Game Book (PDF)
EL PASO, Texas- The UTEP women's basketball team remained unbeaten and continued its dominant defensive stretch with a 62–44 victory over Texas A&M–Corpus Christi on Wednesday night at the Don Haskins Center. The Miners improved to 7–0 for the first time since the 2013–14 season and moved to 6–0 at home for the first time since 2022–23, extending one of the program's strongest season starts in the past decade.
UTEP once again relied on a balanced attack and stifling defense, holding the Islanders under 30 percent shooting while forcing 21 turnovers.
Ivane Tensaie led the Miners with 15 points and four rebounds, followed closely by
Sirviva Legions with 14 points and eight boards.
Ndack Mbengue added nine points and eight rebounds,
Portia Adams scored 10 points, and
Heaven Samayoa-Mathis sparked the defense with a career-high six steals, while
Delma Zita dished a team-high five assists.
"I thought our first-half defense was really good," head coach
Keitha Adams said. "Offensively, we could have gotten into more of a rhythm tonight, but at the end of the day it was a good win."
UTEP established control immediately, capitalizing on a technical foul and igniting a 13–2 run in the first four minutes. The Miners' pressure defense held TAMU–CC without a field goal during that stretch and limited the Islanders to just one make over the final four minutes of the period UTEP dictated the tempo on both ends and carried a 21-9 lead into the second quarter.
The Miners maintained their defensive grip in the second period, forcing a 6:30 scoring drought and holding the Islanders without a field goal for more than seven minutes. TAMU–CC managed just six points in the quarter, the fewest UTEP has allowed in any period this season. Both teams went cold midway through the frame, but the Miners produced timely offense and continued to pressure the Islanders into mistakes.
At the half, UTEP held a 29–15 lead after limiting TAMU–CC to 21.7 percent shooting and just 9.1 percent from three, while forcing 13 turnovers.
Sirviva Legions led all players with 10 points and five rebounds, and Adams and Tensaie combined for 15 first-half points (Adams eight, Tensaie seven).
UTEP opened the second half with urgency, quickly pushing the lead to 21 points with six minutes remaining, its largest margin of the night. TAMU–CC responded with a 7–0 run to cut the deficit to 13 at the 1:30 mark, but the Miners regrouped and closed the period with poise. Samayoa-Mathis drilled a three-pointer in the final seconds to halt the Islanders' momentum and send UTEP into the fourth quarter leading 51–33.
The Miners controlled the pace throughout the final period, matching the Islanders with 11 points while continuing to disrupt passing lanes and force turnovers. UTEP held TAMU–CC scoreless for the final 3:50, sealing a wire-to-wire defensive win. The Miners closed out the night with composure to secure a 62–44 victory and remain unbeaten on the season.
UTEP finished shooting 36.1 percent from the field, 31.3 percent from three, and 61.9 percent at the line, adding 43 rebounds, 16 steals, and 21 points off turnovers to close out another strong defensive performance.
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi was led by Samora Watson, who scored 17 points, while Marissa Shelton added 12 points and a team-high four assists. K'Nari Holliday paced the Islanders on the glass with eight rebounds.
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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