UTEP Miners

Dec. 10, 2010

Complete Game Notes

THE OPENING ACT

UTEP To Open Road Slate At UC Santa Barbara
UTEP will take to the road for the first time of the 2010-11 campaign when it travels to face UC Santa Barbara at 8 p.m. MT on Saturday. The Miners (5-2) are coming off a 79-59 drubbing of Cal State Northridge on Dec. 3 while the Gauchos (2-5) played their most complete game of the season in dismantling the University of San Francisco, 71-38, on the road on Dec. 5.

How To Follow It
The game will be carried live locally in El Paso on KRHO 1150 AM. For those unable to tune in, live stats will also be an option through the Gametracker link on the UC Santa Barbara page.

All About The Road Opener
UTEP claimed its first two road openers and was 3-3 through the first six seasons of the program's history in such games. A brutal stretch ensued with 12 straight losses before the Miners picked up a victory in their first road contest of the 1992-93 season. Overall UTEP is 8-28 in the initial road tilt of the campaign, including 2-7 under head coach Keitha Adams.

We Meet Again
UTEP won the only match-up against UC Santa Barbara, 73-66, in a neutral-site contest as part of the Arizona Invitational back on Dec. 3, 1983.

Taking The Big West One Game At A Time
The game at UC Santa Barbara marks the second straight and third overall on the year against Big West Conference members. The Miners derailed Cal State Northridge, 79-59, on Dec. 3 while bouncing fellow league member UC Irvine, 72-57, in the season opener for both squads on Nov. 13.

Hoping For Another December To Remember
December has been the strongest month traditionally for Keitha Adams' teams, evidenced by a combined mark of 39-21 in the month. The Miners are 1-0 thus far in the month this year, with four more games on tap. UTEP has been especially good at home in the month under Adams, going 17-1 in El Paso since the start of the 2006-07 campaign. Other months UTEP has winning records during the Adams era are November (27-21) and January (37-33).

Looking Ahead
UTEP will be idle for five days before returning home to challenge in-state foe Texas State at the Don Haskins Center at 7 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 17. All fans are encouraged to wear orange for the game, which is headlined by the "Boy/ Girl Scout" promotion. All members of those organizations will receive free admission. Tickets for the tilt are on sale at the UTEP ticket center, and they may also be purchased on site prior to the start of the contest. The price for an adult admission, which includes the surcharge fee, is $7 while children (ages 12 or younger) tickets are $3.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

The 411 On UC Santa Barbara As An Institution
UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university located on cliffs directly above the Pacific Ocean, which was founded as an independent teachers' college in 1909. It joined the UC system in 1944. UCSB gained a form of national notoriety in the late 1960s and early 1970s when it became known for a hotbed of anti-Vietnam War activity. Now the university is famed for research, having spent $191.2 million on research expenditures in the 2007 fiscal year. It is one of the few schools in the nation to have its beach, not to mention a lagoon. Notable alumni include the oceanographer who discovered the Titanic wreckage, Robert Ballard, musician Jack Johnson, ESPN poker announcer Lon McEachern and ESPN sports commentator and radio host Jim Rome.

The 411 On UC Santa Barbara Basketball
UC Santa Barbara is a member of the Big West Conference, which it joined prior to the 1987-88 season. It has been a dominant force in the league with 13 conference crowns. It entered this year having posted 20 straight seasons with a mark of .500 or better in Big West Conference play. UCSB boasts an all time record of 625-470, including 2-5 this year, since the program started in 1972-73. The Gauchos boast 13 appearances in the NCAA tournament, which was aided by nine straight bids from 1996-97 through 2004-05. The most-recent berth came in the 2008-09 campaign. It has also gone to the WNIT twice. UCSB returned two starters and five letterwinners while adding three true freshmen and a pair of transfers from Cal from last year's team (15-17 overall, 9-7 Big West).

Get To Know The UC Santa Barbara Sideline Boss
UC Santa Barbara is under the direction of third-year head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, who is 39-32 in that time frame. She replaced the legendary Mark French, who compiled a staggering record of 438-200 while guiding UCSB to 14 postseason bids (12 NCAA/two WNIT) and 12 Big West Conference crowns. Last year she led UCSB to a mark of 15-17, including 7-1 down the stretch, to advance to the Big West Tournament semifinals. In her first year Gottlieb guided the squad to a 22-10 overall mark (15-1 in the Big West) and the Big West regular-season and tournament championships. She was voted as the league's coach of the year while notching the 22 wins, and became the first coach in Gaucho annals and one of only seven nationally achieve both feats. Gottlieb played collegiate basketball at Brown University before graduating from the school with a degree in political science in 1999. She started her coaching career as a student assistant for Brown before going on to serve as a full-time assistant coach at Syracuse (1999-2001), New Hampshire (2001-02), Richmond (2002-05) and Cal (2005-08).

The Rundown On The UC Santa Barbara `10-11 Season
UC Santa Barbara (2-5) was challenged out of the gates with four straight setbacks, including a 66-52 defeat at No. 15 UCLA on Nov. 14 and a 64-63 double-overtime loss vs. Northern Colorado on Nov. 28. Another close call was an OT loss vs. Portland State on Nov. 18. The Gauchos have bounced back by going 2-1 since. They turned in their best performance to date in by throttling the University of San Francisco, 71-38, on the road on Dec. 5. UCSB has been idle since that contest.

