GAME NOTES (PDF)

EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP women's basketball team concludes its season-opening homestand by hosting UT Martin on Saturday at the Don Haskins Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT In the Miners' fourth straight home game to open the 2025-26 campaign.
 
GAME COVERAGE
Saturday vs UT Martin – Live Stats or ESPN+
 
SCOUTING UT MARTIN
UT Martin enters Saturday's matchup at 1-3 following a 77-45 loss at New Mexico. The Skyhawks are under longtime head coach Kevin McMillan, now in his 17^th season.
 
The Skyhawks are averaging 59.8 points, 32.0 rebounds, and 12.2 assists per game, while shooting 37.8 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from behind three, and 73.7 percent from the free throw line. Defensively, UT Martin is keeping opponents to 37.2 percent from the field, including 26.7 percent from three, while forcing 21.8 turnovers a game.
 
Kenley Mccarn paces the way for the team in both points (13.2), assists (3.0) and is third on the squad in steals (1.5). Yar Tong anchors the interior, averaging 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game to lead UT Martin in both categories. Grace Billington provides additional scoring and balance with 12.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, while Zy Thompson adds 9.3 points per game to round out the Skyhawks' top scoring group. 
 
MINER NOTABLES
Three Miners scored in double figures as UTEP continued its early hot streak improving to 3-0 with an 81-56 win over WNMU on Nov. 11. Mary Moses Amaniyo led the way with a team-high 12 points and 12 rebounds for her second career double-double, tying Ndack Mbengue for the team lead on the glass. Heaven Samayoa-Mathis added 11 points and seven rebounds, while Sirviva Legions contributed 10 points and nine boards. Portia Adams paced the Miners with five assists along with eight points.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's matchup marks the first ever meeting between UTEP and UT Martin.
 
MINERS REMAIN HOT INSIDE THE DON
UTEP improved to 3-0 on the season with an 81-56 win over Western New Mexico on Nov. 11, remaining unbeaten at home and turning in its most dominant performance of the young season, using rebounding, extended scoring runs, and a strong second half defensive surge.
 
UTEP has now won its three home games by an average of 18.3 points, leading for nearly the entire homestand.
 
FIRST BUCKET TO FINAL BURST
For the first time this season, UTEP scored the game's first basket against WNMU and used an 8-2 run to start the game.
 
After WNMU briefly led 26-24, the Miners closed the first half on a 15-1 run over the final four minutes to take a 39-27 lead into the locker room.
 
SECOND-HALF SURGE
UTEP outscored WNMU 42-29 in the second half, fueled by two major runs:

• 11-0 run to open the third quarter
• 19-0 run spanning late third/early fourth.

The Miners built their largest lead of 27 points (68-41) early in the fourth quarter and cruised the rest of the way.
 
RECORD DAY ON THE GLASS
UTEP set a single-game program record with 33 offensive rebounds in the victory against WNMU, topping the prior standard (32, vs. Abilene Christian) that had stood since 1993. Overall, the Miners finished the contest with 64 total rebounds, their most in a game since 2016 also against the Mustangs (66).
 
Four Miners finished with at least seven boards:

• Mary Moses Amaniyo, 12
• Ndack Mbengue, 12
• Sirviva Legions, 9
• Heaven Samayoa-Mathis, 7

HISTORIC OFFENSIVE START
UTEP has scored 241 points through its first three games, the most to open a season since tallying 246 points in the initial three games of the 2021-22 campaign.
 
The Miners are averaging 80.3 points per contest, up more than 15 points from last season's scoring average.

OWNING THE PAINT
Sophomore forward Mary Moses Amaniyo has anchored UTEP's frontcourt through the first three games, averaging a team-high 14.0 points and 14.0 rebounds per contest. She leads CUSA and ranks third nationally in rebounds per game.
 
BENCH IMPACT
UTEP's depth has been a major early-season strength, with the Miners averaging 40.7 bench points per game, ranking sixth nationally and first in CUSA. Mary Moses Amaniyo leads the charge with 14.0 points off the bench, followed by Heaven Samayoa-Mathis at 10.0 points. Newcomers Tatiana Collazo and Brooklyn Terry each add 4.3 points per game.
 
The Miners have outscored opponents 122-57 in bench points through the first three 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 3-0 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 310 victories with the Miners and more than 500 wins overall in her career, including 390 at the Division I level.
 
 UP NEXT  
JOIN THE 915 Campaign
UTEP Athletics has launched the "915 Campaign." Fans can support the Miners by contributing as little as $9.15 per month to UTEP's Talent Acquisition Fund (TAF), which directly impacts the success of UTEP student-athletes. To join the "915 Campaign" and become a difference maker for UTEP Athletics, please click here.    
 
Help support UTEP student-athletes by making a gift to the Miner Athletic Club.
Visit  https://am.ticketmaster.com/utep/quick-donate/NTExNA%3D%3D 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.