Ruben R. Ramirez

Battle of I-10 Continues Wednesday Night with UTEP WBB at NM State

12/14/2021 9:23:00 PM

EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP women's basketball team (6-1) will take on I-10 rival NM State (3-4) on Wednesday night (Dec. 15). The Miners and Aggies will tip at 6 p.m. MT at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M.

UTEP defeated NM State 76-61 in the first meeting on Nov. 17 in the Haskins Center.

Fans can listen to Mando Medina call the action on "The Home of UTEP Basketball 600 ESPN El Paso" and the UTEP Miners App. The contest will be streamed on ESPN+, with live stats available.

NM State is coming off back-to-back losses against its in-state rival the New Mexico Lobos. UTEP improved to 6-1 after its 12-point win at Texas State on Dec. 13.

The NM State game marks the second game of four over nine days. The Miners will play at New Mexico on Dec. 19 (6 p.m.) and will host Air Force on Dec. 21 (11 a.m.) before opening Conference USA action on Dec. 30 against UAB (7 p.m.).

UTEP'S PREVIOUS GAME
After not playing for 16 days, the Miners opened the contest with an 8-0 run and never looked back in a 69-57 victory over the Bobcats on Dec. 13 at Strahan Arena. Destiny Thurman led the Miners with 20 points on a career-high tying five 3-pointers (5-of-9). Katia Gallegos scored 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting and tallied three assists with three rebounds. Brenda Fontana led UTEP with six rebounds, a career-best four assists and career-high three steals in over 20 minutes off the bench. Fontana added six points and blocked shot. Teal Battle also hit double-digit figures with 12 points, registered five rebounds and dished out three assists.

SERIES HISTORY
NMSU has edged out UTEP, 50-42, in the all-time series. The Miners have won the last five meetings, three being at home. UTEP is 18-8 in the last 26 meetings against NM State.

SCOUTING NEW MEXICO STATE
NMSU suffered a heartbreaking loss to its in-state rival as it fell to New Mexico, 73-66, on Dec. 5. Despite shooting 55 percent from three and leading by 11 points after three quarters, the Lobos came sprinting back to steal the win inside the Pan American Center. Bigue Sarr recorded her second-straight double-double and led all scorers as she finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds. Nationally, Sarr ranks 25^th with a Field-Goal percentage of 58.4 placing her second it the Western Athletic Conference. Taylor Donaldson was the only other Aggie to reach double-digit scoring figures, finishing with 10 points in 22 minutes off the bench. Soufia Inoussa and Melanie Isbell were also effective on the offensive side of the ball as they each connected on a pair of three-pointers to finish with eight points and six points, respectively. Nationally, Isbell ranks 82^nd with an Assist Turnover Ration of 2.09 placing her fifth in the WAC.

BOP TO THE TOP
Currently, UTEP ranks first in Conference USA with a Win-Loss Percentage of 85.7 improving to 37^thnationally. The Miners are fifth in C-USA and just outside the top 50 (54^th) in the national ranking for a turnover margin of 4.29.

SHOW STOPPERS
Three Miners are ranked top 10 in nine different categories in Conference USA - Destiny Thurman, Katia Gallegos, and Teal Battle. Thurman ranks top 50 nationally in two categories.

Destiny Thurman
1. Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage (43.2, 49 NCAA)
2. Three-Point Field-Goal's per Game (2.71, 42 NCAA)
3. Three-Point Field-Goal's Made (19)
7. Field-Goal Percentage (46.4)
8. Points per Game (16)

Katia Gallegos
4. Assists Turnover Ratio (1.56)
5. Assists per Game (4)
10. Steals per Game (2.14)

Teal Battle
10. Free-Throw Percentage (78.1)

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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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