Ruben R. Ramirez

UTEP WBB Hosts Northern Arizona on Saturday Night to close out Home Stand

11/19/2021 5:07:00 PM

EL PASO – The UTEP women's basketball team (3-0) will look to extend its winning ways as it hosts Northern Arizona (1-2) in the on Saturday night. The Miners and Lumberjacks are set to tip off at 7 p.m. in the Haskins Center.

Fans can tune into "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso or the UTEP Miners App to hear Mando Medina call the action. The contest will be streamed on CUSA.tv.

Tickets start at $8 while groups of 10 can purchase tickets for $5 a piece. Fans can buy single-game tickets and season tickets (starting as low as $65) for the 2021-22 campaign at the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office by calling (915) 747-UTEP, visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/tickets, emailing tickets@utep.edu, or in person at 500 W. University Ave., 79968-0579 (Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

The Miners are 3-0 for the third consecutive season and the fourth time in five years under UTEP Head Coach Kevin Baker. The ladies are looking for their first 4-0 start since the 2017-18 season – Baker's first year at the helm.

The Miners are coming off a 76-61 triumph over NM State on Nov. 17, while the Lumberjacks beat up on UNLV, 84-62, for their first victory of the season this past Wednesday. NAU opened its season on the road against a pair of Pac-12 teams – Washington State and Washington.

"[Northern Arizona] will be the best team we face this year so far," Baker said. "They'll be our toughest test to date so far. They're very-well coached and really, really talented. They just came off beating a very good UNLV team – beat them pretty good too. We're going to have our hands full. But liked we talked about before practice today, this is what you come to UTEP for. We want to play good teams. Good teams bring out the best in us. Hopefully since we're playing such a good team that we'll play better too."

UTEP beat NM State for the fifth consecutive meeting after forcing a season-high 28 turnovers. Brenda Fontana (career-high eight points) and Adhel Tac (career-high eight points) combined for 16 points off the bench. Tac finished 4-for-4 from the field, while Fontana hit 4-of-5 from the floor.

Avery Crouse led the way with 15 points, and scored five consecutive points after the Aggies had cut the lead to eight points late in the ball game. Katia Gallegos scored 14 points and dished out a game-high four assists.

UTEP TO THIS POINT
The Miners have won by an average of 23.0 points in their first three contests, dismantling Incarnate Word, 81-47, in the season opener on Nov. 11, blasting North Dakota, 89-69, on Nov. 13, and defeating NM State by 15 points on Nov. 17.

Destiny Thurman leads the squad at 15.3 points per game. Thurman is shooting 43.2 percent from the floor. Gallegos leads the team with 17 assists (5.7 apg), while averaging 14.0 points per contest. Crouse ranks third on the team in scoring (9.0 ppg) and has averaged 4.0 boards per game. Elina Arike leads the squad at 7.3 rebounds per contest. Teal Battle is averaging 8.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

The Miners are averaging 82.0 points per game and yielding 59.0 points per contest. It's the most points averaged in the first three games since averaging 84.3 points per game to start the 2015-16 campaign. UTEP is shooting 49.5 percent, including 35.6 percent from downtown. The team has combined for 49 assists and is averaging 33.0 boards per game.

ABOUT NORTHERN ARIZONA
NAU jumped out to a 29-17 lead against UNLV after one quarter and never looked back. Khiarica Rasheed led the way with 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting, while grabbing nine boards. Emily Rodabaugh recorded a double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds) off the bench, and Lauren Orndoff chipped in with 15 points and five boards. Regan Schenck distributed a game-high 11 dimes, while Miki'ala Maio tallied six assists.

The 'Jacks opened the 2021-22 season at a pair of Pac-12 schools. NAU fell at Washington State, 62-54, in the season opener on Nov. 12, and followed with a 72-65 setback at Washington on Nov. 14.

SERIES HISTORY
Northern Arizona leads the all-time series 14-9 after last season's 83-75 victory. The Lumberjacks have won the las two meetings after the Miners had won the previous four. UTEP last beat NAU on Nov. 17, 2015 – 77-66 in the Haskins Center. The Miners are 3-1 in the last four contests in El Paso.

LAST MEETING
Northern Arizona defeated UTEP, 83-75, in Flagstaff in the last meeting on Dec. 17, 2020. Gallegos tallied 11 points and four assists, and Crouse scored eight points to along with three boards and three assists. NAU took a one-point lead (37-36) into the locker room at the half, but outscored UTEP 46-39 in the second half.

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For complete coverage of UTEP women's basketball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPWBB (Twitter), @utepwbb (Instagram) and on Facebook or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.

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