This And That On UC Santa Barbara's Offense
UC Santa Barbara has been very tough to be historically at home. It is 286-124 all time, including a stout 251-105 when playing at the Thunderdome. Aiding those figures was a dominant stretch from 1990-91 through 2005-06 when it went a combined 182-26.

This And That On UC Santa Barbara's Offense
Four players are contributing more than nine points per game on average, but no one else is at more than 6.0. UCSB is 2-2 on the year when tallying 60+ points but 0-3 when failing to do so. The Gauchos poured in a season-high 71 points in their victory at the University of San Francisco on Dec. 5.

This And That On UC Santa Barbara's Defense
Six of the seven UC Santa Barbara opponents on the year have been held to below 70 points, including the campaign-low 38 by University of San Francisco on Dec. 5. Mekia Valentine's 30 blocks are seven more than the Gaucho opposition has tallied as a team on the year.

GOING BACK IN TIME

UTEP Drills Cal State Northridge, 79-59
Buoyed by 11 three pointers and a solid effort on the boards (43-34), UTEP stomped Cal State Northridge, 79-59, inside historic Memorial Gym on Dec. 3. The Miners, who never trailed in the contest, closed out the first half on a 24-6 run to stake a 19-point lead (40-21) at the break. They continued to pour it on the second stanza, eventually extending their cushion out to as many as 33 (73-40). The Matadors, to their credit, played hard to the final whistle but never were able to get closer than 20.

Green Gets It Going
Junior guard Briana Green led the way by pouring in a season-high 20 points against Cal State Northridge. She was locked in from distance, drilling 5-of-9 three-point attempts.

Willingham Goes For Double-Double
Freshman point guard Kelli Willingham (12 points, 11 assists) notched her first career double-double against Cal State Northridge. The 11 assists rate as the third most in a single game by a UTEP freshman and tie as the fifth-highest sum regardless of class in program history. Furthermore, it marked the most assists with just one turnover in program history.

CRASH COURSE ON 10-11 MINERS

The Basic Facts On UTEP Basketball
The 2010-11 season marks the 37th all time for UTEP, which is 407-570 since the program was founded in 1974. The Miners have one postseason appearance and one conference championship to their credit, both of which came during the historic 2007-08 season. UTEP is under the direction of Keitha Adams, who is 144-131 in her 10th year at the school. She has guided UTEP to four winning seasons, which matches the total such campaigns at the school in the previous 25 years before her arrival. UTEP (5-2) returned seven letterwinners from last year's squad (16-16), including five individuals who started at last 15 games during the 2009-10 campaign. The Miners also added seven newcomers (four transfers & three true freshmen).

The Rundown On The UTEP `10-11 Season
UTEP posted a 5-2 mark in its season-opening seven-game homestand . All five victories for the Miners have been of the double-digit variety. UTEP's two setbacks have come by a combined eight points. It dropped a hard-fought 80-75 overtime decision to I-10 rival New Mexico State on Nov. 17 while pushing Arkansas to the brink before ultimately falling, 59-56, in the championship contest of the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 27.

This And That On UTEP's Offense
UTEP tallied 70+ points in each of the first five games for the first time in school history (prior standard 3; 1996-97) before being held to 56 points against Arkansas (11/27). The Miners got back on track with 79 points against Cal State Northridge (12/3). It has been a balanced attack with four players in double figures while two others are pitching in more than 7.0 ppg.

This And That On UTEP's Defense
The Miners have kept their past two foes and four of seven overall on the season to fewer than 60 points. Only one time has the opposition eclipsed 75 points, which came in an 80-75 setback against NM State (11/17).

What Can Brown Do For You
Junior-college transfer (No. 2 PF/No.3 overall recruit out of the JC ranks) Gloria Brown has burst onto the scene for UTEP. She leads the squad in blocks (11 total), field-goal percentage (64.0) and scoring (11.6) while checking in second for offensive rebounds (19) and rebounding average (6.1). She has done all of this in 17.0 minutes per game off the bench.

This And That Brown
Gloria Brown has reached double figures for scoring in a team-high-tying four games and is one of a quartet of Miners to have scored in every contest. She connected on better than 50.0 percent from the floor in the first six tilts of the season, including a season-high 83.3 (5-6) vs. Alcorn State (11/22). One issue for her has been fouls, with her 21 infractions leading the team. She has had three games with four fouls and two more with three fouls. Her best effort for that area was having one foul in the win against Cal State Northridge (12/3).

Caldwell's Corner
Two-year starter and 2009 C-USA Freshman of the Year Dietra Caldwell is off to a sensational start as a junior. One of just two players in program history to have registered a triple-double (2/7/10 vs. Tulsa), she leads the team in three-pointers made (14) and percentage (48.3). The native of Missouri City, Texas, checks in second on the squad in assists per game (3.6), scoring (11.1), third in field-goal percentage (46.9) and steals (nine total) while ranking fifth in rebounding (4.0). An area of concern has been a team-high 24 turnovers.

This And That On Caldwell
Sixty-one percent (14-23) of Dietra Caldwell's field goals on the year have been of the three-point variety. She is the lone Miner to have scored seven or more points in every game of the season, including a squad single-contest high 25 vs. Alcorn State (11/22). She has registered two tilts with at least six assists, equaling her effort of such games from the entire 2009-10 campaign.

