GAME NOTES (PDF)
EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP women's basketball team returns to the Don Haskins Center on Saturday looking to build on its undefeated start when it hosts Denver at 2 p.m. MT. The Miners are shooting for its first 6-0 start in nearly a decade.
GAME COVERAGE
Saturday vs Denver –
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SCOUTING DENVER
Denver enters Saturday's matchup at 3-3 overall, riding a three-game winning streak following a 67-40 victory over Division II Regis on Nov. 21. The Pioneers are 1-2 on the road this season and are led by head coach Doshia Woods, now in her fourth year guiding the program.
Denver is averaging 57.3 points, 38.0 rebounds, and 10.0 assists per game, while shooting 37.8 percent from the field, 26.2 percent from three, and 65.0 percent at the free-throw line. Defensively, the Pioneers are holding opponents to 36.0 percent shooting and 26.6 percent from three, while forcing 16.5 turnovers per game.
The Pioneers are led by Coryn Watts, who paces the team with 19.2 point per game and adds 2.0 steals per outing. Laia Monclova follows with 9.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and team-highs of 1.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Brook Murrell adds 6.5 rebounds per contest, rounding out Denver's top contributors.
MINER NOTABLES
Three Miners scored in double figures as UTEP improved to 5-0 with a 75-64 road win at Kansas City on Nov. 25.
Ivane Tensaie powered the offense with a season-best 19 points, shooting 5-8 from three to ignite the Miners from the perimeter.
Ndack Mbengue delivered a breakout performance with a career-high 18 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the year, while
Mary Moses Amaniyo added 11 points and 13 rebounds, securing her fourth double-double in the Miners' first five games.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's matchup marks the fifth all-time meeting between UTEP and Denver, with the Miners holding a 3–1 advantage in the series. The teams last met during the 2011–12 season, an 80–49 UTEP victory at the Don Haskins Center.
MINERS CLAIM FIRST ROAD WIN
UTEP improved to 5-0 on the season with a 75-64 win at Kansas City on Nov. 25, earning its first road victory of the year. The Miners once again displayed their balanced identity, combining timely perimeter shooting, interior toughness, and playmaking across the rotation to pull away in the second half.
UTEP controlled the final 20 minutes behind a 29-point third quarter, strong rebounding, and efficient shooting from beyond the arc. The Orange and Blue's ability to close out defensive possessions and convert second-chance opportunities helped secure their best start since 2022–23 as they return home looking to keep their momentum rolling.
TENSAIE CATCHES FIRE
Ivane Tensaie carried her late-game heroics from UT Martin into Kansas City, where she delivered a season-best 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three.
After drilling the game-tying and go-ahead triples in UTEP's overtime win over the Skyhawks, Tensaie erupted for 14 points in the third quarter to fuel the Miners decisive run against the Roos. Her perimeter shooting continues to provide a major spark for UTEP's offense.
AMANIYO CONTINUES DOMINANT START
Mary Moses Amaniyo continued her impressive early-season form with 11 points and 13 rebounds at Kansas City, securing her fourth double-double in five games. The sophomore forward entered the matchup as the Conference USA Player of the Week after posting a career-high 18 points and 18 rebounds against UT Martin.
Amaniyo opened the year with a program-record 22 rebounds in the opener and has established herself of one of the nation's top rebounders. She enters Saturday's game averaging 14.2 points and 14.6 rebounds, ranking first nationally in rebounds per game, third nationally in double-doubles and 13th nationally in total rebounds.
MBENGUE'S BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
Ndack Mbengue delivered a breakout effort at Kansas City, scoring a career-high 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to record her first double-double of the season. The senior forward set the tone early with a team-high 14 points in the first half, keeping UTEP within striking distance despite trailing 33-27 at the break.
Mbengue's interior production helped spark the Miners' second-half surge, and played a key role in UTEP finishing with a 45–30 rebounding advantage. Her presence complemented fellow forward
Mary Moses Amaniyo, and her performance continues to solidify UTEP's dominance in the paint.
DISHING IT OUT
Heaven Samayoa-Mathis handed out a career-high six assists in the win at Kansas City, leading all players in the contest. She enters the week tied for the team lead in assists per game (3.4), continuing to provide a steady playmaking presence in the Miners' backcourt.
HOT STARTS IN THE OPENING FRAME
UTEP has opened games with strong offensive bursts this season, posting 30 first-quarter points against Nicholls and 29 at Kansas City, two of the Miners' highest-scoring opening frames in recent years. The last time UTEP scored more in a first quarter was 32 points against Western New Mexico on Nov. 17, 2016, highlighting the team's improved pace and execution out of the gate.
EXTRA EFFORT, EXTRA POINTS
UTEP converted its rebounding strength into reliable scoring, dominating opponents 100–28 in second-chance points through their first five games. The Miners have recorded double-digit second-chance production in all five outings, 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 20.0 second-chance points per contest while limiting opponents to just 5.6, turning effort and offensive rebounding into a reliable scoring advantage.
NATIONALLY ELITE ON THE GLASS
UTEP has established itslef as one of the top rebounding teams in the country, entering the week averaging 50.6 rebounds per game (3rd nationally) and owning a +15.6-rebounding margin (14th nationally). The Miners also rank third in the nation in offensive rebounds per game at 20.6, consistently generating extra possessions that fuel their scoring.
UTEP's rebounding prowess was on full display against Western New Mexico, where the Miners grabbed a program-record 33 offensive rebounds and finished with 64 total boards, their highest single-game total since collecting 66 against the Mustangs in 2016. The sustained dominance on the glass continues to be a defining strength of UTEP's early-season success.
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 312 victories with the Miners and more than 500 wins overall in her career, including 392 at the Division I level.
UP NEXT
UTEP returns to the Don Haskins Center on Wednesday to host Texas A&M–Corpus Christi (Dec. 3) before heading back on the road for two challenging nonconference matchups at TCU (Dec. 6) and BYU (Dec. 13).
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.
