UTEP WBB Welcomes Morehead State to Don Haskins Center Sunday

11/8/2024 4:01:00 PM

Game Notes

EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP women's basketball team hosts Morehead State Sunday (11/10). Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. MT in the Don Haskins Center. The Miners will be celebrating 2024 WNBA Champion and UTEP Alumn Kayla Thornton by raising her jersey to the rafters of the Haskins Center.

GAME COVERAGE
Sunday vs Morehead State — Live Stats or Watch Here

LAST WEEK ON...
The Miners defeated Tarleton State 52-49 on Nov. 4 to earn their first win of the 2024-25 campaign. Portia Adams scored a team-high 15 points, followed by Ivane Tensaie with 14, and Dunja Zecevic with 11. Mary Moses Amaniyo and Luisa Vydrova shared the team lead with five rebounds apiece and Amaniyo also recorded the lone block of the game for UTEP. Adams also snagged a team-best two steals while Delma Zita served up three assists to pace the Miners. Defense proved key for UTEP, limiting the Texans to just 14 first half points while also holding them under 40 percent shooting (38.3) and under 30 percent from beyond the arc (27.8)

TENACIOUS D
The UTEP defense showed out in game one, holding Tarleton State to just 49 points. Additionally, the Miners forced 22 turnovers from the Texans

POINTS AT A PREMIUM
The 49 points by the Texans were the fewest allowed by the Miners in a non-conference game since 2021, when they defeated UIW 81-47 on 11/11/21.

HOLDING STRONG
UTEP held off a late-game surge by Tarleton State. The Texans managed to tie the score at 46 with under five minutes to play, but the Miners kept their composure and held on for the victory

SHARP SHOOTING
The Miners shot 45.5 percent (5-11) from three against the Texans. Ivane Tensaie led the team with three, while Portia Adams and Dunja Zecevic added key late game threes to seal the win.

DEBUTS IN ORANGE AND BLUE
Five players made their debut for the Orange and Blue: Portia Adams, Mary Moses Amaniyo, Irene Asensio, Ndack Mbengue, and Heaven Samayoa-Mathis.

PORTIA PUT ON A SHOW
Portia Adams led all Miners with 15 points in her UTEP debut. Moreover, she paced the team with two steals and was second in assists (two). She also shot 40.0 percent (4-10) from the field, 50.0 percent (1-2) from three, and 75.0 percent (6-8) from the foul line.

TERRIFIC TENSAIE
Ivane Tensaie poured in 14 points against TSU on 50.0 percent shooting (5-10). She drained three shots from beyond the arc to lead the Miners.

DUNJA DOWN THE STRETCH
Dunja Zecevic dropped 11 points in the Miners' season opener, all coming in the second half. Furthermore, eight of those points came in the final period to help UTEP upend Tarleton State.

Miner fans are the best fans
Over 2,000 rowdy fans showed up for UTEP's home opener on Nov. 4, bolstering the Miners to victory.

BACK FOR MORE
The Miners are bringing back four letter winners from the 2023-24 season. Senior guards Ivane Tensaie and Delma Zita and sophomore forwards Luisa Vydrova and Dunja Zecevic will look to push the team forward with energy and experience.

REDSHIRT RETURNERS
Redshirt freshman Thelma Barbitch is back with UTEP, looking to aid the Miners from beyond the arc in 2024-25.

FRESH FACES
The Miners added eight to their 2024-25 class, with four freshmen and four transfers. Yagmur Canguven, Irene Asensio, Mary Moses Amaniyo, and Osadebamwen Igbinedion Omoruyi are fresh faces in the college game. Heaven Samayoa-Mathis (Salt Lake CC), Portia Adams (Lamar), Ndack Mbengue (Cowley College), and Abby Priscilla (Grayson CC) bring valuable collegiate experience to the squad.

INTERNATIONAL LOVE
The Miners have 10 international players on their 2024-25 roster. That is the second most in Division I, behind South Florida with 11.

FEARLESS LEADER
The winningest coach in UTEP women's basketball history returned to the Borderland ahead of the 2023-24 season. Keitha Adams was the head coach of the Miners the first time around from 2001-2017, leading the Miners to four post season appearances ( two NCAA, two WNIT) and four CUSA championships (three regular season, one tournament). She has amassed 297 victories at the helm of the UTEP program. Additionally, Adams has tallied over 500 career victories, including 377 at the DI level.

AIN'T NOBODY MESSING WITH OUR CLIQUE
Along with Adams, three other Miner legends have returned to coach alongside her in round two. First, Ewa Laskowska, who has served on Adams's staff for 25 years, has returned as Associate Head Coach. Additionally, two former Miner players under Adams, Jareica Hughes and Lulu McKinney, return for year two as assistant coaches.

FAST FORWARD
The Miners return to the Haskins Center next Saturday (11/16) when they host UTSA) at 11 a.m. MT.

SCOUTING REPORT: MOREHEAD STATE
The Eagles are 1-1 so far in the 2024-25 campaign. They won their first game against Asbury (92-80) before falling on the road at New Mexico, (56-66). Aileen Marquez paces the team with 21.0 points per game, followed by Kate Novik with 19.5. Harley Paynter (11.5) and Chrishawn Coleman (10.0) are also averaging in double figures for Morehead State. Kuryn Brunson is pulling down a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game. Novik leads the team in assists (6.0), steals (5.0), blocks (1.5), FG% (.625), and FT% (.800) and ranks third in rebounds (5.0). Paynter sits second in both rebounds (5.5) and assists (5.5).

As a team, the Eagles are ranked in the top 100 nationally in numerous categories, including assists per game (18.0, 68th), blocks per game (7.0, 23rd), steals per game (16.0, 27th), and turnovers forced per game (26.5, 38th). Individually, multiple players are putting up impressive numbers. Novik is ranked in assists per game (6.0, 45th), blocks (3, 59th), field goal attempts (24, 85th), field goals (15, 10th), free throw attempts (10, 74th), free throws made (8, 67th), points (39, 15th) and steals per game (5.00, 15th). Paynter is ranked in assists per game (5.5, 83rd), and three-point attempts (14, 26th). Coleman is also in the national rankings in steals (5, T73rd) and free throw attempts (12, 32nd). Brunson is sixth in the nation in double doubles (one), while Katie Dike is T73rd in steals (five) and Marquez is 47th in three pointers (five).

SERIES HISTORY WITH THE EAGLES
This will be the first ever meeting between UTEP and Morehead State.

FAST FORWARD
The Miners return to the Haskins Center next Saturday (11/16) when they host UTSA) at 11 a.m. MT.

TICKETS
For tickets, fans can call 915-747-UTEP or visit UTEPMiners.com/Tickets for more information.

Give a gift to UTEP Women's Basketball by donating to the Fast Break Club.

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.

Print Friendly Version