UTEP Women’s Basketball Host Jax State Saturday in “Play4Kay” Game

2/21/2025 4:00:00 PM

Game Notes (PDF)
Season Statistics (PDF)

EL PASO, Texas– The UTEP women's basketball team (9-15, 2-11 CUSA) will take the court for a cause this Saturday, Feb. 22, at 12:30 p.m. as they face Jacksonville State (10-15, 4-10 CUSA) in their annual "Play4Kay" game at the Don Haskins Center. This special event supports the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, honoring cancer survivors and uniting the community in the fight against cancer. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to show their support.

GAME COVERAGE
Saturday vs Jax State— Live Stats or Watch Here

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU MISSED…
A cold-shooting third quarter doomed UTEP against Kennesaw State on Feb. 20, resulting in a 68-56 defeat. The Miners shot 33.3 percent (18-54) from the floor, 27.8 percent (5-18) from three, and 83.3 percent (15-18) from the charity stripe. They registered 41 rebounds, 10 assists, eight steals, and two blocks in the contest. Ndack Mbengue paced the team in scoring and rebounding, posting a 12-12 double-double. Mbengue also snagged a game-best four steals. Delma Zita also scored in double figures with 10 points and shared the game-high with four assists. Ivane Tensaie and Heaven Samayoa-Mathis also got in on the scoring action, dropping eight points apiece. Luisa Vydrova was second on the team in boards with seven. Both Vydrova and Mbengue earned one block for the Miners.

MINER NOTABLES
Two Miners are averaging double-figures in scoring, Ivane Tensaie (13.1) and Portia Adams (10.3). Ndack Mbengue pulls down a team-best 7.4 rebounds per game, followed by Luisa Vydrova at 5.7. Delma Zita is handing out 3.7 assists per game with Adams sitting second at 2.3. Adams and Irene Asensio share the team lead in steals at 1.0 apiece. Dunja Zecevic and Mbengue both a team-best 0.6 blocks per game. Mbengue is shooting a team-best 55.7 percent from the floor while Tensaie leads from three (37.8). Tensaie, Zita, and Adams are all hitting 80.0 or better from the foul line at 83.3, 82.9, and 81.0, respectively.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE QUEEN
Ndack Mbengue earned her seventh double-double of the season against Kennesaw State with a 12-point, 12-rebound performance.

IT'S A TEN
Delma Zita dropped 10 points against Kennesaw State, her 10th game this season hitting that mark or higher.

SWIPER KEEP SWIPING
Ndack Mbengue snagged a career-best four steals against the Owls, her second multi-steal game of the season.

FOLLOW THE LEADER
Ndack Mbengue led the team in both points and rebounds against KSU, marking her fourth time leading the Miners in scoring and 12th in rebounding. Additionally, it was Mbengue's 10th game posting 10 or more points and ninth with at least 10 rebounds.

AUTOMATIC
Dunja Zecevic shot 100 percent (6-6) from the foul line against Kennesaw State, earning a career-best in free throws made and free-throw percentage and tying a career-high in free-throw attempts.

SHARPSHOOTER
Heaven Samayoa-Mathis shot 60.0 percent (3-5) from the field for the second straight game against the Owls. It was her second eight-point showing in a row. She also shot 66.7 percent (2-3) from beyond the arc.

DELMA'S DISHES
Delma Zita dished out a team-high four assists against KSU. It was her 15th time leading the Miners in assists this season. Moreover, it was Zita's 17th game recording at least three assists, and 12th with four or more.

TENSAIE FOR THREEEEE!
Ivane Tensaie is averaging 2.71 threes per game in 2024-25, placing her 18th in the nation in the category.

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 83.3 percent, followed by Delma Zita (82.9), Portia Adams (81.0), Luisa Vydrova (78.1), and Irene Asensio (77.8).

ON TARGET
Four UTEP players are shooting over 50.0 percent from the field on the year: Ndack Mbengue (55.7), Osadebamwen Igbinedion Omoruyi (52.4), Luisa Vydrova (51.3), and Mary Moses Amaniyo (50.0).

GUARDING THE PERIMETER
The Miners held the Owls to just 23.1 percent (3-13) from beyond the arc. It marks the 14th time this season that an opponent has shot under 30.0 percent from distance.

MAKING THEM COUNT
UTEP shot 83.3 percent from the foul line against KSU after shooting below 75.0 percent in the previous four contests.

HOW MAY WE ASSIST YOU?
The Miners have recorded 309 assists in 552 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: JAX STATE
The Gamecocks are 10-15 on the year and 4-10 in CUSA play. Most recently they were upended 66-47 at NM State on Feb. 20. Jax State is averaging 60.1 points, 35.5 rebounds and 12.4 assists per game. The Gamecocks are shooting 36.5 percent from the floor, 30.1 percent from downtown, and 66.6 percent from the foul line. Bre'Anna Rhodes leads the team with 8.2 points per game, followed by Clara Gonzalez Planella (8.0), Mya Barnes (7.5), Maria Sanchez Ponce (7.3), and Valentina Saric (6.6). Asia Barclay grabs a team-best 5.4 rebounds per game with Rhodes close behind at 4.6. Samiya Steele hands out 2.6 assists per game to lead JSU, followed by Elsie Harris at 2.5. Barnes tops the team in both steals (1.2) and blocks (1.2). Barnes also leads the team in field goal percentage (49.6) while Gonzalez Planella leads from distance (35.5) and Rhodes from the foul line (76.6). Nationally, the Gamecocks are ranked in multiple categories. They currently sit seventh in the nation in three-point percentage defense (25.4), 10th in bench points per game (36.5), and 11th in three points attempts per game (27.3). They also rank 33rd in three pointers per game (8.2), 81st in scoring defense (59.7), 97th in turnovers forced per game (17.84), and 98th in turnover margin (2.12).

SERIES HISTORY WITH THE GAMECOCKS
UTEP is 1-2 all-time against Jax State. Earlier this season, the Miners lost by one, 72-71, in an overtime thriller in Jacksonville (1/23/25).

FAST FORWARD
Following Saturday's game against Jax State, the Miners head out on their final road trip of the 2024-25 regular season. First, they head to Bowling Green, Ky., to take on WKU (2/27) before traveling down to Murfreesboro, Tenn. to play at Middle Tennessee (3/1).

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

Give a gift to UTEP Women's Basketball by donating to the Fast Break Club.

Help support UTEP student-athletes by making a gift to the Miner Athletic Club.
Visit givingto.utep.edu/mac 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.

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