Good To Be Green
Two-year starter and junior Briana Green is one of three players to have started all seven games of 2010-11. She leads the team and conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (+2.4) while placing second in steals (10 total). Additionally she is third in minutes per game (29.4) and in assists per game (3.3) and fifth in scoring (9.7).

This And That On Green
Traditionally a strong shooter (.399 career FG% entering this year), Briana Green has filled up 37.3 percent (25-67) from the floor in `10-11. Strangely enough, she has been better on three-point attempts (44.4, 12-27) than on two-point tries (32.5, 13-40). Green is one of two Miners to have tallied six or more points in every game of the year.

Anete's Area
2010 All C-USA Freshman squad member Anete Steinberga- who had to sit the first half of the season last year- started the first six games of the season before coming off the bench against Cal State Northridge (12/3). She has been a starter in 21 of her 24 career games with the Orange and Blue. The native of Latvia is fourth on the team in rebounding (4.7) and seventh in scoring (5.7) while being one of eight players to earn at least 10 minutes of action on average (17.1).

This And That On Anete
Anete Steinberga has made strides in taking care of the basketball as a sophomore, with 1.4 turnovers per game a vast improvement of her average (3.64) last year. Her field-goal percentage (46.4 to 35.9) rebounding (7.4 to 4.7) and scoring (9.6 to 5.7) have all dropped however, in part due to her play at the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic. She was a combined 0-8 from the floor and had just one point (free throw) and six rebounds in 21 minutes of action in the pair of contests at the fourth-annual UTEP Thanksgiving Classic.

Thornton Time
Four-year Irvin High School standout (1,953 career points & 884 rebounds) Kayla Thornton has been a key cog for her hometown Miners in 2010-11. She is tied for the team lead in double-doubles (two) while pacing it in free throws made (21) and attempted (32), offensive rebounds (27) and rebounds per game (8.1) while checking in third in scoring (10.1). She came off the bench the first four games but started the past three tilts.

This And That On Thornton
Kayla Thornton has reached double figures in scoring in a team-high-tying four tilts overall on the season. She has tallied six straight games with at least seven rebounds and is the lone Miner to have five or more boards in every contest of the campaign.

All About Sveta
Senior Sviatlana Trukshanina, the second-most accurate three-point shooter in program history (.434), is one of eight players on the squad to have earned at least 10 minutes of action on average (12.3). She is chipping in 4.3 ppg, 1.0 apg and 0.7 rpg, and her FG% of 50.0 rates second on the se. One of six Miners in school annals to have drilled at least 100 three pointers, the native of Latvia has gone 6-of-15 in that department thus far in 2010-11.

This And That On Sveta
Sviatlana Trukshanina started slow on the year with just 15 points through six games before notching a season-high 11 against Cal State Northridge (12/3). In those first six games she was 3-of-12 from distance but she was perfect (3-3) in that area against the Matadors.

Vitola's Value
Last year Kristine Vitola became the first freshman post to start a season opener at UTEP since 2006. She has started five times this year, including the first four contests of the year. Vitola has proven to be the top free-throw shooter on the team (83.3, 15-18) while using her 6-4 frame well to rate second tied for the squad lead in blocked shots (11 total) and third in rebounding (5.9 rpg). Vitola is also getting involved in offense with 7.1 ppg (6th team) while being one of eight Miners to have garnered double digits in playing time on average (19.5).

This And That On Vitola
Kristine Vitola's scoring output throughout the season-and her career for that matter- has had a correlation with her effort in rebounding. She has registered five games this season and 11 in her career with at least six rebounds. She is producing 8.1 points per game in those contests, including 8.8 in 2010-11. When falling short of that figure, those numbers drop to 4.9 and 1.5, respectively. Vitola's shooting percentage has come down this year (41.1 to 34.8), which is due to her being less accurate on two-point shorts (45.6 percent to 36.1)

Willingham's Will
Freshman point guard Kelli Willingham joined UTEP from powerhouse program DeSoto High School (No. 87 guard nationally), and she certainly has looked comfortable at this level. She leads the team in assists per game (4.4), minutes per game (32.4) and steals (11 total) while sharing the advantage for three-pointers made (14). Overall Willingham is pitching in 10.0 ppg (4th team) to go along with 2.4 rpg. She has done a good job in handling the ball, evidenced by a +1.6 assist-to-turnover ratio.

This And That On Willingham
Kelli Willingham is the lone Miner to have recorded an assist in every game of the season, including a career-high 11 (and also third most ever by a freshmen at UTEP) vs. Cal State Northridge (12/3). She is making 38.2 percent (21-55) of her shots, with that figure taking a hit as result of her struggling from inside the arc. Willingham has markedly better on three-point attempts (42.4, 14-33) than on two-point tries (31.8, 7-22).

Eglite Eager To Get It Going
After missing the 2008-09 season due to NCAA rules and the first 19 games last year as result of an injury, guard Baiba Eglite was certainly glad to get on the court for the final 11 contests of the 2009-10 regular season. She accounted for 3.6 points per game while securing 11 rebounds in that timeframe, and now will look to aid the squad as a junior in 2010-11. Eglite has played in two tilts thus far, snagging one rebound and tallying an assist in a combined five minutes of action.

The Key
El Paso native and former Eastwood High School standout Deanna Key played a combined eight minutes in four games as a freshman last year. Her best showing came in the win against Alcorn State (12/20/09), where she recorded two rebounds and a steal. She hit the court for first time in `10-11 in the rout vs. Cal State Northridge (12/3). She had one rebound in the game. Key continues to be an important individual at practice on a daily basis.

