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UTEP Miners

UTEP Miners
1/16/25 Asensio vs LU
75
Winner Liberty Lib 11-5,4-1 CUSA
64
UTEP UTEP 8-7,1-3 CUSA
Winner
Liberty Lib
11-5,4-1 CUSA
75
Final
64
UTEP UTEP
8-7,1-3 CUSA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Liberty Lib 21 22 15 17 75
UTEP UTEP 16 13 16 19 64

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Tale of Two Halves: Miners’ Second-Half Effort Not Enough in 75-64 Loss to Liberty

Game Book (PDF) 
Season Statistics (PDF)

EL PASO, Texas - The UTEP women's basketball team (8-7, 1-3 CUSA) dropped its Conference USA home opener to Liberty (11-5, 4-1 CUSA), 75-64, Thursday evening. Four Miners scored in double figures in the contest.
 
In a tale of two halves, the Orange and Blue outscored the visitors 35-32 in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome the 14-point hole they found themselves in after two quarters.
 
UTEP shot 34.4 percent (22-64) from the floor, 26.3 percent (5-19) from distance, and 68.2 percent (15-22) from the foul line in the game.
 
The Miners held the statistical advantage in rebounds (44-40), including 15-9 on the offensive glass. They also outdid the Lady Flames in steals (8-6), and second chance points (16-6). The team dished out 13 assists and swatted two blocks.
 
Ndack Mbengue led the field with 15 points while Ivane Tensaie (13), Delma Zita (11), and Luisa Vydrova (10) also posted double digit scoring efforts.
 
Vydrova was a rebound away from a double-double, leading all players with nine boards (four on the offensive glass). Mbengue sat second on the team with seven rebounds and Irene Asensio grabbed a career-high six.
 
Asensio shared the game lead with  a career-best five assists and led outright in steals with three. Vydrova was assist shy of matching her career-best, handing out four, while she and Mbengue each swatted one block for the Miners.
 
"We played better tonight than what we have been our last few games, but we are disappointed in the outcome," Head Coach Keitha Adams said. The second quarter hurt us, we gave up some transition points and had some miscues on defense that shouldn't have  happened. We did have four people in double figures, which is good. We are going to try to build off this and keep getting better. There were some positives. With our young team, our new team, you've got to find positives to build off and keep momentum going."
 
It was a back-and-forth game to start, but the Liberty managed to open up a five-point lead, 21-16,  by the end of the opening period. Mbengue led the Miners with six points in the first.
 
The Lady Flames got hot from beyond the arc in the second quarter, allowing them to take a 14-point advantage, 43-29, into the locker rooms. Vydrova paced UTEP with six points, six rebounds, and three assists over the initial two periods.
 
The Miners shot 31.6 percent (12-38) from the floor, 20.0 percent (2-10) from three, and 50.0 percent (3-6) from the foul line in the first half. They grabbed 27 rebounds while tallying seven assists, four steals, and one block.
 
The scoring was even in the third quarter, but UTEP still trailed 58-45 at the end of the period. Mbengue and Tensaie led the team with 10 points apiece.
 
Though the Miners outscored the Lady Flames in the final period, it was not enough to overcome the deficit, and the visitors pulled off the 75-64 win.
 
Liberty shot 43.1 percent (28-65) from the field, 30.0 percent (9-30) from distance, and 71.4 percent (10-14) from the charity stripe in the contest. The Lady Flames recorded 40 rebounds, 17 assists, six steals, and six blocks. Emma Hess paced Liberty with 15 points, followed by Jordan Hodges (12), and Emmy Stout (11). Bella Smuda, Elisabeth Aegisdottir, and Asia Boone each scored eight. Smuda grabbed a team-best seven rebounds, with Hess and Stout close behind at six apiece. Stout also led the team in blocks with two while Smuda led in steals (two) and Aegisdottir in assists (five).
 
FAST FORWARD
The Miners are back in the Don Haskins Center Saturday (1/18) when they host FIU. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.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.
 
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