories with the exception of triples made this year.
Bolstering the starting line-up is forward Timika Williams, a high school teammate of Hughes. She has led UTEP in rebounding on consecutive campaigns while also contributing 9.0 ppg. The 6-1 standout is on pace to become all-time leading rebounder in program history, in addition to ranking among the top three in points.
Also back is high-energy player Brittnay Jones, in addition sharp shooter Sviatlana Trukshanina and Alyssa Faubion. Tough-nosed post player Ilda Chambe is set to compete after redshirting.
The Miners will also receive a boost from a seven- player recruiting class, which is highlighted by three high school standouts ranked among the top 350 players in the country (No. 231, 282 and 338). Also included in the class is a member of the Latvian Junior National Team.
Junior-college All-American Marta Micula (pronounced meet-soo-ahh) is one the newcomers to keep an eye on, as she has showed off a strong work ethic in individual workouts this fall.
UTEP will hold its first official practice of 2008 at 6:30 p.m. on Friday before taking part in Miner Madness on Saturday. The event which is open to the public, is slated for a 1 p.m. start at the Don Haskins Center.