McGarrachan's The First
UTEP has never shied away from landing top international talent, and 5-11 freshman guard Erin McGarrachan certainly fits that billing. A Central Scotland Institute of Sport (CSIS) athlete, she was she was the leading scorer and rebounder in the junior national league. McGarrachan is the first native of Scotland to play for the Orange and Blue. She has appeared in two games on the campaign, and scored her first point while also grabbing a rebound in the romp vs. Cal State Northridge (12/3).

Ashley's Millions
Senior forward Ashley Milian chipped in six points and five rebounds in 32 minutes of action through her first five games played this year but showed signs of her ability in the win vs. Cal State Northridge (12/3). Milian set season highs for points (five) and rebounds (four) in a very effective 10 minutes of action. In 2009-10 the high-energy player contributed 7.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg over the first 16 games before a head injury forced her to miss three straight contests and limited her effectiveness down the stretch.

Smith's Show
Former Pasadena City College standout guard Kim Smith, a starter on the 2009 state championship squad, is in the first of her two years with the Miners. She is one of nine players on the squad to have played in every game on the campaign, earning 8.9 mpg on average. After a sluggish start, Smith has started to put things together. She has tallied 12 points over the last four tilts, including a career-high seven points in a personal-best 14 minutes on the court in the win vs. Alcorn State (11/22).

Warren's Way
Erika Warren, a product of Midland College, ventured to the Sun City heralded as the No. 3 SF in the JC ranks by Dan Olson's Collegiate Girls' Basketball. She is one of nine Miners to have played in all seven games on the year, earning 9.9 minutes per contest on average. Warren is sixth on the squad in steals (six total) to go along with 1.6 ppg and 2.1 rpg. Warren, who was 61-7 in two years at Midland College, has been especially steady on the defensive glass. Ten of her 15 total rebounds have been at that end of the court.

Wittebolle's Venue
Senior forward Tracy Wittebolle appeared in 16 games last year (16 points, 24 rebounds overall), including earning her first career start against Houston (1/10/10) where she grabbed a personal-best five rebounds. She showed off a good shooting touch in her first action of the season in 2010-11, knocking down a pair of jumpers vs. ENMU (Nov. 20). Overall she has played five minutes in three games, scoring four total points.

THIS AND THAT

Keep Up With Keitha On KROD
Every week throughout the year, head coach Keitha Adams will join AM-600 KROD sports talk show host Steve Kaplowitz to discuss all things women's basketball. The segment has been in the 6 p.m. hour on Wednesdays thus far this year. It can be listened to locally on AM 600 or on the web at www.krod.com.

Check Out The Miners On YouTube
From post-game interviews to different features, a great way to get to know more about UTEP women's basketball (and all the other Miner sports too) is to watch some videos on the athletic department's youtube channel. Subscribe now at youtube.com/UTEPAthletics.com.

Double-Your Pleasure
The Miners have registered five double-doubles on the year, thanks to Gloria Brown (UC Irvine, 11/13 & ENMU, 11/20) Kayla Thornton (Alcorn State, 11/22 & Idaho State, 11/26) and Kelli Willingham (Cal State Northridge, 12/3). Brown became the first Miner to achieve the feat in a season opener since Marta Dydek (16 points, 11 rebounds, vs. UT-Dallas, 11/20/04) and the seventh overall.

Getting After It On The Glass
The Miners have already posted two games (+26, UCI, 11/13 & +18, ENMU, 11/20) where they have out-rebounded the opposition by at least 18. The effort equals the combined sum of such contests by UTEP from the 2005-06 season through the 2009-10 campaign, a stretch of 153 games. Heading into the tilt vs. UC Santa Barbara, the Miners boast a +8.7 rebounding margin (44.1-35.4)

Talk About Domination On The Boards
The Miners out-rebounded UC Irvine by 26 (54-28) on Nov. 13. It is the largest positive rebounding margin against Division I opposition since the 1999-00 campaign (+27 vs. Prairie View A&M, 11/21/99) and ties as the third-biggest ever in program history.

Life At The Line
The Miners were aggressive in their play, earning 17 trips to the free-throw line against UC Irvine on Nov. 13. They connected on 16 of them, with the 94.1 percent checking in tied as the fifth-best readout in school history. Last time out, however, it went just 12-24 against Cal State Northridge, dropping its seasonal average to below 70 percent. Overall the Miners have connected on 69.5 percent (114-164) of their tosses at the charity stripe in 2010-11.

Hometown Heroes
Freshman forward Kayla Thornton and sophomore guard Deanna Key are carrying on the trend of local talent competing for the Orange and Blue under head coach Keitha Adams. The Miners have featured at least one player on the team from the El Paso area in every year of the Adams era.

Tough To Replace These Two
While the Miners returned several key players, two individuals they will be forced to replace due to graduation are Jareica Hughes & Timika Williams. During their career the Miners compiled a gaudy mark of 84-40. Williams is the lone player in program history to have amassed more than 1,000 career points, 700 rebounds and 100 steals, and she holds the school record for games played (120). Hughes, a two-time C-USA Player of the Year, owns nine career records at UTEP. They are in the form of assists (599), field-goals made (527), free-throws made (359) and attempted (492), minutes played (3,777), points (1,555), starts (114), steals (277) and wins (84).

