UTEP Miners

Game Notes In PDF Format

UTEP TO FACE FORMER C-USA RIVAL EAST CAROLINA IN MYRTLE BEACH
UTEP (5-3) will challenge former Conference USA member East Carolina (6-4) in a neutral-site contest as part of the Carolinas Challenge in Myrtle Beach, S.C. at 11:30 a.m. MST/1:30 p.m. EST Sunday. The Miners are looking to snap a two-game skid, with both setbacks coming on the road, while the Pirates are in search of their sixth straight victory. It is the first meeting between the programs since East Carolina left Conference USA for the American Athletic Conference. The game will be broadcast locally in El Paso on 600 ESPN El Paso. Fans may also receive timely updates by following the Miners on Twitter @UTEPWBB.
 
LONG STRETCH BETWEEN HOME GAMES
After a season-opening six-game homestand (5-1), the Miners have embarked on a period of more than five-and-a half weeks without playing a home game (Dec. 2-Jan. 11). UTEP is in the midst (0-2 thus far) of playing nine games (six road, three neutral) in between. The first seven tilts of it will be non conference but the final two will also serve as the start of Conference USA play. It is the longest such stretch since the 1987-88 season (Nov. 29-Jan. 4), during which the Orange and Blue had 12 contests between home tilts.
 
GAME FORMAT
For the third straight season, NCAA women's basketball games will be played in four 10-minute quarters. Teams reach the bonus and shoot two free throws on the fifth team foul in each quarter. In the four-quarter format, team fouls reset to zero at the start of each quarter. Teams have four timeouts (three 30s, one 60), three which carry over to the second half. They will be able to advance the ball to the frontcourt after a timeout with less than 59.9 seconds in 4Q. There are seven media timeouts (four under five minutes in quarter/first called), two intermission media timeouts (after first and third quarters) and the first team-called timeout during the second half. Bands or amplified music may play during any dead ball.
 
CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA          
Fans are encouraged to connect with the Miners on Facebook (UTEP Women's Basketball), Instagram (@utepwbb) and Twitter (@UTEPWBB). They are also encouraged to use #WeAreMiners in posts.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES (UTEP LEADS, 5-4 OVERALL; FIRST NEUTRAL-SITE MEETING)
UTEP is 5-4 all time against East Carolina, which is aided by winning the past four meetings against the Pirates. The two squads  met annually as members in Conference USA from 2006-2014 before ECU left for the American Athletic Conference. The Miners stand 4-1 against ECU in El Paso and 1-3 when playing in Greenville. Sunday's match-up will be the first neutral-site meeting between the programs.
 
GETTING TO KNOW EAST CAROLINA
East Carolina won its season opener before falling in four straight contests to dip to 1-4 on the campaign. The Pirates have recovered nicely by peeling off five straight victories, including dropping North Carolina Central, 73-61, last time out on Dec. 14. ECU also owns a victory against C-USA member Charlotte; it downed them, 58-55, at home on Nov. 30. The Pirates are led by Thais Oliveira, who paces the team in scoring (11.6 ppg), rebounding (8.1 rpg) and blocked shots (2.0 bpg). Ariyana Williams (9.8 ppg) and Dominique Claytor (8.4 ppg) have also been consistent scoring threats. The Pirates enter Sunday's match-up with a shooting percentage of 37.5 (239-637), in part because of their readout of 24.7 percent (46-186) from home-run range. They have top-100 NCAA team rankings in steals per game (12.2-14th), turnovers forced per game (23.1-16th), rebounds per game (43.3-55th) and turnover margin (+2.9-91st). Individually Oliveira is 50th in blocked shots per game (2.0) while Claytor is 82nd in steals per game (2.3). Committing turnovers (20.2-317th) has been a concern, in addition to 3-point field-goal percentage (24.7-322nd) and free-throw percentage (58.0-334th). ECU was picked to finish 12th in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll following a 11-19 overall record last season in which it finished last in the then 11-team league with a 2-14 record. Notable alumni include Sandra Bullock (actress), James Maynard (founder of Golden Corral restaurant chain) & Vince McMahon (WWE Chairman).
 
LAST MEETING WITH EAST CAROLINA: (at UTEP 81, East Carolina 74, Feb. 22, 2014)
UTEP forced 32 turnovers while a quartet of players hit double figures in scoring in a 81-74 conquest of East Carolina in front of a season-high and the seventh-largest crowd (5,568) at the Don Haskins Center on Feb. 22, 2014. Kayla Thornton (23 points), Jenzel Nash (22 points), Kelli Willingham (16 points) and Sparkle Taylor (10 points) led the charge for the Miners, who pulled into a tie for second place in the Conference USA standings. Willingham's efforts allowed her to become the 10th member of the 1,000-point club at UTEP. It was a physical back-and-forth contest that featured a combined 49 fouls, in addition to 11 ties and seven lead changes, with the teams trading runs throughout. The Pirates led 60-55 with 6:17 to play before Willingham and Thornton powered the home side to seven straight points. The Pirates pulled even at 62, and once again for 64, but the Orange and Blue would not be denied. Kristine Vitola finished a lay-up from Chrishauna Parker to spark a 6-0 run, and ECU never got closer than four down the stretch. UTEP connected on 40.4 percent from the floor, including a sizzling 54.5 percent in the second half. While the Miners were manhandled on the boards, 47-30, they compensated for that fact with a 17-11 advantage on second-chance points and 34-19 cushion in points on turnovers. Another factor was the Miners' success at the charity stripe. UTEP drilled 30-of-36 attempts from the free-throw line, with the 30 makes tying as the seventh-highest total in program history. Thornton keyed the charge in the area with a 13-of-14 effort while Willingham was 7-of-9 and Taylor was 6-of-6. The Pirates, who have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, did have success on the glass but were doomed by the turnovers. ECU was also hurt by fouls, with two of the 28 infractions coming on technical.
 
