Feb. 20, 2011
Final Stats
Complete Release in PDF Format 
HOUSTON, TEXAS- UTEP drilled eight three pointers and Dietra Caldwell and Kim Smith both reached double digits in scoring but it wasn't enough in a 77-61 setback at Houston Sunday afternoon.
In a game in which defense was dominant, with both teams finishing below 40 percent from the floor, the little things proved to be big. The Cougars (22-4, 13-0 C-USA) out-rebounded the Miners (13-12, 5-8 C-USA) by a count of 48-40 while also using their aggressive style of play to get to the free-throw line early and often.
UH connected on 23-of-30 at the charity stripe, including 13-of-18 in the first half, which proved to be vital in it leading by seven (39-32) at the break. The Miners, who did not attempt a free throw for the first 30-plus minutes of the game, hit 9-of-12 at the line during the final 9:25 of the contest.
"Houston is a really good team," UTEP head coach Keitha Adams said. "It made some big shots, and we didn't shoot the ball well enough. Houston attacked and got to the free-throw line. Rebounding and free throws were big today."
Caldwell paced UTEP with 14 points while Smith pitched in 12. Freshman Kelli Willingham tallied nine points-all via the triple- while Ashley Milian flirted with a double-double by registering eight points and 12 rebounds. The Miners hit 33.3 percent (22-of-66) of their field goals, including 8-of-21 (38.1 percent) from beyond the arc.
It was a balanced attack for the Cougars, with four different players reaching double digits. Brittany Scott led the way with 23 points while Courtney Taylor provided 21 points and 11 boards. Porsche Landry (10 points) and Jasmine Johnson (11 points) also got in on the act.
While the Cougars finished with 77 points, multiple looks defensively by Adams'; charges kept them from having a fluid attack throughout the tilt. UH finished at 38.1 percent (24-of-63), including 37.5 percent (6-of-16) on treys, while also committing 20 turnovers, but it compensated for figures due to the better showing in rebounding and ability to earn free throws.
UTEP outscored UH, 22-20, in points in the paint, while the Cougars held a slim edge (16-13) in second-chance scoring.
Houston started quickly with 10 straight points over the first two-and-a half minutes. UTEP settled down and struck back with a 14-1 run, with 12 of those points coming on triples. The two teams traded blows over the next couple of minutes, and the Miners held a one-point edge (20-19) with 8:43 to play in the opening period.
The Cougars countered with a 7-0 run in the blink of an eye en route to staking a lead they would never relinquish. The Miners scored the next four points to clip the deficit to a pair (26-24) but UH closed out the half on a 13-8 push to stake a seven-point advantage (39-32) entering the locker room.
It was back-and-forth early on in the second stanza, with the Orange and Blue clawing back to within five (43-38) at 17:33. UH ran off nine straight points to regain the momentum, and it was up 52-48 with 13:20 remaining in regulation.
UTEP continued to play hard, slicing the home side's lead to nine (55-46) with 10:40 to go. UH had an answer, though, with a 15-5 run over the next several minutes effectively putting the game out of reach.
The Miners will be back in action when they square off against Southern Miss at 7:05 p.m. MST Thursday. It will be the annual "National Girls & Women In Sports Day," with all fans getting in free.
