UTEP Athletics

UTEP Opens C-USA Play at LA Tech on Sunday

12/16/2022 8:00:00 PM

UTEP GAME NOTES

EL PASO, Texas – Following a solid non-conference performance, UTEP departs El Paso to play at LA Tech in the Conference USA opener for both sides on Sunday at 1 p.m. MT/2 p.m. CT.

Both teams enter conference play with high expectations after quality efforts in out of league action.

When the Lady Techsters (7-3) and Miners (7-2) take the floor, it will mark the second game played across the conference to this point in the season after Florida Atlantic topped FIU 70-60 back on Tuesday.

GAME COVERAGE
Fans can watch the action on Sunday on CUSA.tv with live stats available on the LA Tech StatBroadcast Portal.

SCOUTING LA TECH
LA Tech has won three of its last four games, picking up victories against George Washington, Alcorn State and South Alabama while dropping a 75-70 heartbreaker in overtime against SEC opponent Vanderbilt. The Lady Techsters were picked second in the C-USA Preseason Coaches' Poll after winning the West Division in 2021-22. Additionally, Keiunna Walker was chosen as the Preseason Player of the Year and has lived up to the billing by averaging 15.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game this season. Anna Larr Roberson was also a Preseason All-Conference pick and the forward is second on the team with 13.6 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Salma Bates is the primary distributor for the team, leading the way with 33 assists for the campaign. LA Tech is shooting 45.4 percent from the floor and limiting opponents to a 35.0 percent clip, ranking second in each category. The team moves the ball around well, leading the conference with 16.2 assists per game.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. LA TECH
The Lady Techsters hold a 16-8 advantage head-to-head over the Miners. Last season, LA Tech took both games over UTEP, including a 68-65 finish in Ruston and a 77-60 result in El Paso. LA Tech has an 8-3 record in the all-time series at home. Prior to last season, the Miners had won two straight over the Lady Techsters.

EIGHT STRAIGHT WINS OVER THE AGGIES
With its 57-52 victory on Dec. 13, UTEP has now defeated NM State eight straight times dating back to a 63-57 win on Nov. 13, 2019 in Las Cruces. It marks the longest winning streak by either side in the history of the rivalry.

QUALITY STRETCH IN C-USA OPENERS
The Miners have been tough to beat in league openers as of late, winning 11 of their last 13 conference openers and four of the last five. Since joining C-USA prior to the 2005-06 season, UTEP is 14-3 in games to begin conference.

ENDING THE ROAD TRIP
UTEP is on the final leg of a three-game road trip that has taken the team to play at Air Force (Dec. 4), at NM State (Dec. 13) and now at LA Tech (Dec. 18). The next home game for the Miners is Dec. 29 versus UAB. The Miners will have only one home game from Nov. 20-Dec. 28, a stretch of 38 days.

WINNING OUT OF CONFERENCE
UTEP posted its fourth straight winning record in non-conference action this season, going 7-2 in out of league games. Since the 2019-20 campaign, UTEP is 25-10 in such contests. The Miners also started the campaign 7-2 last year.

OPENING C-USA ON THE ROAD
Sunday will mark the first time since Jan. 5, 2019 that the Miners have started league play away from home. UTEP won that game by a 73-60 tally at UTSA. In an impressive stat, the Miners have never lost when starting C-USA action on the road, boasting a 6-0 mark.

WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF
UTEP is undefeated at 4-0 this season when taking the lead into the locker room.

IN TIGHT GAMES
The Miners have experienced plenty of success in close contests to this point, going 4-1 in games decided by 10 points or less, including a 3-1 record in tilts decided by five points or less.

ARIKE NETS SEASON HIGH
Forward Elina Arike scored a season-high 16 points with five rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 32 minutes in the win at NM State on Tuesday.

GOING WITH LENGTH
Over the past two games, UTEP has started three players standing at least 6-feet tall, including Elina Arike (6'2"), Adhel Tac (6'0") and Avery Crouse (6'0"). The added height is a change of pace from what has been a guard-heavy group in recent years.

DOUBLE-DIGIT CROUSE
Guard Avery Crouse has found her groove over the last five games, averaging 12.0 points and a steal per contest and reaching double figures in four out of the five games. During that stretch, she has increased her scoring average 2.0 points per game. In the last three games, Crouse is 15-of-26 from the field.

LA TECH BENCH DEPTH
The LA Tech bench is averaging 24.3 points per game this season.

ARIKE SWATTING SHOTS AWAY
Forward Elina Arike has rejected two shots in back-to-back games, tying a career high each time. Arike has blocked a pair of shots in five games in her career.

CROUSE FOR THREE
In her collegiate career, Avery Crouse has made 74 triples, ranking 18th in UTEP program history. This season, she has connected on 13 from downtown as she looks to eclipse her season best of 23 set in 2019-20 and 2021-22.

SCORING FROM VARIETY OF SOURCES
The Miners have not relied heavily on one player to carry the scoring load, with seven players averaging 6.3 points per game or more, including four in double figures.

BEST SHOOTING CLIP OF SEASON
UTEP experienced the most success to this point in the campaign from the floor in the win at NM State on Tuesday, going 20-of-43 (46.5 percent). The Miners have shot 40 percent or better five times.

ACCUMULATING CHARITY
The Miners have taken 15 or more shots at the stripe in every game this season, including 20 or more in eight of nine games and 30 or more twice in wins over New Orleans and Texas State inside the Don Haskins Center.

PLAYING ALL 40
In the win at NM State, Avery Crouse did not exit the floor throughout the duration of the game, playing all 40 minutes for the fourth time in her career. She has played in 91 games with 90 starts as a Miner. The 90 starts ranks ninth in program history.

UNDEFEATED AGAINST THE AGGIES
Over the course of her four seasons as a Miner, Avery Crouse is now 8-0 against rival NM State in the Battle of I-10.

GETTING TO THE LINE
UTEP is averaging 16.8 free throws made per game, ranking 15th nationally and third in Conference USA. The Miners are also averaging 23.6 free throw attempts per game, ranking 16th nationally and third in the conference.

JACKSON STEALS UPDATE
Junior guard Jazion Jackson is back in the lead in Conference USA and ranks 82nd nationally with 23 steals in her first season with the Miners. Jackson averages 2.6 steals per game, ranking third in C-USA and 60th nationally.

DEFENSIVE FOCUS
UTEP has yet to allow an opponent to score 70 points this season, including holding four teams below 60 points. Foes are averaging 60.0 points per game and have been forced into 18.8 turnovers per contest.

TRIO PLAYING MAJOR MINUTES
The trio of Avery Crouse, N'Yah Boyd and Jazion Jackson each ranks in the top-10 in C-USA in minutes played per game. Crouse averages 35.1, Boyd 32.0 and Jackson 30.6 per contest. Crouse and Jackson are the only two players on the roster who have started all nine games to this point.

WHAT'S NEXT
Following the holiday break, UTEP returns home on Dec. 29 to host UAB in the first game in the Don Haskins Center since a 65-61 win over NM State on Nov. 30.

HOME TICKET INFO
Tickets start at $8 for regular season games 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 new campaign at the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office by calling (915) 747-UTEP, visiting UTEPMiners.com/tickets, by emailing tickets@utep.edu, or by stopping by in person at 500 W. University Ave., 79968 (Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Help support UTEP student-athletes by making a gift to the Miner Athletic Club.

Visit givingto.utep.edu/mac today!

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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