GOING BACK IN TIME (at NM State 76, UTEP 68, 12/10/17)
Katarina Zec poured in a career-high 22 points while matching the program record for 3-pointers with seven but homestanding NM State downed UTEP, 76-68, inside the Pan-American Center on Dec. 10. The Miners led by one (34-33) at the half before the Aggies used a huge third quarter (25-13) to surge into the lead. The margin swelled to as many as 15 (67-52) before UTEP eventually struck back with a 7-0 run to cut it to seven (69-62) but it was too little too late. Both squads shot well from the floor (UTEP 44.8 percent, NM State 45.3 percent) while also nailing 12 three pointers each, but NM State converted 21 UTEP turnovers into 23 points to create some separation. Conversely NM State's 11 giveaways led to seven UTEP points. The Miners tried to make up for it by winning the boards (40-31) for the eighth time in as many games, which resulted in a 12-4 cushion in second chance points, but it wasn't enough. Tamara Seda joined Zec in double figures with 12 points while junior Jordan Alexander flirted with a double-double (eight points, career-high 11 rebounds). Najala Howell and Roeshonda Patterson each finished with nine in the game.
 
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
UTEP enters the match-up vs. East Carolina at 5-3 on the year, which puts it more than halfway toward matching last year's overall win total (8-23). In fact the Miners have already surpassed the non-conference victory total (3-10) in 2016-17. The Orange and Blue peeled off four straight wins to christen the campaign, which doubled its longest win streak (two) of a year ago.
 
QUICK RUNDOWN ON THE SEASON
UTEP bolted to a 4-0 start to the year for the ninth time in program history and stood at 5-1 following its season-opening six-game homestand. The Miners are 0-2 since, with both setbacks coming on the road. 
 
DIFFERENT TEAM BETWEEN HOME AND ROAD
For a multitude of reasons, there can be a contrast for how a team plays at home compared to on the road/neutral sites. Below is a breakdown for UTEP and the opposition in home games (5-1) and road tilts (0-2).
 
At Home; 5-1 (Average Stats)
Team         Pts         FG%        3fg%         FT%       RB          TO
UTEP        61.5       42.9          37.5           71.1         43.2        20.2
Opp.          57.0       34.8          27.8           60.8         29.2        11.5                                                
 
On the Road; 0-2 (Average Stats)
Team         Pts         FG%        3fg%         FT%       RB          TO
UTEP        70.5       43.8          38.5           69.0         41.5        20.0
Opp.          76.0       47.2          37.7           61.5         29.0        13.0
 
SENSATIONAL START TO BAKER ERA
Kevin Baker joined former coach Carol Ammermann (1974-75) as the only two first-year Miner head coaches to begin their tenure at the school with four straight victories. Through eight games Baker's charges now stand at 5-3, which equals the second-best start in program history by a first-year UTEP head coach. Ammermann's unit, the first team in program history in 1974-75, was 6-2 at this point while Wayne Thornton's team was also 5-3 in 1978-79.
 
HISTORY OF FIRST-YEAR COACHES AT UTEP
In terms of success rate in the first season on the sidelines, Carol Ammerman (11-5, 1974-75) and Janet Wood (11-16, 1979-80) share the platform for most victories by a Miner head coach in their initial campaign. Ammerman's effort came in the first year of the program, and is also the lone winning record by a first-year Miner head coach in school history. Overall the prior seven head coaches at UTEP are a combined 54-120 (8-17 average record). At 5-3 through seven games, Kevin Baker is off to a solid start if he hopes to buck that trend in 2017-18.
 
CLEANING UP ON THE BOARDS
The Miners have outrebounded their opponents in all eight contests of the campaign, the longest such streak to start a year since doing so in nine straight tilts at the onset of the 1996-97 season. Overall UTEP sports a +13.6 rebounding margin (42.8-29.1) on the season to rank seventh nationally. Senior Tamara Seda has been the top performer at 11.1 rpg, which is good enough for 16th in the country. Seda is grabbing 5.0 offensive rebounds per game, which places her eighth nationallly.
 
