GAME NOTES (PDF)

EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP women's basketball team puts its unbeaten start on the line Tuesday as the Miners travel to Kansas City for their first road test of the season. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT. UTEP is shooting for its second 5-0 start in the past four years.
 
GAME COVERAGE
Saturday vs Kansas City – Live Stats or Watch Here
 
SCOUTING KANSAS CITY
Kansas City enters Tuesday's matchup at 2-3, including a 2-0 mark at home, most recently earning a 121-43 victory over Hesston (NAIA) on Nov. 20. Kansas City is led by head coach Dionnah Jackson-Durrett, now in her fourth season guiding the Roos.
 
Kansas City is averaging 65.6 points, 37.1 rebounds, and 11.0 assists per game, while shooting 40.5 percent from the field, 29.4 percent from three, and 66.1 percent at the free-throw line. Defensively, the Roos are allowing opponents to shoot 44.0 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three, while forcing
16.8 turnovers a game.
 
Emani Bennett leads the Roos with 19.0 points per game and add 4.3 rebounds through three games. Elauni Bennett follows with 18.0 points and a team-best 8.2 rebounds per contest, while Tierra Trotter adds 11.0 points and a team-leading 4.2 assists. Jamyah Winter rounds out the top scoring group at 11.4 points per game.
 
MINER NOTABLES
Three Miners scored in double figures as UTEP pushed its record to 4-0 with a 64-60 overtime win over UT Martin on Nov. 22. Mary Moses Amaniyo continued her dominant start to the season with a career-high 18 points and 18 rebounds, securing her third double-double of the season. Ivane Tensaie delivered a clutch performance with 15 points and five rebounds, drilling two of the game's biggest shots in the final seconds of regulation and overtime. Portia Adams added 13 points and four assists, while Ndack Mbengue provided 10 rebounds. Delma Zita paced the Miners with a team-high five assists.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Tuesday's matchup marks the third all-time meeting between UTEP and Kansas City, with the Miners holding a 2–0 advantage in the series. The teams last met on Nov. 11, 2023, a 62–60 UTEP victory at the Don Haskins Center.
MINERS REMAIN PERFECT INSIDE THE DON
UTEP improved to 4-0 on the season with an 64-60 overtime win over UT Martin on Nov. 22. The Miners once again showcased their identity with defensive pressure, rebounding dominance, and contributions throughout the rotation.
 
UTEP closed out its season-opening homestand by leading for majority of the four-game stretch. The strong start establishes early momentum as the Miners prepare for their first road test of the season.
 
TENSAIE FOR THREEEEE!
Ivane Tensaie delivered two of the biggest shots of the night in UTEP's overtime win over UT Martin. With the Miners trailing late in regulation, Tensaie knocked down a pressure-packed three-pointer to tie the game and send it to overtime. She struck again in the extra period, burying the go-ahead triple with just four seconds remaining to secure the 64–60 victory. Her composure and shot making under pressure proved decisive and highlighted her impact in the Miners' backcourt.
 
MOSES MAKING HER MARK
Mary Moses Amaniyo continued her breakout start to the 2025–26 campaign with a career-high 18 points and 18 rebounds against UT Martin, securing her third double-double of the season and of her career. She opened the year by setting a program record with 22 rebounds in the season-opening win over Prairie View A&M. Her dominant stretch also earned her Conference USA Player of the Week honors, becoming UTEP's first recipient of the award since 2024.
 
In the early stages of the season, Amaniyo is averaging 15.0 points and 15.0 rebounds, ranking first nationally in rebounds per game (15.0), first in offensive rebounds per game (7.3), and fifth nationally in double-doubles (3). She also leads Conference USA in field-goal percentage at 60.5 percent, anchoring UTEP's interior presence with elite efficiency, physicality, and consistency.
 
NO BOARD LEFT BEHIND
UTEP established rebounding as a defining strength throughout its season-opening homestand, finishing with a 208–145 advantage on the glass for a +63 margin across four games (+15.8 per contest). The Miners consistently created extra possessions and limited opponents to single shots with their size and physicality. UTEP's effort on the offensive boards stood out, collecting 22 offensive rebounds in the overtime win over UT Martin and a program-record 33 earlier in the homestand against WNMU.
 
Through four games, the Miners are averaging 52.0 rebounds per game while holding opponents to 36.2, establishing rebounding as a key early-season strength.
 
EXTRA EFFORT, EXTRA POINTS
UTEP converted its rebounding strength into consistent scoring, dominating opponents 77–23 in second-chance points during the season-opening homestand. The Miners posted double-digit second-chance production in all four games, highlighted by a 17–0 margin in the overtime win over UT Martin and a season-best 26 against WNMU.
 
So far this season, UTEP is averaging 19.3 second-chance points per contest while limiting opponents to just 5.8, turning effort and offensive rebounding into a reliable scoring advantage.
 
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 4-0 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 311 victories with the Miners and more than 500 wins overall in her career, including 391 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.    
 
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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.