No Pressure Kayla And Kelli
As stated in the previous note, UTEP entered the year having to replace Jareica Hughes & Timika Williams. While it is unfair to expect anyone to do that, freshmen point guard Kelli Willingham and forward Kayla Thornton are off to solid starts. In fact their numbers are eerily similar to the those of Hughes/Williams through seven contests of their freshmen season (2006-07). The breakdown is as follows.

Name         Ppg   Rpg   Apg   Tpg    Spg    Bpg   Mpg FG% 3PT% FT%
Willingham:   10.0   2.2     4.4     2.9     1.6     0.0     32.4    38.2    42.4    82.4
Hughes:        9.3     2.6     4.6     3.0     2.1     0.1     31.4    37.3    27.8    64.0

Name         Ppg   Rpg   Apg   Tpg    Spg    Bpg   Mpg FG% 3PT% FT%
Thornton:      10.1   8.1     1.4     1.0     1.3     0.4     21.6    42.4    0.0     65.6
Williams:       10.4   7.9     0.3     0.7     1.7     0.9     22.1    50.0    50.0    61.5

2009-10 Year In Review
UTEP posted its school-record fourth straight season with a mark of .500 or better by going 16-16 last year. The Miners were a stout 12-4 at home and picked up a trio of victories in neutral-setting. UTEP pitched in 63.4 points per game on 42.6 percent shooting (752-1,766), including 34.3 (199-581) from beyond-the-arc. The opposition was held to 62.5 ppg and 37.7 (683-1,814) from the floor, but hurt the Miners by out-rebounding them, 38.3-35.5, on average.

THREE-POINT LAND

We Love The Three Ball
UTEP, which set school standards for three-pointers made (201) and three-point field-goal percentage (.382) in 2008-09, impressed in that department last year. The Miners hit 199-581 (34.3) from beyond-the-arc to rate second in Conference USA and 66th nationally. After a slow start through four games (23-69; 33.3), UTEP has drilled 46.4 (26-56) the past three tilts. Overall on the year the Miners lead Conference USA with a 39.2 readout (49-125) on three-pointers. That figure was aided by going 11-19 against both Idaho State (11/26) and Cal State Northridge (12/3).

Threes A Plenty Since 2008
From the time the three-point shot was introduced in college basketball (1986-87) until the end of the 2007-08 season, UTEP tallied eight games with double figures in three-pointers made. The Miners have registered 10 such contests since, compiling a school-record five in 2008-09, three last year and two in 2010-11.

145 Straight Games With A Triple
UTEP enters the game at UC Santa Barbara having made at least one three-point shot in a program-record 145 straight games. The last time UTEP failed to fill up a triple in a contest was on Dec. 30, 2005. Overall, UTEP has nailed a three in all but four contests during the Keitha Adams era.

ALL ABOUT THE FINAL SCORE

Something Magical About That 70-Point Barrier
UTEP is 64-5 over its past 69 games, including 5-1 in 2010-11, in which it has eclipsed 70 points. Overall the Miners stand at 93-11 during the Keitha Adams era when achieving the feat.

Doesn't Take A Basketball Wiz To Figure This Out
UTEP sports a mark of 69-8 in the past 77 tilts, including 3-0 this year, which it is has eclipsed 40.5 percent from the floor.

Three-Point Success Add Up To Wins
UTEP stands at 41-5 in its past 46 games, including 2-0 this year, when making better than 40 percent from three-point land (min. five made).

Better Get Ready To Rebound
UTEP is 5-0 this year and 16-2 over the past 18 games when out-rebounding the opposition. Overall the Miners are 83-33 during the Keitha Adams era when doing so. Conversely, UTEP has lost 10 straight and 15 of 17-including both games in 2010-11- when failing to win the battle of the boards.

Caldwell Boarding Bodes Well For UTEP
The Miners are undefeated this year (2-0) and 9-2 during the career of Dietra Caldwell when she records six or more rebounds in a game.

Helping Hand Leads To Triumphs
UTEP is a robust 46-2 under Keitha Adams, including 3-0 in 2010-11, when registering at least 20 assists in a contests. Sharing hasn't always been so common, though. UTEP compiled 19 such games from 1984-85 until the last year before Adams' arrival (2000-01). The Miners were 13-6 in those contests.

As Does Forcing Turnovers
The Miners are 52-13, including 2-1 this year, when forcing the opposition into committing 20 or more turnovers since the start of the 2004-05 season.

Turning Up The Pressure
UTEP is 32-3 since 2006-07 and 51-12 under head coach Keitha Adams when forcing the opposition into committing more turnovers than field goals made in a game. The Miners are 2-0 in the situation in 2010-11.

Not To Mention Making Free Throws
UTEP is 36-7 over the past 43 contests when knocking down better than 70 percent at the free-throw line (minimum 10 FTM). They are, though, 2-2 in that situation this year.

Finding A Way To Win When Not Though
Dating to the start of the 2006-07 campaign, the Orange and Blue boast a head-scratching mark of 22-10, including 2-0 this year, in games in which they were below 61-percent from the free-throw line (minimum 10 attempts.

Go Figure
The Miners have won 15 of their past 22 regular-season contests in which they made more three pointers than free throws.