MORE ON THE MARGIN ON THE GLASS
Aiding UTEP's numbers in the rebounding department was back-to-back games in which it had a +20 advantage earlier this year. The Miners were +24 (51-27) against Arkansas on Nov. 24 and +21 (46-25) vs. Texas Southern on Nov. 25. It was the first time UTEP had won the rebounding battle by 20+ boards in back-to-back games since the 2011-12 season. That year UTEP achieved the feat in wins against Texas State on Dec. 31, 2011 (50-24, +26) and SMU on Jan. 5, 2012, (52-28, +24).
 
SOLID SHOOTING
UTEP enters the match-up vs. East Carolina having knocked down 43.2 percent (177-410) from the floor to rate 83rd nationally. Aiding that figure was eclipsing 50 percent from the floor in each of the first three games of the season for the first time since at least 1982-83 (prior records incomplete), Overall the Orange and Blue have connected on better than 42 percent in six of eight games, including a solid readout of 44.8 percent (26-58) last time out at NM State on Dec. 10.
 
BOMBS AWAY
UTEP drilled 12 triples, which ties for sixth on the school's single-game records, at NM State on Dec. 10. It marked the second contest on the season that the Miners sunk 10+ treys; UTEP was 12-22 at NM State and 10-21 vs. HBU on Dec. 2. Overall the Miners now stand at 37.8 percent (45-119) from distance on the season which ranks 36th nationally.
 
GETTING TO THE LINE
The Miners have done an outstanding job of getting to the charity stripe and taking advantage once there. In fact UTEP has made more free throws than its foes have attempted. The Orange and Blue are 111-157 (70.7 percent) at the free-throw line in 2017-18 while the opposition stands 61-100 (61.0 percent). Overall it works out to 13.9 free throws made per game for UTEP to 7.6 for its opponents.
 
GETTING DEFENSIVE
After limiting the first six opponents to 62 points or less, the Miners have allowed 76 points in back-to-back contests. Overall the opposition is producing 61.8 points per game on 37.9 percent (65-215) shooting from the floor, including 30.2 percent (65-215) from 3-point range. The Miners have held four opponents to at or below their scoring average (at time of the game) as illustrated in the chart below.
Date        Opponent            Scoring Average        Points Scored         Difference
Nov. 11         CSU Bakersfield      NA                                              56                                           NA                
Nov. 18        Texas A&M-CC        67.3 ppg                                   55                                           -12.3             
Nov. 24        Arkansas                       73.8 ppg                                   61                                           -12.8             
Nov. 25        Texas Southern         53.8 ppg                                   55                                           +1.2               
Nov. 30       New Mexico               89.3                                            59                                           -30.3            
Dec. 2           HBU                                62.0                                            62                                           0.0                
Dec. 5           at Arkansas State      60.4                                            76                                           +15.6            
Dec. 10         at NM State                 69.7                                            76                                           +6.3              
 
KEEPING THE FOULS TO A MINIMUM
One thing that UTEP has done exceptionally well in 2017-18 has been limiting its fouls. The Miners have committed 15 or fewer fouls in six of eight contests. Overall UTEP has been tagged with 14.3 personal fouls per game to rank 21st in the nation.
 
MORE ON THE DEFENSE
UTEP has kept six of eight foes to below 40.0 percent from the floor, including  holding the first three opponents on the year to under 33 percent for the first time since  1982-83 (prior records incomplete). The Miners have been particularly strong in defending the three. They enter the match-up vs. East Carolina with a 3-point field goal percentage of 30.2 percent (65-215), which has been aided by keeping seven of eight opponents to below 33.3 percent from distance.
 
PLENTY OF PLAYING TIME TO GO AROUND
The Miners have only 10 active players this year, meaning that there's going to be plenty of playing time to go around. Head coach Kevin Baker has done a good job of spreading the minutes around with eight different Miners (Najala Howell-31.9, Tamara Seda-31.6, Katarina Zec-31.1, Jordan Alexander-26.9, Faith Cook-25.5,  Jordan Jenkins-17.4, Zuzanna Puc-16.5 and Roeshonda Patterson (16.3) logging at least 16 minutes per contest. Additionally Jakeira Ford (11.8) is in double figures for playing time on average.
 
SEDA DOMINATING DOWN LOW
Senior Tamara Seda has been a force to be reckoned with in 2017-18. She paces the team in scoring (15.5 ppg), rebounding (11.1 rpg), offensive rebounds (39), double-doubles (five) and free throws made (30) and attempted (49). She is eighth nationally in offensive rebounds per game (5.0) and 16th for rebounding (11.1). She enjoyed a stretch with five straight double-doubles, the longest such streak by a Miner in non-conference play since at least 1982-83 (prior records incomplete). Seda has reached double figures in scoring in all eight contests, including pouring in a career-best 20 points against both CSU Bakersfield (Nov. 11) and Arkansas (Nov. 24). She is also second on the squad in field-goal percentage (50.2). 
 
