GAME NOTES (PDF)
EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP women's basketball team returns to the Don Haskins Center on Wednesday looking to extend its undefeated start when it hosts Texas A&M–Corpus Christi at 7 p.m. MT. The Miners enter the matchup at 6–0 overall and a perfect 5–0 on their home floor.
GAME COVERAGE
Wednesday vs Texas A&M-CC –
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SCOUTING TEXAS A&M-CC
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi enters Wednesday's matchup at 1-5 overall, riding a five-game losing skid following an 89-74 loss to Oral Roberts on Nov. 26. The Islanders are led by Head Coach Toyelle Wilson, who is in her first season guiding the program.
The Islanders are averaging 61.2 points, 35.6 rebounds, and 13.2 assists per game, while shooting 39.1 percent from the field, 34.3 percent from three, and 62.6 percent at the free-throw line. Defensively, Texas A&M-CC is allowing opponents to shoot 47.2 percent overall and 31.6 percent from three, while forcing 15.8 turnovers a game, however, the Islanders are committing 22.8 turnovers per outing.
TAMU-CC is led by Samora Watson, who paces the team with 11.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. She is followed by Marrisa Shelton at 10.8 points per outing, while Knari Holliday adds 8.5 points and a team-best 7.0 rebounds per contest. Chelsea Wooten also contributes 10.2 points and 4.0 assists per game to round out the Islanders' top contributors.
SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday's matchup marks the sixth all-time meeting between UTEP and Texas A&M–Corpus Christi, with the Miners holding a 4–1 advantage in the series. The teams last met on Nov. 26, 2024, when UTEP earned a 64–53 victory in Corpus Christi.
MINER NOTABLES
Four Miners scored in double figures as UTEP extended its unbeaten start and protected its perfect home record with a 69-52 win over Denver on Nov. 29.
Ivane Tensaie powered the offense with 26 points on 8-of-12 shooting from three, setting a UTEP single-game record for three-pointers made.
Sirviva Legions followed with 17 points and seven rebounds, while
Ndack Mbengue added 12 points and 10 boards to secure her second straight double-double of the early season.
Mary Moses Amaniyo chipped in 11 points and five rebounds, and
Delma Zita directed the attack with a team-high six assists and four steals.
MINERS REMAIN PERFECT
UTEP improved to 6-0 on the season with 69-52 win against Denver on Nov. 29, extending its unbeaten start and protecting its perfect home record. The Miners once again showcased balance throughout the lineup and delivered its most dominant defensive outing of the year.
UTEP set the tone early with a 13-0 run to open the game and held Denver to just 19.4 percent shooting in the first half to build a 30-17 lead. After the Pioneers threatened with a late third-quarter push, the Miners responded with a strong defensive finish and a decisive 12-0 run in the fourth to regain control. Their ability to start fast, weather a surge, and close strong solidified a 6-0 start, and a continued perfect mark at home.
TENSAIE CATCHES FIRE
Ivane Tensaie delivered an explosive week from the three-point line, capped by a season-high 26 points and a UTEP single-game record eight three-pointers (8-12) in the win over Denver. The performance broke her own program mark of seven made threes, set last season vs UTSA (Nov. 16, 2024).
Tensaie opened the week with another standout effort, scoring 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc in UTEP's road victory at Kansas City (Nov. 25). Her combined production of 45 points and 13 made threes in two games, powered the Miners to a 2-0 week and helped her earn CUSA Player of the Week honors. Her perimeter efficiency continues to elevate UTEP's offense and stretch opposing defenses.
MBENGUE'S DOMINANCE CONTINUES INSIDE
Ndack Mbengue continued her strong interior play with 12 points and 10 rebounds against Denver, securing her second straight double-double and anchoring UTEP's presence in the paint. The senior forward was steady on both ends, helping control the glass and providing consistent scoring around the rim.
Earlier in the week, Mbengue delivered a standout performance at Kansas City with 18 points and 10 rebounds, her first double-double of the season. Her back-to-back efforts have solidified UTEP's frontcourt production and added to the Miners' early-season momentum.
A LIFT FROM LEGIONS
Sirviva Legions delivered her best performance of the early season in the win over Denver, posting a season-high 17 points and seven rebounds while providing energy on both ends of the floor.
The senior transfer continued her steady early-season production, giving UTEP another reliable scoring option in the backcourt.
GOING BACK-TO-BACK
UTEP has secured Conference USA Player of the Week recognition in consecutive weeks, marking the program's first back-to-back honors since the 2013–14 season.
Ivane Tensaie earned this week's award following a record-setting performance from beyond the arc, coming on the heels of last week's selection of
Mary Moses Amaniyo. The Miners' last set of consecutive weekly honorees came in 2014, when Kayla Thornton earned the award on Jan. 27 and Feb. 3.
AMANIYO JOINS ELITE COMPANY
Mary Moses Amanyo continued to establish herself as one of the nation's elite rebounders, posting two of the top performances in program history within the first month of the season. She opened the year with a UTEP-record 22 rebounds against PVAMU (Nov. 3) and later grabbed 18 boards in the win over UT Martin (Nov.22).
Amaniyo is the first Miner since Kayla Thornton in 2013-14 to record multiple games with 18 or more rebounds in the same season. Her presence on the glass continues to anchor UTEP's interior play and generate critical extra-possession opportunities.
UTEP'S DEFENSE FUELS HISTORIC START
UTEP is one of only five Division I programs this season to remain undefeated while holding every opponent under 65 points, joining Georgia, Michigan State, TCU, and Washington in the elite defensive group.
The Miners' defensive consistency marks the longest streak by a Conference USA program to open a season since Southern Miss in 2003–04, when the Golden Eagles began their campaign by holding their first 10 opponents below the mark.
EXTRA EFFORT, EXTRA POINTS
UTEP converted its rebounding strength into reliable scoring, dominating opponents 114–34 in second-chance points through its first six games. The Miners have recorded double-digit second-chance production in all six 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 19.0 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 itself as one of the top rebounding teams in the country, entering the week averaging 48.6 rebounds per game (7th nationally) and owning a +13.7-rebounding margin (14th nationally). The Miners also rank third in the nation in offensive rebounds per game at 19.2, 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.
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 313 victories with the Miners and more than 500 wins overall in her career, including 393 at the Division I level.
UP NEXT
UTEP continues nonconference play with two challenging road contests, starting Saturday at #8 TCU (Dec. 6) before traveling to BYU (Dec. 13).
TICKETS
For tickets, fans can call 915-747-UTEP or visit
https://am.ticketmaster.com/utep/buy?filterType=97 for more information.
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