Dec. 5, 2009
Final Stats
Gamebook in PDF format 
MANHATTAN, KAN.- Stifling defense, timely runs and an improved effort in the rebounding department all added up to the UTEP women’s basketball posting a convincing 54-40 victory against Grambling State en route to earning third place in the 15th-annual Commerce Bank Classic Saturday afternoon.
The Miners (6-3) used three big runs in opening period (11-0, 6-0 & 9-0) while forcing the Lady Tigers (3-4) into missing 25 of their first 27 shots. The end result was a 13-point lead at the half (32-19), and the Orange and Blue were never seriously threatened after the break.
UTEP pushed its advantage out to as many as 24 (47-23) midway through the second half before cruising down the stretch to the 14-point win.
"We had a great effort in the first half,” UTEP had coach Keitha Adams said. “The effort and intensity was much improved. Our guards really set the tempo for us.”
The Miners’ defense gave GSU fits all contest, as it connected on just 24.6 of its tries from the floor (14-of-57). UTEP also forced 17 turnovers, which were converted into 24 points. For most of the game GSU boasted more free throws made than field-goals made, and it was only as result of a flurry late in the game which prevented that from coming to fruition. GSU went 11-of-15 at the line.
UTEP’s offensive efforts were powered by continuously attacking the rim. The Miners outscored GSU by a count of 34-20 in the paint. The effort allowed UTEP to overcome an uncharacteristic 6-of-24 shooting from three-point land.
Another factor in the tilt was UTEP controlling the boards to the tune of 56-40. The Miners enjoyed an 11-point edge on second-chance opportunities (24-13), and also got the running game going as evidenced by 20 fast-break points.
Jareica Hughes (12 points, eight boards, six assists), Dietra Caldwell (12 points, three boards, three helpers) and Ashley Milian (10 points, seven rebounds) led the way for UTEP’s offense. Svilatlana Trukshanina emerged from a bit of a shooting slump by chipping in eight points off the bench, while Timika Williams grabbed nine hard-fought rebounds.
“We still are a work in progress and have some improvement to make but we found some rhythm today,” Adams said. “It will be good for us to get some time off and get back in the gym this next week.”
The two teams traded early runs, and GSU led 5-4 after a triple from Kristen Harper. The Miners struck back with 11 straight points to take a lead they would not relinquish. Milian, who earned her first career start, tallied six of her eventual 10 points in the contest during the sequence. Caldwell, who also reached double digits with 12 points, accounted for the other five.
GSU halted the stretch with four straight points-all of which came at the charity stripe, but UTEP regrouped to cap what ultimately turned out to be a 17-4 surge in a span of eight minutes.
After the Lady Tigers sliced the advantage to 21-12 with 8:17 left in the period, the Miners countered with a 9-0 run to effectively break GSU’s spirit.
The Lady Tigers whittled the 30-12 deficit to 13 (32-19) heading into the locker room. UTEP accounted for the first seven points of the second half, with a rousing impromptu pep talk from Adams at the onset of the period certainly factoring in.
Both teams continued to play hard as the clock wound down, but UTEP never gave GSU any chance to rally.
The Miners will be off for eight days due to final exams on campus before squaring off against Texas Southern at the Don Haskins Center at 2:05 p.m. on Dec. 13.