HOWELL'S ALL-AROUND EFFORT
Junior Najala Howell leads the Miners in playing time (31.9 mpg), ranks second on the team in scoring (13.4 ppg) and third in assists (2.5 apg) and rebounding (6.1 rpg). She has nailed 47.4 percent from the floor, including 41.4 percent from distance. She has reached double figures for scoring in six of the eight games this year, including a 19-point effort (one shy of her career high) against both Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Nov. 18 and HBU on Dec. 2.
 
COMING ALIVE FROM 3-POINT LAND
Najala Howell leads the team in 3-pointers made (12), attempted (29) while rating second in 3-point field goal percentage (41.4). Helping her cause was burying a career-best four triples (on six tries) in the victory against HBU on Dec. 2. It's a stark improvement from a year ago when she hit 35.2 percent (19-54) from beyond-the-arc.
 
ALEXANDER GETTING AFTER IT
Junior Jordan Alexander, one of two newcomers on this year's squad, is looking like a difference maker. She ranks second on the team in rebounding (7.4 rpg) and free throws made (23) and attempted (29) and fourth in scoring (7.4) and minutes per game (26.9 mpg). The majority of her rebounds (46-of-58) have been at the defensive end. She has a pair of double-digit scoring efforts, including her first career double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) in the season-opening win vs. CSUB on Nov. 11.  Alexander has also secured 10+ boards in two contests, including a career-high 11 rebounds last time out at NM State on Dec. 10.
 
ZEC STEPPING HER GAME UP
Sophomore Katarina Zec is third on the team in scoring (9.3 ppg). She has reached double figures in scoring in four games, including pouring in a career-high 22 points last time out at NM State on Dec. 10. She was locked in from distance against the Aggies, making a school-record tying seven triples out of 10 attempts. Zec was 5-19 on 3 pointers in the first seven games of the year. Zec is also  second on the squad in offensive boards (14), third for playing time (31.1 mpg) while ranking fourth in overall rebounding (3.9 rpg). As a freshman she pitched in 5.7 ppg and 1.7 rpg in 20.8 mpg.
 
COOK MAKING IMPROVEMENT TOO
After shooting 19.3 percent (11-57) from 3-point range as a freshman, Faith Cook has improved to 32.0 percent (8-25) from beyond-the-arc. Included in that was going 3-5 from home run-range in the season-opening win against CSU Bakersfield on Nov. 11. The three triples shattered her previous best of one (11 different games). Overall Cook is accounting for 4.9 ppg after putting up 1.9 ppg a year ago. Cook also is dishing out 2.8 assists per game (second on team), which tops her effort (1.7 apg) from a year ago as well. She is securing 25.5 minutes per game of playing time, which paces the reserves.
 
PATTERSON PITCHING IN OFF THE PINE
Sophomore Roeshonda Patterson has emerged as the top scoring threat off the bench for the Miners in 2017-18. She is providing 7.3 ppg to pace the reserves and rank fifth on the squad overall. She has drilled 48.6 percent (18-37) from the floor, including a team-leading 47.6 percent (10-21) from distance. Her 10 triples are second on the team. Patterson has hit double figures in scoring in a pair of games, including a career-high 16 points at Arkansas State on Dec. 5. It is a vast improvement from a year ago when she chipped in 2.3 ppg one 22.5 percent shooting (18-80), including 22.8 percent (13-57) on 3 pointers.
 
PUC FINDING HER RHYTHM
After missing the first two tilts due to injury, sophomore Zuzanna Puc is starting to round into form. She has provided a small boost from the bench with 3.7 ppg and 3.5 rpg in 16.5 mpg. She also is second on the team in blocked shots per game (0.7) and fourth in total offensive rebounds (seven).
 
JENKINS MAKING AN IMPACT WITH PASSING
Freshman Jordan Jenkins paces UTEP in assists (3.0 apg) in 17.4 minutes per contest. She also has a decent assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.1). In terms of her own offense, four of her five field goals made have come on 3-point shots. Aiding that was going 2-4 from distance for a career-high six points in the win against HBU on Dec. 2.
 
STAUNCH FIRST-QUARTER DEFENSE
Twice this year the Miners have held opponents to five points or less in the first quarter of play. UTEP conceded only three points in the first quarter against Arkansas on Nov. 24, which ties the program standard for fewest points allowed in a frame. The Orange and Blue previously limited CSU Bakersfield to five points in the first frame on Nov. 11. It set the then program standard for fewest points allowed in the first quarter and tied as third for fewest points in a quarter overall.
 
IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
The Miners have top-100 NCAA team rankings for rebound margin (+13.6-seventh),  fewest personal fouls per game (14.3-21st), 3-point field-goal percentage (37.8-36th), rebounds per game (42.8-58th) and field-goal percentage (43.2-82nd). Turnovers per game (20.1-319th) have been an issue, as has been forcing turnovers (11.9-340th). Individually Tamara Seda is eighth in offensive rebounds per game (5.0), 16th for rebounds per game (11.1), 20th in double-doubles (five) and 96th for free-throw attempts (49).
 
