UTEP Miners

GAME NOTES IN PDF FORMAT
THE OPENING TIP

Eleventh-seeded UTEP (9-21) will lock up with third-seeded Middle Tennessee (20-9) at 1 p.m. MT/2 p.m. CT Thursday in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Air Force Reserve Conference USA Women's Basketball Championships presented by Baylor Scott & White Sports Performance Center at The Star. The Miners stormed back from 10 points down to best Marshall, 64-56, in double overtime in the first round on Wednesday (March 13) while the Blue Raiders had a bye. MT won the lone meeting on the year between the programs, handing UTEP its worst home loss of the season, 79-49, on Jan. 19. UTEP is riding its third two-game winning streak this season, and is in search of winning three straight games for the first time on the year. MT lost three of its final four games of the regular season, including falling at WKU, 67-56, on March 7. Thursday's game will be available on ESPN+. It will also be broadcast locally on 600 El Paso with Steve Kaplowitz and Traci Miller describing the action. The winner of the contest will advance to face either UAB or Charlotte in the semifinals at 7 p.m. MT/8 p.m. CT Friday. 

 

QUICK HITTERS FROM UTEP'S 64-56 WIN VS. MARSHALL

UTEP overcame a 10-point deficit (31-21) late in the third quarter to eventually force overtime and win in double overtime ... Katarina Zec (49 minutes), Jordan Alexander (39 minutes),  Neidy Ocuane (38 minutes), Ariana Taylor (37 minutes) and Jade Rochelle (29 minutes) all set career highs for playing time in the game ... the 49 minutes by Zec are a UTEP league tournament record … pulled down a season-high 56 rebounds while posting its second-most steals (seven) in a contest this year ... held Marshall to an opponent season-low 23.9 percent (17-71) ... it was the first double OT women's basketball game at the C-USA tournament since 2006 ... UTEP improved to 1-1 all time in overtime play in the league tournament, with both games ironically coming against Marshall (L, 72-70, OT, 2009; W, 64-56, 2OT, 2019) ... won despite posting its lowest scoring first half (16 points) of the season ... improved to 2-1 in neutral-site games ... won for the second time this season when trailing at the half ... Gill and Alexander set career highs for steals (three) while Taylor matched it in assists (three) and Ocuane did so for rebounds (six).

 

CONFERENCE TOURNEY QUICK HITTERS

UTEP is 18-25 all time in conference tournament play (13-12 in C-USA; 4-13 as a member of the WAC), including 2-1 under Kevin Baker ... competing in the quarterfinals for the 11th time in their 15th trip to the C-USA Championships (six wins, five byes) ... record of 6-3 in first-round action at the C-USA tournament, including wins in consecutive campaigns under Baker ... secured at least one win in back-to-back C-USA tournaments for the first time since a five-year stretch (2010-14) ... bested Marshall, 64-58, in double OT to improve to 1-2 all time when playing as the No. 11 seed ... had lost in the first round as the No. 11 seed previously in 2015 and 2015 ... playing with a double-digit seed for the fifth time in the C-USA tournament and now sports a combined record of 2-4 in the situation ... has played in the championship contest twice (2008 and 2012), wining it all as the top seed in 2012 ... made eight total appearances in the semifinals round, with five (2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016) as a member of C-USA and three (1993, 1994 and 2004) while competing within the WAC ... juniors Zuzanna Puc (20.3 mpg, 9.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.0 bpg, 0.7 spg -3 GP, 0 GS) and Katarina Zec (32.3 mpg, 5.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 0.3 bpg-4 GP, 4 GS) are playing in the C-USA Championships for the third straight year while it is the second straight showing for senior Jordan Alexander (35.5 mpg, 10.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.5 spg-3 GP, 0 GS) ... Ariona Gill (32.0 mpg, 14.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 3.0 spg-1 GP, 0 GS), Neidy Ocuane (38.0 mpg, 2.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.0 spg-1 GP, 1 GS), Jade Rochelle (29.0 mpg, 8.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.0 bpg-1 GP, 0 GS) and Ariana Taylor (37.0 mpg, 9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.0 bpg-1 GP, 1 GS) all made their league tourney debuts in the win against Marshall. 

