UTEP WBB Welcomes Kennesaw State to the Don Haskins Center Thursday

2/19/2025 3:03:00 PM

Game Notes (PDF)
Season Statistics (PDF)

EL PASO, Texas– The UTEP women's basketball team (9-14, 2-10 CUSA) hosts Kennesaw State (9-15, 4-9 CUSA) Thursday evening. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.

GAME COVERAGE
Thursday vs Kennesaw State— Live Stats or Watch Here

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU MISSED…
UTEP fell 67-53 at Liberty on Feb. 15, dropping its record to 9-14 overall and 2-10 in conference play. The Miners shot 36.8 percent (21-57) from the floor, 30.0 percent (6-20) from three, and 55.6 percent (5-9) from the foul line in the contest. They tallied 26 rebounds, 12 assists, and 11 steals against the Lady Flames. Thelma Barbitch paced UTEP with 13 points. Ivane Tensaie (nine), Ndack Mbengue (nine), Heaven Samayoa-Mathis (eight), and Luisa Vydrova (seven) round out the top five scorers. Mbengue pulled down a team-best six rebounds, followed by Vydrova and Irene Asensio with four apiece. Asensio dished out four assists to lead the Miners while Vydrova added three. Vydrova also registered a team-best four steals.

MINER NOTABLES
Three Miners are averaging double-figures in scoring, Ivane Tensaie (13.3), Portia Adams (10.4), and Luisa Vydrova (10.0). Ndack Mbengue pulls down a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game, followed by Vydrova at 5.6. Delma Zita is handing out 3.7 assists per game with Adams sitting second at 2.5. Adams and Irene Asensio share the team lead in steals at 1.0 apiece. Dunja Zecevic swats a team-best 0.7 blocks per game. Mbengue is shooting a team-best 57.0 percent from the floor while Tensaie leads from three (38.2). Tensaie, Zita, Adams, and Vydrova are all hitting 80.0 or better from the foul line at 82.4, 82.1, 81.0, and 80.0, respectively.

THELMA'S TIME TO SHINE
Thelma Barbitch led UTEP with a career-high 13 points in just 13 minutes against Liberty. she shot 62.5 percent (5-8) from the floor and 60.0 percent (3-5) in the contest.

SWIPER KEEP SWIPING
Luisa Vydrova earned a career-best four steals against the Lady Flames. It was her fourth multi-steal game of the season.

CRASHING THE BOARDS
Ndack Mbengue tallied a team-best six rebounds against Liberty, marking her 11th time leading the Miners on the boards this campaign.

SHARPSHOOTER
Heaven Samayoa-Mathis shot 60.0 percent (3-5) from the field against the Lady Flames, posting eight points.

HELPING HAND
Irene Asensio dished out a team-high four assists against Liberty. It was her sixth time leading the Miners in assists this season.

STUFFING THE STAT SHEET
Luisa Vydrova put in a solid shift against the Lady Flames. She tallied seven points, four rebounds, four steals, three assists. She also did not record a single turnover in the game.

A PAIR OF NINES
Ndack Mbengue and Ivane Tensaie each put up nine points against Liberty, tied for second most on the team.

TENSAIE FOR THREEEEE!
Ivane Tensaie is averaging 2.74 threes per game in 2024-25, placing her 18th in the nation in the category.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
All 12 Miners who were available to play saw action against Liberty, with 10 players earning at least five minutes.

FEELIN' FINE AT THE FOUL LINE
Five Miners are shooting 75.0 percent or above from the charity stripe, including four hitting 80.0 or higher. Ivane Tensaie paces the team at 82.4 percent, followed by Delma Zita (82.1), Portia Adams (81.0), Luisa Vydrova (80.0), and Irene Asensio (77.8).

ON TARGET
Four UTEP players are shooting over 50.0 percent from the field on the year; Ndack Mbengue (57.0), Osadebamwen Igbinedion Omoruyi (52.4), Luisa Vydrova (51.3), and Mary Moses Amaniyo (51.0).

JEWEL THIEVES
The Miners registered 11 steals against the Lady Flames, the second highest steal total this campaign and highest against a Conference USA opponent (They snagged 13 against both N.M. Highlands on Nov. 23 and Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Dec. 19).

GUARDING THE PERIMETER
UTEP held Liberty to just 28.6 percent (6-21) from beyond the arc. It marks the 13th time this season that an opponent has shot under 30.0 percent from distance.

HOW MAY WE ASSIST YOU?
The Miners have recorded 299 assists in 534 made shot attempts this season (55.9 percent).

INTERNATIONAL LOVE
UTEP has 10 international players on their 2024-25 roster. That is the second most in Division I, behind South Florida with 11.

SCOUTING REPORT: KENNESAW STATE
The Owls are 9-15 on the year, including 4-9 in CUSA play. They are averaging 62.6 points, 36.5 rebounds, and 12.4 assists per game. Kennesaw State is shooting 38.6 percent from the floor, 24.5 percent from three, and 70.8 percent from the foul line this season. Four Owls are averaging double figures in scoring, Prencis Harden (15.0), Keyarah Berry (11.6), Keiara Griffin (10.1) and Carly Hooks (10.0). Harden also paces the team on the boards (10.7) followed by Berry (5.8). Hooks leads the team in both assists (3.6) and steals (1.5) and Harden swats a team-best 0.9 blocks per game. Berry shares the team lead in steals with Hooks (1.5). As a team, the owls rank 31st in the nation in three-point percentage defense (27.5) and 81st in both free throw attempts per game (18.29) and free throws made per game (12.96). Individually, Harden is ranked in multiple categories, including defensive rebounds per game (7.8-ninth), double doubles (13-11th), rebounds per game (10.7-11th), total rebounds (257-18th), free throw attempts (129-65th), and made free throws (99-66th).

SERIES HISTORY WITH THE OWLS
UTEP is 0-1 against Kennesaw State, having lost the first-ever matchup between the two, 84-70, earlier this season )1/25/25)

FAST FORWARD
Following Thursday's game against Kennesaw State, the Miners are back in the Don Saturday when they face off against Jax State. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m. MT.

TICKETS
For tickets, fans can call 915-747-UTEP or visit UTEPMiners.com/Tickets for more information.

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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.

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