GETTING TO KNOW THE 2017-18 MINERS
UTEP returned eight letter winners (Faith Cook, Jakeira Ford, Najala Howell, Roeshonda Patterson, Zuzanna Puc, Tamara Seda, Rachel Tapps and Katarina Zec) from last year's squad (8-23, 5-11 Conference USA). Puc, Seda and Zec all started for UTEP in 2016-17. The Miners also added four newcomers (Jordan Alexander, Ariona Gill, Jordan Jenkins and Neidy Ocuane) but Gill and Ocuane are slated to take a redshirt year in 2017-18. The squad is under the direction of first-year head coach Kevin Baker, who is assisted by first-year assistants Nicole Dunson, Michael Madrid and Lori Morris.
 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Head coach Kevin Baker inherited a young team, with 60% of the active roster (6-of-10) comprised of sophomores (Faith Cook, Jakeira Ford, Roeshonda Patterson, Zuzanna Puc, Rachel Tapps and Katarina Zec). The Miners have just three upperclassmen, in the form of one senior (Tamara Seda) to go along with returning junior Najala Howell and junior-college transfer Jordan Alexander. Freshman Jordan Jenkins rounded out the active roster. Two other newcomers (junior-college transfers Ariona Gill and Neidy Ocuane) are sitting out the 2017-18 season as redshirts.
 
NEW FACES
The Miners have four newcomers in 2017-18, though two of the additions (junior Ariona Gill, 5-11, G/F, San Jacinto College) and junior Neidy Ocuane (5-5, G, Seward County CC) are redshirting. Junior Jordan Alexander (5-11, F, Trinity Valley CC) and freshman Jordan Jenkins (5-3, G, Buffalo HS) both have started the first eight games. Last year Alexander helped TVCC qualify for its 10th straight trip to the national tournament and finish with an overall record of 30-6. She put up 6.5 points per game while also grabbing 2.5 rebounds per game. Jenkins averaged 20 points, eight steals, seven assists and six rebounds to help her squad earn runner-up honors in Texas 2017 in the UIL 3A playoffs. Ocuane paced her team in assists per game (4.7) and steals per game (2.4) while ranking fourth in scoring (11.2). Her efforts helped it win the program's first conference title in eight years.
 
NOTING THE SCHEDULE
The return of the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic and a 16-game Conference USA slate, match-ups against both New Mexico and NM State and non-conference contests against power league members Arkansas and East Carolina highlight the 2017-18 UTEP women's basketball schedule. There are also games against three teams that played in the 2017 NCAA Tournament (NM State, Texas Southern and WKU) and four from the 2017 Postseason WNIT (Georgetown, LA Tech, Middle Tennessee and Southern Miss)
 
THE BAKER FILE
Kevin Baker was appointed as the eighth head coach in UTEP women's basketball history on Monday, April 24, 2017. He has a unique background which has seen him rise through the coaching ranks from high school level, to NCAA Division III, then NCAA Division II and now his NCAA Division I position at UTEP. Throughout his ascent, though, he has consistently found a way to win. He is 349-134 overall in his 16th year as a head coach, including 127-33 in his sixth season as a college head coach. He has set school records for wins at every stop of his career, and has taken every school to the playoffs with a total of five district championships. He is an eight-time Coach of the Year. In his stops most recently prior to UTEP, Baker's teams captured back-to-back conference championships at UT-Tyler and Angelo State. Baker has led both a Division II (Angelo State) and Division III (UT-Tyler) school to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
 
EXPERIENCED STAFF
While head coach Kevin Baker and his three assistants (Nicole Dunson, Michael Madrid and Lori Morris) are in their first year at UTEP, they brought plenty of coaching experience to the Sun City. The quartet entered the 2017-18 season with a combined 93 years of coaching experience (Morris-37 years, Baker-23 years, Madrid-22 years and Dunson-11 years).
 
BASIC FACTS ON THE PROGRAM
UTEP is 552-651 in its 44th season as a women's basketball program, including 5-3 in 2017-18. The Miners have made four postseason bids (2016,-WNIT quarterfinals; 2014-WNIT runner-up, 2012-NCAA first round and 2008-NCAA second round), sporting a combined record of 9-4 (8-2 WNIT, 1-2 NCAA). UTEP has claimed four league championships (2016 C-USA regular season, 2012 C-USA regular season and conference tournament and 2008 C-USA regular season). It has a 1-1 record all time in league tournament title games, winning the title in 2012 and falling in 2008. There have been six 20+ win seasons (all since 2006-07), including four of the past six years. UTEP has cracked the top-25 poll in two seasons (2015-16, 2007-08), including being ranked in the final six weeks in '07-08, while receiving votes in eight campaigns total ('15-16, '13-14, '12-13, '11-12, '08-09, '07-08 and '06-07). The Miners have been mentioned in the AP Preseason Poll four times, including garnering three points in 2016-17. In 2008 UTEP became the first C-USA women's team to finish undefeated in league play (16-0) while claiming the program's initial league title in 2008. The Miners finished 15-1 in C-USA in 2012 in addition to also winning the program's first conference tournament championship. UTEP owns the C-USA single-season record for winning streak at 23, which was set in 2007-08. The University of Texas at El Paso (founded in 1914) recently enjoyed its centennial celebration. Notable alumni include former ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Sam Donaldson, well-respected NFL referee Ed Hochuli, former NASA astronaut Danny Olivas engineer & Dennis Poon, who designed Taipei 101 & some of the tallest buildings in the world.
 
