GAME NOTES (PDF)

EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP women's basketball team continues its season-opening homestand by hosting Nicholls State on Saturday (Nov. 8) at the Don Haskins Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.
 
GAME COVERAGE
Saturday vs Nicholls State – Live Stats or Watch Here
 
SCOUTING NICHOLLS STATE
Nicholls State (1-0) enter Saturday's matchup coming off a 72-66 win over Alcorn State. The Colonels are led by third-year head coach Justin Payne, who guided the program to 17-14 mark last season and a 9-11 record in Southland Conference play.
 
The Colonels showcased a balanced offense in their opener, shooting 52 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range. Sh'Diamond McKnight and Jasmine Matthews each scored 18 points, while Jesselynn Jalomo added 15. Emani Burks controlled the glass with 10 rebounds and Anyra Wilson paced the team with five assists. Nicholls State also converted 68 percent of its attempts at the foul line.
 
Defensively, Nicholls States forced 18 turnovers and limited Alcorn State to 44 percent shooting overall and 47 percent from beyond the arc. The Colonels held a 15-12 edge in assists while being narrowly out-rebounded 32-31. Saturday's matchup against UTEP marks Nicholls State's second road game of the season.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's matchup marks the third all-time meeting between UTEP and Nicholls State. The Colonels lead the series 2-0, earning a 58-56 victory in the most recent matchup on Nov. 23, 2018.
 
MINER NOTABLES
Four players scored in double figures in UTEP's season-opening win 84-60 over Prairie View A&M. Mary Moses Amaniyo led the way with a career high 16 points and a program-record 22 rebounds, while Heaven Samayoa-Mathis posted a career-high 14 points, along with four assists and a career-best two blocks. Freshman Brooklyn Terry added 13 points in her collegiate debut, and Sirviva Legions contributed 12 points and six rebounds in her first
game as a Miner. Aaliyah Davis and Samayoa-Mathis shared the team lead with two steals apiece, marking a career high for Davis.
 
STRONG START IN THE DON
UTEP (1-0) tipped off the 2025-26 campaign with an 84-60 win over Prairie View A&M on Nov. 3. Mary Moses Amaniyo anchored the effort with 16 points and a program-record 22 rebounds, pacing a dominant performance on the glass that helped the Miners outrebound the Panthers 52-37.
 
Heaven Samayoa-Mathis filled the stat sheet with career highs of 14 points, four assists, , two steals, and two blocks, along with four rebounds. Freshman Brooklyn Terry scored 13 points in her collegiate debut, while Sirviva Legions contributed 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists in her first game as a Miner. UTEP forced 27 turnovers in the win.

KEY STATS FROM OPENER

• UTEP held Prairie View to 37.9 percent shooting and just 19.0 percent from three-point range.
• The Miners forced 27 turnovers, including 20 in the first half.
• The Orange and Blue led for over 33 minutes and a built a game-high 27-point margin late in the fourth quarter

 
DEFENSE SETS THE TONE
The Miners showcased their defensive identity early, applying pressure that generated consistent disruption. Their 27 forced turnovers were the most in a game since a matchup last year against Morehead State (28, 11/101/24) and were converted into 28 points on the other end.
 
ORANGE AND BLUE DEBUTS
Three newcomers made their Miner debuts in Monday's win. Freshman Brooklyn Terry scored 13 points, while transfers Sirviva Legions and Tatiana Collazo combined for 18 points and seven rebounds.
 
AMANIYO'S RECORD DAY
Sophomore forward Mary Moses Amaniyo made history in the season opener, recording her first career double-double with career highs of 16 points and 22 rebounds. The 22 boards set a UTEP single-game record, surpassing the previous mark of 20 shared by Kayla Thornton (2014) and Kanequa Chancellor (1997).
 
BENCH PRODUCTION
UTEP's depth stood out in the opener, as the top three scorers came off the bench, combining for 5o of the team's 84 points. Moses Amaniyo led with 16 points, followed by Samayoa-Mathis with 14 and Brooklyn Terry with 13 in her collegiate debut. The 50 bench points were the most by a UTEP team since Jan 4, 2020, when the Miners recorded 52 against FAU.
 
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
The Miners' 84 points marked their highest scoring total since Nov. 23, 20224, when they recorded 83 points in a win over N.M. Highlands. Four players scored in double figures as UTEP showcased a balanced offensive attack in the season opener.   
 
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 5 newcomers for the 2025-26 season, a group that features three freshman 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 19^th overall with the Miners. She is once again joined by Associate Head Coach Ewa Laskowska, who has been on Adams' 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 1-0 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  
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.