 

TURNING IT AROUND

UTEP had a -19.7 (51.6-71.3) scoring margin over the first seven league contests (1-6 record). It shot 33.2 percent (116-349) while allowing the opposition to connect on 44.0 percent (183-416) in the stretch. The average differential was +0.3 (62.5-63.1) in the final nine league contests (4-5 record). UTEP nailed 44.8 percent (199-444) compared to its foes sinking 39.6 percent (200-505) during the improved sequence of play. That upward trend continued in the first round of the tournament, with UTEP besting Marshall, 64-56 (March 13).

 

INJURY-RIDDLED SQUAD

UTEP has been hit hard by injuries, with the Miners having dressed seven players in 11 straight contests. Ariona Gill, who had missed eight straight games (final nonconference, first seven C-USA), has come off the bench in 10 consecutive contests but Sabine Lipe (14 straight), Jordan Jenkins (11 straight) and Alexa Hoy(11 straight) continue to be sidelined. Lipe and Jenkins are out for the season while Hoy's return is all but ruled out as well.

 

THE SERIES (OVERALL: MT LEADS, 5-1; IN EL PASO: TIED, 1-1)

Middle Tennessee holds a 5-1 advantage in the series with the Miners, with all of the match-ups coming since the Blue Raiders joined C-USA. Thursday's contest is the first in the league tournament between the squads. MT has won the past three meetings, including handing UTEP its worst home loss (79-49) of the season on Jan. 19. 

 

GET TO KNOW MT (20-9; 10-3 HOME; 8-6 AWAY; 2-0 NEUTRAL)

Middle Tennessee compiled a mark of 20-9 during the regular season, including 11-5 in Conference USA play. The effort secured the third seed and subsequent bye into the 2019 C-USA quarterfinals. It marks the 15th 20+ win season in the past 16 years, and puts it in good position to reach the postseason for the 16th consecutive campaign. The Blue Raiders hang their hat with their defense, placing second in C-USA and rating 25th in the country by allowing 56.5 points per game. They are also among the league leaders and top-100 nationally in fewest total turnovers (368, second/10th), fewest turnovers per game (12.7, second/22nd), turnover margin (+2.8, second/51st), field-goal percentage (43.4, fifth/52nd), scoring margin (+8.8, third/59th), rebounding margin (3.4, fourth/88th) and 3-pointers per contest (6.9, fourth/94th). Individually C-USA Newcomer of the Year A'Queen Hayes (15.2 ppg, seventh C-USA/169th NCAA), Alex Johnson (15.2 ppg, seventh C-USA/169th NCAA) and C-USA Freshman of the Year Taylor Sutton (10.2 ppg) are all in double figures for scoring. Hayes also has the unique distinction of topping the team in rebounding (7.4 rpg, eighth C-USA/169th NCAA) and assists (3.2 apg). Overall MT has competed in 18 NCAA Tournaments (5-18 record) and six WNITs (6-6 record). It has claimed 18 regular-season conference championships and 15 league tourney titles. The school was founded in 1911. Notable alumni include Kelly Holcomb (NFL QB from 1995-2007) and James McGill Buchanan (Nobel Prize Winner).

 

LAST MEETING WITH MT (MIDDLE TENNESSEE 79, AT UTEP 49, 1/31/19)

UTEP hung tough early with league-leading Middle Tennessee before the visitors found another level in an eventual 79-49 defeat on Jan. 19 at the Don Haskins Center. The Miners trailed by just four (14-10) with 4:31 to play in the first quarter only to have the Blue Raiders rip off a 36-7 half-closing run to head into the locker room armed with a 50-17 advantage. To its credit UTEP continued to battle after the break and was rewarded by outscoring the first place team in the league, 32-29, over the final 20 minutes. Zuzanna Puc (17 points) and Jordan Alexander (14 points) reached double digits in scoring for the Miners, who were plagued by an off shooting day. UTEP finished at 28.6 percent (12-42) from the floor in the contest. MT cooled off in the second half but still finished at 44.4 percent (26-63) for the game. The visitors also drained 11 3-pointers to the Miners' four triples. UTEP committed only 11 turnovers and was credited with nine helpers on its 12 made field goals. Puc pulled down a team-high eight rebounds while Jade Rochelle (six) and Alexa Hoy(career-high five) also got involved on the glass. MT was led by A'Queen Hayes, who finished with a double-double (18 points, 13 rebounds). Alexis Whittington (13 points) and Taylor Sutton (10 points) also reached double figures for the Blue Raiders.