THIRD-BEST IN TEXAS SINCE 2006-07
The Miners have the third-highest winning percentage among all DI programs in Texas since 2006-07. Baylor (358-52, 87.3%), and Texas A&M (291-100, 74.4%) lead the way followed by UTEP (234-123, 65.5%).  Texas (242-134, 64.4%-4th), Lamar (215-138, 60.9%-5th), Stephen F. Austin (208-142, 59.4%-6th), TCU (206-153, 57.4%-7th), SMU (190-161, 54.1%-9th), Prairie View A&M (190-169, 52.9%-9th) and Texas Tech (182-178, 50.6%-10th) round out the top 10.
 
SPECIAL RUN
The Miners are 134-69 since the start of the 2011-12 season, with 80 double-digit victories in that time frame. UTEP has played postseason basketball in three of the past six seasons, making two deep runs in the WNIT (2014 runner-up, 2016 quarterfinals) and earning the C-USA automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Tournament (lost, first round). It is has enjoyed 14 separate winning streaks of at least three games during that time frame.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
UTEP has an all-time home record of 356-215, including standing 5-1 this year. The Miners have amassed a record of 157-41 at home since 2006-07, including 90-24 since 2011-12. Aiding that 90-24 record over the past six years was a school-record 19-1 home mark in 2015-16. The Miners' next home contest is against Charlotte on Jan. 11, which will be the seventh of 14 regular-season tilts at the Don Haskins Center in 2017-18. UTEP has been particularly strong in non-conference play, sporting a record of 80-12 at home in the situation since 2006-07.
 
ALL ABOUT THE FANS
The Miners received tremendous support to help propel them to a pair of deep runs in the WNIT (2014 runner-up honors, 2016 quarterfinals) in the past four years. UTEP averaged 7,773 fans per game during the 10 WNIT contests (8-2 record) in El Paso. Aiding those numbers were back-to-back sellouts , the first in program history, in the semifinals and finals of the 2014 WNIT. The Miners have ranked in the top-50 nationally for attendance in three of the past six years. UTEP placed 28th in 2013-14 (3,793 avg.), 42nd in 2012-13 (2,708 avg.) and 46th in 2011-12 (2,639 avg.). The Miners are 28-10 when playing in front of 4,000+ fans since 2001-02. They are 25-3 in the situation at the Don Haskins Center and 3-7 when doing so on the road.
 
TRAVEL TIME
UTEP is 139-357 all time on the road, including a mark of 0-2 this year. When playing at a neutral site the Miners stand 57-78, including five losses to power-five programs last season. Since the start of the 2006-07 season UTEP is 57-64 on the road, including 33-33 since 2011-12. 
 
CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
Redshirt-senior Tamara Seda ranks sixth at UTEP in blocked shots (76), sixth in double-doubles (16), 11th in rebounding average (7.0), tied 17th in rebounds (509), 42nd in scoring (571) and 43rd for games played (73).
 
2016-17 IN REVIEW
UTEP went through a rebuilding year in 2016-17, finishing with a record of 8-23, including 5-13 in Conference USA play, before bowing out in the first round of the 2017 C-USA Championships. The youth-laden Miners lost all five starters from the 2015-16 season and returned only four letter winners from that squad, giving them a new look for the year. UTEP played its most challenging non-conference schedule in program history with a single-season school-record five games against teams from power five conferences. It went 0-5 in those contests while finishing 3-4 vs. non power league programs in non-conference play. Overall UTEP was saddled with a 2-9 start to the year before going 3-3 over the next six games. The Miners then lost a season-long six straight and eight of the next nine before posting back-to-back victories. UTEP dropped its final two games of the regular season and was upended by sixth-seeded Old Dominion in the first round of the C-USA Championships, 80-70.
 
CLIFF NOTES ON THE 2017-18 SEASON
UTEP EDGED AT ARKANSAS STATE, 76-73 (at Arkansas State 76, UTEP 73 (12/5/17)
Tamara Seda (19 points, 16 rebounds), Najala Howell (17 points) and Roeshonda Patterson (career-high 17 points) all reached double figures in scoring but UTEP was edged at Arkansas State, 76-73, on Dec. 5. The Red Wolves set opponent season highs for points (76) and field-goal percentage (49.2) to help them rally past the Miners. UTEP was up 44-36 at the half but A-State used a huge third quarter (24-11) to surge into the lead and the Miners could never recover. They went down fighting, though, whittling a nine-point deficit (72-63) down to three on a pair of occasions but couldn't quite complete the comeback. The Orange and Blue connected on 42.9 percent (27-63) from the floor while also winning the boards (43-27) but couldn't get enough stops to pull off the win. UTEP's 73 points establish a season high.  Seda has now recorded five straight double-doubles, the longest such streak by a Miner in non-conference play since at least 1982-83 (prior records incomplete). 
 