MILESTONE LANE

Caldwell Climbing Career Scoring Charts
Junior guard Dietra Caldwell tallied 17 points in the season-opening victory against UC Irvine (11/13), and as result became the 26th player in program history to have reached 600 career points. She hasn't rested on her laurels, though, and is now 25 points shy of becoming the 23rd player at the school to hit 700 career points. Additionally, she is on track to become the eighth member of the 1,000-point club at UTEP by the time she concludes her time in the Sun City. If she reaches the milestone figure, it would mark the fifth player to have done so under the direction of head coach Keitha Adams.

Green Surpasses 500 Career Points
Junior Briana Green tallied six points in the triumph against Idaho State (11/26), and as result became the 33rd player in program history to have tallied at least 500 career points. The native of Lexington boasts 535 career points heading into the game at Cal State Northridge.

Trukshanina Looks To Be Next
Senior Sviatlana Trukshanina (448) is on the way to becoming the third active Miner to have racked up at least 500 career points. Overall she would be the 34th such player in program history to do so.

Starting It Up
Junior guard Dietra Caldwell has started seven times this season, lifting her career total to 58. That places her alone in 10th place at UTEP for most career starts. Caldwell could climb as high as sixth on the last by the end of the regular season if she continues to earn a spot in the top five. Former Miner great Jareica Hughes holds the school standard in the category at 114.

Playing Time A Plenty
Junior guard Dietra Caldwell earned 25 minutes of action against Cal State Northridge (12/3), and as result became the 15th Miner in program history to have garnered at least 2,000 career minutes of playing time. Meanwhile, senior guard Sviatlana Trukshanina (88 career games played) is two tilts shy of being the 21st player in school annals with at least 90 career games played. Former standout Jareica Hughes (2006-10) holds the school standard for career minutes played (3,777) while current program coordinator and former star Timika Williams (2006-10) (120) owns the UTEP mark for career contests played.

All About The Triple
There have been six players in program history to make at least 100 three-pointers, and two of them are current Miners. Junior guard Dietra Caldwell (134) is fourth all time at the school for made triples while senior guard Sviatlana Trukshanina (105) checks in sixth. Former standout Amy Billhymer (1993-97) holds the school standard at 208, followed by Jareica Hughes (2006-10) at 142 and Kasia Krezel (2004-08) with 138. Terri Powell (1987-89) is fifth all time with 109, although Trukshanina is quickly closing.

Block Party
Sophomore forward Kristine Vitola has blocked 11 shots on the year, elevating her career total to 36. She already rates 12th for career blocks at UTEP. Furthermore she is one of 18 players overall at the school to have posted at least 30 swats. The native of Latvia needs three more rejections to crack the Miners' top 10. The school standard is certainly safe, though, with former UTEP great Kim Watts (1978-82) holding the record with 264 career blocks. Former Miner greats Izabela Piekarska (2004-08, 252) and Marta Dydek (2003-05, 100) are the only other individuals to have posted triple digits in blocks.

Doesn't Winning Matter The Most
Senior guard Sviatlana Trukshanina is a winner in every sense of the word. The Miners have rolled to a mark of 67-34 since her arrival on campus in 2007-08. The effort places her fifth all time at the school for most career wins that an individual has been a part of. Former Miner greats Jareica Hughes & Timika Williams (2006-10) share the standard at 84 while fellow past standouts Kasia Krezel & Izabela Piekarska (2005-08) are tied for third place at 76.

Brown's Big Debut
Gloria Brown poured in 22 points against UC Irvine on Nov. 13. The effort ranked tied as the third-most points for a Miner in her debut, trailing only Anete Steinberga (24 points vs. Houston, 1/10/10 & Holly Russ (24 points vs. NM State, 11/28/90). She also became the first UTEP player since Kiana Taylor (15 points, 12 rebounds vs. Bellhaven, 11/27/93) and the third overall to register a double-double in their initial game.

TURNOVER TOWN

General Overview Of Turnovers
UTEP set a school standard for fewest turnovers in a season (390) during the 2008-09 season and rated third in the nation with just 13.0 giveaways per contest. It was a different story in that department in 2009-10, with 535 turnovers (16.7 tpg). The Miners struggled to the tune of 94 turnovers (18.8 tpg) through the first five games. The past two tilts, though, UTEP has been much better with 30 giveaways (15.0). Overall UTEP has made 124 TOs (17.7 tpg) thus far in 2010-11.

Miners Making It Tough On Opposition
The Miners have forced the opposition into committing double figures in turnovers in 127 straight games and in all but three of the contests during the Keitha Adams era. UTEP's top showing in that area this year has been harassing Cal State Northridge (12/3) into 23 giveaways.

HOME SWEET HOME

Loving Life In El Paso
UTEP opened the year with seven straight contests in El Paso, which equaled the longest homestand to christen a campaign in program history. (2008-09). The Miners stand a stout 60-13 in El Paso since the start of the 2006-07 season, including a mark of 5-2 this year. UTEP entered 2010-11 having strung together a school-record four straight seasons with 12 or more home games. The Miners reached double figures for home triumphs a combined four times in the 27 years prior to Keitha Adams' tenure, with the high water mark (12-1) coming in 1988-89.

Home Games A Plenty In 2010-11
UTEP, 5-2 in El Paso thus far this year, is slated to play 17 regular-season home games during the 2010-11 season. That figure ranks tied as the second-most home games in program history. The Miners were 16-2 at home in 2006-07 while forging a mark of 12-5 in 2008-09.

