GAME NOTES (PDF) 

EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP women's basketball team continues its season-opening homestand by hosting Division II Western New Mexico on Tuesday (Nov. 11) for a Veterans Day matchup at the Don Haskins Center. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m. MT.
 
GAME COVERAGE
Tuesday vs WNMU – Live Stats or Watch Here
 
SCOUTING WNMU
Western New Mexico opens its 2025–26 season with an exhibition matchup against UTEP. The Mustangs finished the 2024–25 campaign 4–22 overall and 4–18 in Lone Star Conference play under second-year head coach Brenda Nichols, who previously led programs at Sam Houston (2006–18) and Mercer (2002–06). Nichols owns a 170–297 record at the Division I level.
 
Last season, WNMU averaged 53.7 points, 33.9 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 8.2 steals, and 2.9 blocks per game.
 
Four returners are back for WNMU, led by starters Cieara Dinwiddie, Natalie Magallanes, and Naomi Kimble. Magallanes ranked third on the team in scoring (6.4 ppg) and second in assists (1.5 apg) while leading the Mustangs with 1.4 steals per game. Kimble topped the team in rebounding (4.2 rpg) and added 3.6 points per outing. Yvanna Villarreal also returns after contributing off the bench last season.
 
MINER NOTABLES
Four Miners scored in double figures as UTEP improved to 2-0 with a 76-61 win over Nicholls State. Portia Adams led the way with a team-high 16 points and four assists, while also matching Heaven Samayoa-Mathis for the team lead with two steals. Mary Moses Amaniyo added 14 points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Ndack Mbengue contributed 12 points and six rebounds, and Sirviva Legions chipped in 11 points. The Miners exploded for 30 first-quarter points, marking their highest-scoring quarter since Feb. 17, 2023 (31 vs. UAB).
 
SERIES HISTORY
Tuesday's matchup marks the 13^th all-time meeting between UTEP and WNMU. The Miners lead the series 12-1, winning the most recent matchup 75-58 on Nov. 6, 2023.
 
MINERS STAY PERFECT AT HOME
UTEP improved to 2-0 on the season with a 76-61 victory over Nicholls State at the Don Haskins Center on Nov 8. The Miners shot 65 percent in the opening half to seize control, led for 38:33 of game time, forced 18 turnovers, and held the Colonels to 35 percent shooting overall and 20 percent from three-point range.
 
Four Miners scored in double figures, led by Portia Adams with a team high 16 points and four assists, while also tying Heaven Samayoa-Mathis for the team lead with two steals. Mary Moses Amaniyo added 14 points and a team best eight rebounds, Ndack Mbengue contributed 12 points and six boards, and Sirviva Legions chipped in 11 points.
 
FAST START FUELS WIN
UTEP opened the night on fire, scoring 30 points in the first quarter to set an early tone in the 76-61 win over Nicholls State on Nov. 8. The 30 points marked the program's highest-scoring quarter since recording 31 against UAB on Feb. 17, 2023. The Miners shot 78 percent in the frame and held Nicholls to just 13 points to build a 17-point lead after 10 minutes of play.
 
DEFENSIVE PRESENT CONTINUES
The Miners carried over their defensive intensity from the opener, holding Nicholls State to 35 percent shooting from the field and 20 percent from beyond the arc. UTEP forced 18 turnovers, including eight steals, and turned those miscues into 17 points on the other end. points on the other end. The Miners outscored the Colonels 36-30 in the paint, with both sides grabbing 38 rebounds
 
OWNING THE GLASS
Sophomore forward Mary Moses Amaniyo has anchored UTEP's frontcourt through the first two games, averaging a team-best 15.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per game. She currently ranks second nationally in total rebounds and sixth in rebounds per game, while leading CUSA in both categories. Amaniyo opened the season with a program-record 22 rebounds in the win over Prairie View A&M and followed with 14 points and eight boards against Nicholls State. Her physical presence inside has helped the Miners establish a +7.5-rebounding margin through two contests.
 
WHO'S BACK
The Miners return seven letterwinners from last year's roster, including Ivane Tensaie, Delma Zita, Portia Adams, Ndack Mbengue, Heaven Samayoa-Mathis, Irene Asensio, and Mary Moses Amaniyo. The group brings a strong mix of experience, leadership, and scoring ability to lead a new-look squad.
 
REDSHIRT RETURNERS
Redshirt junior Abby Priscilla returns to the lineup after missing the 2024-25 season due to injury, bringing added experience to the Miner backcourt.
 
FRESH FACES
Head coach Keitha Adams and her staff brought in five newcomers for the 2025-26 season, a group that features three freshmen and two transfers. The transfer class includes Tatiana Collazo (San Jose City College) and Sirviva Legions (Long Island University), both expected to provide an immediate boost with their collegiate experience. The freshman class consists of Brooklyn Terry (Mansfield, Texas/Legion Prep HS), Blessing Okhwodiasa (Madrid, Spain), and Aolani Woldai (Fort Worth, Texas / Brewer HS).
 
This blend of experience and youth gives the Miners added depth and versatility heading into the new campaign.
 
THE COACHING STAFF
Keitha Adams, the winningest coach in UTEP women's basketball history, enters her third straight season back the helm and her 19th overall with the Miners. She is once again joined by Associate Head Coach Ewa Laskowska, who has been on Adams's staff for 26 years. Rounding out the staff are assistant coaches Jareica Hughes and LuLu McKinney, both UTEP alumnae who starred under Adams during their playing days.
 
THE BEAR'S DEN
The Orange and Blue are off to a 2-0 start at the Bear's Den in 2025-26.
 
ORANGE AND BLUE NATION
UTEP averaged 1,386 fans per game last season at the Don Haskins Center, finishing second in Conference USA attendance. More than 20,000 fans turned out over the course of the year to support the Miners.
 
MINER MENTOR
The winningest coach in UTEP women's basketball history, Keitha Adams, enters her third season back leading the Miners and her 19th overall at the helm of the program. Adams previously guided UTEP from 2001–17, steering the team to four postseason appearances (two NCAA, two WNIT) and four Conference USA championships (three regular season, one tournament).
 
She has collected 308 victories with the Miners and more than 500 wins overall in her career, including 388 at the Division I level.
 
 UP NEXT

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