UTEP SINKS HBU, 69-62 (at UTEP 69, HBU 62 (12/2/17)
Senior Tamara Seda recorded her fourth straight double-double (18 points, 16 rebounds) while junior Najala Howell poured in a season-high tying 19 points to help lead UTEP to a 69-62 victory against HBU at the Don Haskins Center on Dec. 2. The Huskies led 31-26 at the half but the Miners came alive after the break to post the come-from-behind win to close out the season-opening six-game homestand in style. The game featured eight ties and seven lead changes, with the final one coming down the stretch when UTEP peeled off nine straight points-all on treys- to turn a one-point deficit (57-56) into their largest lead of the contest (65-57). HBU scored the next five points but the Miners put the game out of reach with a Jordan Alexander jumper with 21 seconds to play. UTEP set season highs for 3-pointers made (10), attempted (21) and percentage (47.6), including going 6-8 from distance in the final frame to help complete the comeback. The Miners also won the boards (44-32) while holding HBU to 38.1 percent (24-63) from the floor, including 19.0 percent (4-21) from distance. Sophomore Roeshonda Patterson provided a spark off the bench with a career-high matching 11 points to join Howell and Seda in double figures. Freshman Jordan Jenkins pitched in a personal-best six points to go along with six assists.
 
UTEP SUFFERS FIRST LOSS OF SEASON VS. (RV) NEW MEXICO (New Mexico 59, at UTEP 35 (11/30/17)
UTEP held New Mexico to 59 points-30 below its average- but couldn't get enough shots to fall in a 59-35 setback at the Don Haskins Center on Nov. 30. The undefeated Lobos, who are receiving votes for both top-25 polls, were limited to 39.7 percent (23-58) from the floor and 33.0 percent (12-36) from distance but they overcame through a physical defensive effort that gave the Miners fits. UTEP shot 25.0 percent (11-44) in the game while being harassed into 25 turnovers that led to 22 UNM points. The Miners won the battle of the boards, 44-31, but it wasn't enough to compensate for the off shooting night. Senior Tamara Seda recorded her third straight double-double (11 points, 13 rebounds) to pace UTEP while sophomore Katarina Zec added nine points. Sophomore Zuzanna Puc came off the bench to contribute five points and a season-high eight rebounds. Sophomore Roeshonda Patterson also pitched in five points and sophomore Faith Cook registered a career-high seven boards.
 
UTEP GRINDS OUT 65-55 WIN VS. TEXAS SOUTHERN (at UTEP 65, Texas Southern 55 (11/25/17)
Junior Najala Howell (16 points, 10 rebounds) and senior Tamara Seda (13 points, 13 rebounds) each posted double-doubles to help UTEP notch a hard-fought 65-55 win against Texas Southern in the final game of the sixth-annual UTEP Thanksgiving Classic at the Don Haskins Center on Nov. 25. The Miners never trailed in the contest and used a 10-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to break the game's one and only tie (48-48, 5:20 4Q) in decisive fashion. UTEP held the Lady Tigers, who have averaged 20 wins the past five years, to 38.8 percent shooting (19-49) while also crushing them on the boards (46-25). Playing a big role in the rebounding margin was a season-high 21 offensive rebounds which led to 21 second-chance points for the home side.  The Miners connected on 34.0 percent (18-53) of their shots but they more than made up for that with their rebounding and defensive efforts, in addition to setting season bests for free-throws made (26), attempted (33) and percentage (.788). In fact the Orange and Blue were 16-17 at the charity stripe in the pressure-packed fourth quarter. Sophomore Katarina Zec chipped in 10 points, her third straight game in double figures, while also grabbing a career-high eight rebounds. Junior Jordan Alexander registered 13 points and six caroms while sophomore Roeshonda Patterson provided a spark off the best with a season-high seven points and career-high matching three rebounds.
 
UTEP TAKES DOWN SEC FOE ARKANSAS, 64-61 (at UTEP 64, Arkansas 61 (11/24/17)
UTEP posted a wire-to-wire 64-61 victory against Southeastern Conference foe Arkansas in its opening game of the sixth-annual UTEP Thanksgiving Classic at the Don Haskins Center on Nov. 24. The Miners raced out to a 13-2 lead four minutes in, were up 18 (38-20) at half and 16 (52-36) through three quarters before withstanding a furious rally attempt by the Razorbacks. UA managed to whittle UTEP's advantage all the way down to one (62-61) but sophomore Faith Cook hit a fade away jumper to beat the shot clock with eight seconds left in the game to put the Miners back up by three. The visitor's Devin Cosper then misfired on a triple at the other end. Tamara Seda notched a double-double (career-high tying 20 points, 10 rebounds) to lead UTEP, but she was buoyed by 14 points and eight rebounds from Najala Howell and 10 points and six boards by Katarina Zec. Jordan Jenkins did her part with a career-high seven assists while Zuzanna Puc pitched in eight points and four boards in 15 minutes off the bench in her 2017-18 debut. UTEP connected on better than 50.0 percent (50.8 percent, 27-53) from the floor for the third straight game, something it hasn't done to start a season since at least 1981-82 (prior stats incomplete). The Miners also defended tirelessly, holding Arkansas to 30.0 percent (21-70) from the floor. The Razorbacks jacked up 41 3-point shots, but only made 11, for a readout of 26.8 percent. The Orange and Blue took care of business on the boards, winning the rebounding battle to the tune of 51-27. Helping that figure was 40 defensive boards, the most against a division I opponent since also securing 40 against Tulane on March 8, 2013. An area of concern for UTEP was turnovers (23) which led to 22 Arkansas points. But the Orange and Blue compensated for that by the dominance in other areas, in addition to holding a 38-18 advantage in points in the paint.
 