Don't Take Things For Granted
Under head coach Keitha Adams, UTEP has posted a program-best seven straight years with at least nine home victories and boasts an overall record of 94-44 in El Paso. The effort eclipses the total such campaigns (six) in the 27 years prior to Adams' reign. The Miners' mark at home under Adams is especially impressive when you consider the squad was 1-12 during her first year at the school.

TRAVEL TIME

Life On The Road
The game at UC Santa Barbara marks the first of 11 road contests in 2010-11 for the Miners. UTEP is 35-75 in hostile territory during the Keitha Adams era, including 22-24 since the start of 2006-07.

Last Year Hurt Those Figures
The Miners were saddled with a mark of 1-10 on the road last year, and as result, had a pair of streaks halted. UTEP had entered the year with a school-record three straight seasons with a road winning percentage of .500 or better. The other streak which ended was a program-best six consecutive campaigns with at least three road triumphs.

Keeping It All In Perspective
Before Keitha Adams' arrival in the Sun City, UTEP never finished with a winning road record and only had two years (2-2; 1974-75 & 7-7; 1992-93) where it managed to have a winning percentage of .500. The Miners were a combined 68-241 in hostile territory the 27 years before Adams' tenure. They were held at two triumphs or fewer in 14 of those campaigns.

Have Had Some Big Wins In Years Past
UTEP boasts 15 double-digit victories on the road under head coach Keitha Adams. The Miners compiled 32 such victories the prior 27 years to her arrival in the Sun City, and almost half of them (13 of the 27) were at the hands of non-division I opposition.

Tough To Win On Road When Shots Don't Fall
The Miners have lost 40 straight road games when falling shy of 33.0 percent from the field. The last time UTEP picked up a win under those circumstances was on a 74-51 defeat of New Mexico State on Nov. 26, 1996. The Miners made 29 free throws in that game-the most ever in a road tilt in program history- to overcome the overall poor shooting.

THIS IS UTEP BASKETBALL

Golden Age Of Women's Hoops
It is the golden age of women's basketball at UTEP. The Miners entered the year on the strength of four straight seasons with a winning percentage of .500 or better for the first time in school history. During her tenure head coach Keitha Adams has directed the team to four winning campaigns overall, including a school-record three straight such seasons from 2006-07 to 2008-09. From the 1978-79 seasons to the 2002-03 season (26-year stretch), UTEP mustered four such years.

More Than 100 Wins Since Joining C-USA
UTEP, which joined Conference USA prior to the start of the 2005-06 season, is tied for the second-most wins (103) of any team in the league in the time frame. The Orange and Blue stand at a stout 89-42 since the start of the 2006-07 campaign, which works out to a winning percentage of 67.9. That trails only the effort by Tulane (68.4)

Unprecedented Success Under Adams
Behind Keitha Adams the UTEP women's basketball team has soared to heights that even the most ardent of Miner fans could possibly imagine. Before Adams patrolled the sidelines, the Miners had never won more than 20 games in a campaign, let alone compete in a postseason tournament (no WNIT or NCAA appearances pre Adams).

More Along Those Lines

• UTEP is tied for the second-most wins (103) since joining C-USA
• It is 89-42 since 2006-07, including 60-13 at home.
• UTEP has earned 48 honors and set 70 individual/team school records since the start of the 2006-07 season.
• Only 20+ win seasons (22-8, 2006-07 & 28-4 2007-08) and postseason appearance (2008 NCAA Tourney) at school have been in stretch
• UTEP went 28-4 in 2007-08, including historic 16-0 in C-USA play
• Effort tied the 1966 men's national champions for most wins by a basketball team in school history
• Advanced to second round of `08 NCAA Tournament after drilling Western Kentucky, 92-60
• Nationally ranked in polls final six weeks of `07-08 and received votes at start of `08-09
• One of eight schools in country with multiple players chosen in `08 WNBA Draft
• All players who have exhausted eligibility under head coach Keitha Adams have graduated

CLIFF's NOTES On The Year That Has Been

UTEP Edged By Arkansas In Tournament Title Tilt
UTEP gave Southeastern Conference foe Arkansas everything it wanted before ultimately falling, 59-56, in the championship contest of the fourth-annual UTEP Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 27. It was a defensive-minded game, which featured seven ties and 13 lead changes. The Miners led by as many as seven (twice in the first half), and were up by two (53-51) with 5:50 to play. The Razorbacks surged ahead on a 5-0 run but Kristine Vitola sank three free throws over the next couple of possessions to tie the game at 56 with 1:36 left. UA regained the advantage, for good as it would turn out, after a C'eira Ricketts made a free throw. She knocked down two more in the waning seconds to put the unbeaten visiting squad up, 59-56, with 11 seconds to play. Junior Briana Green's three-pointer as time expired came up short, though.

Willingham Secures A Pair Of Honors
Freshman guard Kelli Willingham picked up two honors for her play at the fourth-annual UTEP Thanksgiving Classic. She was tabbed to the all-tournament team in addition to being voted as the Conference USA Freshman of the Week on Nov. 29. Willingham averaged team highs in minutes (37.0) and points (15.0) to help the Miners secure runner-up honors at the event. She poured in a career-high 23 points, making 5-of-6 three pointers and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line in the win vs. Idaho State (11/16). She then tallied seven points and recorded a pair of assists in the championship contest vs. Arkansas on Nov. 27.

UTEP Shoots Past Idaho State, 77-66
Behind a barrage of three pointers (11-of-19) and a solid showing defensively UTEP downed Idaho State, 77-66, in its first game of the Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 26. The Miners never trailed in the game, and were up by 11 (36-25) at the break. UTEP led by as many as 19 twice, including 64-45 at 5:45 to play in the second half. ISU used a 14-4 run to slice the deficit down to seven (67-60 at 2:45) but it could get no closer than that down the stretch.

Freshmen Power
Freshman Kelli Willingham poured in career-high 23 points while fellow classmate Kayla Thornton recorded her second straight double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) to lead the way for the Miners in the win against Idaho State (11/26).

Who Needs The Two-Point Shot Anyway
UTEP downed Idaho State (11/26) despite its ability to connect on shots inside the arc. The Miners made just 28.6 percent (10-35) of their two point shots but fortunately for them thy were locked in to the tune of 57.9 percent (11-19) on triples.

UTEP Races Past Alcorn State, 85-72
Fueled by Kayla Thornton's first career double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds), an excellent all-around game by junior Dietra Caldwell (25 points, 6 rebounds & 6 assists) and a quality second half, UTEP dispatched a feisty Alcorn State squad, 85-72, at home on Nov. 22. The Miners trailed by one (40-39) with 19:01 to play in the second half but changed that quickly with a game-deciding 16-6 surge over the next six minutes. The Lady Braves were unable to get any closer than seven from that point, and UTEP enjoyed a double-digit advantage over the final eight minutes of the game.

That's The Way To Share It, Shoot It & Score It
UTEP was locked in offensively in the victory against Alcorn State. The Miners dished out a season-high-tying 20 assists on the way to setting campaign-bests for field-goal percentage (55.6) and points (85). Dietra Caldwell (25) Kayla Thornton (17), Gloria Brown (13) and Anete Steinberga (10) all turned in double-digit scoring performances.

UTEP Eases Past Eastern New Mexico
UTEP raced out to an early 7-0 lead and never looked back en route to posting a wire-to-wire 79-48 win against Eastern New Mexico at home on Nov. 20. The Miners were up by 15 at the half (37-22) and put things on cruise control in the second stanza. The Zias got no closer than 21 over the final 11 minutes of the contest.

Key Players From The ENMU Contest
Junior forward Gloria Brown led the way with a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds), while Anete Steinberga (12 points) and Kelli Willingham (11 points) reached double figures for scoring as well. Freshman Kayla Thornton contributed nine points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes of action off the bench, with Kristine Vitola (eight points, six caroms) and Dietra Caldwell (eight points, five assists and four rebounds) also impressing.

UTEP Drops OT Heartbreaker To NM State
In a game in which featured nine ties and 15 lead changes, UTEP was edged out by New Mexico State, 80-75, in overtime in the SONIC® America's Drive-In® battle of I-10 at home on Nov. 17. The Miners led 67-58 with 2:23 to play in regulation but the Aggies forced OT on the strength of a 12-3 run to close out the period. The two teams traded blows in the extra session before NM State pulled ahead (76-75), and it managed to hold on down the stretch.

Miners Who Stood Out
Gloria Brown paced the Miners with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Kelli Willingham (12 points, three assists), Briana Green (11 points, two assists) and Kayla Thornton (10 points, seven boards) also got in on the act.

UTEP Powers Past UC Irvine
A dominating effort on the boards (54-28), timely runs and stifling defense added up to a 72-57 home win for UTEP against UC Irvine on Nov. 13. The Miners used a 19-3 run late in the first half to help build a 13-point halftime lead (47-34), and the Anteaters could get no closer than 12 from that point on.

Brown Deliveries The Goods
Junior-college transfer Gloria Brown came off the bench to lead the way for the Miners with a double-double (22 points, 10 rebounds) in only 17 minutes of action vs. UCI. The She connected on 10-of-15 shots from the floor, in addition to knocking down both of her tosses at the charity stripe.

More Miner Standouts From UCI Game
Dietra Caldwell joined Gloria Brown in double digits (17 pts.), while also securing eight boards. Sophomore Kristine Vitola pitched in eight points and a career-high nine rebounds while fellow classmate Anete Steinberga finished with six points and seven caroms. Freshman Kelli Willingham was effective in running the offense, dishing out a game-high seven assists.

Garners C-USA Honors
Thanks to her big showing against UC Irvine, junior forward Gloria Brown was tabbed as the Conference USA Co-Player of the Week on Nov. 15.

Talking Openers
UTEP is now 18-19 all time in season openers, including a mark of 15-6 when doing so in El Paso. The Miners moved to 5-5 in campaign lidlifters under head coach Keitha Adams, and they stand at 5-2 under her direction when starting the year in the Sun City. In terms of home openers, UTEP is 24-13, including 7-3 under Adams' direction.

UTEP Downs St. Mary's
Powered by a solid showing defensively and a balanced approach on offense, UTEP romped St. Mary's, 67-37, in an exhibition contest at home on Nov. 7. The Miners led by 10 (26-16) at the break before running over the Rattlers (41-21) in the second stanza. Five different players scored at least seven points for the Orange and Blue, with Gloria Brown, Briana Green and Kayla Thornton leading the way with 10 points each. Freshman guard Kelli Willingham (nine points), junior forward Erika Warren (eight points) and sophomore post Anete Steinberga (seven points) also got in on the action.