TAKING DOWN A POWER PROGRAM
UTEP downed Arkansas, 64-61, on Nov. 24 to secure its first win in program history against an SEC opponent. Overall it is UTEP's initial regular-season victory against a power-five conference foe since it crushed Kansas State, 84-39, on Nov. 16, 2013. The Miners are now 11-53 all time vs. teams from a power five conference (at point of match-up), but they are 7-10 since 2012-13.
 
UTEP CRUISES PAST TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI, 69-49
at UTEP 69, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 49 (11/18/17)
UTEP played well in all facets off the game in a convincing 69-49 victory against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at the Don Haskins Center on Nov. 18. The Miners shot 54.3 percent (25-46) from the floor while stifling the Islanders to a readout of 31.1 percent (19-61), including 4-15 (26.7 percent) from distance. UTEP won the boards (38-30), racked up 19 assists compared to 14 turnovers and led for the majority of the contest. Najala Howell paced the Orange and Blue with 19 points-one shy of a personal best- while also dishing out a career-high seven assists. Katarina Zec (12 points), Tamara Seda (11 points) and Jakeira Ford (10 points) all joined her in double figures for scoring while Jordan Alexander pitched in seven points.  Four different Miners grabbed at least five rebounds, with Ford leading the way with six caroms.  UTEP led by two (14-12) after the first quarter before outscoring the visitors 35-16 over the next two frames to blow open the game.
 
UTEP RALLIES PAST CSU BAKERSFIELD IN OPENER, 67-56
at UTEP 67, CSU Bakersfield 56 (11/11/17)
UTEP used a huge fourth quarter to rally past CSU Bakersfield, 67-56, in the 2017-18 season opener for both squads at the Don Haskins Center on Nov. 11. The Roadrunners led by eight (45-37) through three quarters of action but the Miners opened up the final frame on an 13-1 run to help fuel a dominant 30-11 advantage over the last 10 minutes of action. Senior Tamara Seda (20 points), junior Jordan Alexander (15 points) and sophomore Faith Cook (14 points) each established career highs to lead the way for the Miners, who were victorious in head coach Kevin Baker's Division I coaching debut. Junior Najala Howell (10 points) also reached double digits in scoring for UTEP, which nailed 51.2 percent (21-41) from the floor and 42.9 percent (6-14) from beyond-the-arc. Alexander, who played her freshman year at DI Louisiana before transferring to Trinity Valley, grabbed a personal-best 10 boards for her first career double-double while Seda added eight caroms. UTEP won the rebounding battle, 36-30, which was aided by a whopping 16-2 advantage in the fourth quarter. The Miners held CSUB to 32.8 percent (20-61) from the floor.
 
SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST
After scoring 37 points through three quarters of action, the Miners erupted for 30 points over the final 10 minutes to erase an eight-point deficit and rally past CSU Bakersfield on Nov. 11. The 30 points are the most scored in the fourth quarter by the Miners in program history and rank tied for fifth-most points in a quarter overall at the school.
 
START IT OFF STRONG
UTEP improved to 24-20 all time in season openers, including 21-7 when doing so in El Paso. Overall in home openers, the Miners now stand 28-14 (missing outcomes in some years).
 
RECAPPING THE EXHIBITION SEASON
For the first time since the 2007-08 season, the Miners played a pair of exhibition games to prepare for the regular season. UTEP split the contests, drilling NCAA Division III member Sul Ross State, 99-40, on Oct. 29, while falling to NCAA Division II member St. Mary's (Texas), 68-62, on Nov. 4. Katarina Zec (17.5 points per game) was the top point producer for the Miners but four others (Tamara Seda-16.5 ppg, Najala Howell-15.0 ppg, Jordan Alexander-11.0 ppg and Jakeira Ford-11.0 ppg) also averaged double figures in scoring. As a team UTEP shot 45.5 percent (56-123) from the floor while holding its foes to 30.9 percent (38-123). The Miners excelled at the free-throw line (35-42, 83.3 percent) and also dominated the rebounding department (51.0 rebounds per game to 27.5 opponent rebounds per game).