UTEP WBB Hosts LA Tech on “Senior Day”

3/7/2025 5:52:00 PM

Game Notes (PDF)
Season Statistics (PDF)

EL PASO, Texas– The UTEP women's basketball team (11-17, 4-13 CUSA) faces off against LA Tech (14-14, 7-10 CUSA) in the final game of the 2024-25 regular season. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. MT. The Miners will celebrate "Senior Day" prior to the first tip.

GAME COVERAGE
Saturday vs. LA Tech – Live Stats or Watch Here

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU MISSED…
UTEP moved to 11-17 on the year, 4-13 in CUSA with a thrilling 65-64 win over Sam Houston on March 6. Ivane Tensaie came to the rescue once again for the Miners, draining the game-winner with three seconds left in regulation. Irene Asensio came up with a well-timed block on the other end to help seal the win. It was a back-and-forth ball game, featuring seven ties and 14 lead changes. Neither team led by more than seven points in the contest. The Orange and Blue shot 42.1 percent (24-57) from the field, 41.7 percent (5-12) from three, and 92.3 percent (12-13) from the foul line. The Miners registered 24 rebounds, 18 assists, nine steals, and three blocks. Tensaie led the game with 22 points, including 12 from beyond the arc. 10 of those points came in the final frame. Ndack Mbengue (16) and Dunja Zecevic (13) were also in double-figures for UTEP. Mbengue paced the team with five rebounds, followed by Luisa Vydrova, Tensaie, and Asensio with three each. Portia Adams dished out a team-high five assists while Asensio tallied four and Tensaie and Delma Zita each recorded three. Mbengue, Adams, and Heaven Samayoa-Mathis shared the team-high in steals with two apiece. Asensio, Zecevic, and Mbengue each swatted one block for the Miners.

MINER NOTABLES
Ivane Tensaie leads the Miners with 13.1 points per game, while Portia Adams (9.6) and Luisa Vydrova (9.5) are averaging just under 10 points apiece. Ndack Mbengue pulls down a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game, followed by Vydrova at 5.4. Delma Zita is handing out 3.6 assists per game with Adams sitting second at 2.5. Irene Asensio snags a team-leading 1.1 steals per game. Dunja Zecevic swats a team-best 0.7 blocks per game. Mbengue is shooting a team-best 56.5 percent from the floor while Tensaie leads from three (38.5). Tensaie, Zita, and Adams are all hitting 80.0 or better from the foul line at 85.0, 82.9, and 81.7, respectively.

ICE IN HER VEINS
Ivane Tensaie tallied her third game winner of the season against the Bearkats, having also done so at Sam Houston (1/4) and at home against FIU (1/18). Additionally, it was her fifth 20-point game of the season and 13th time leading the Miners offensively.

COMING IN CLUTCH
Dunja Zecevic came up big against Sam Houston, posting a career-high tying 13 points on 5-11 shooting. She also sunk all three of her free throw attempts in the game.

A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH
Ndack Mbengue also earned a career-best against the Bearkats, posting 16 points on 77.7 percent shooting (7-9). She also pulled down a team-high five rebounds, leading UTEP on the glass for the 15th time in 2024-25.

I THINK WE'VE SEEN THIS FILM BEFORE…
Ivane Tensaie drained four threes against Sam Houston. It marks the 17th time this season she has hit at least three shots from distance in a game, including nine with four or more.

SERVING IT ON A SILVER PLATTER
Portia Adams tallied a season-high five assists against the Bearkats, her eighth time pacing the team in assists on the campaign.

FREE HANDOUTS
Irene Asensio recorded four assists against Sam Houston, her 10th game this year with at least three helpers.

STUFFING THE STAT SHEET
Not only did Ivane Tensaie have a hot-shooting night against the Bearkats, but she also tied her career-high with four made free throws while also registering three rebounds, three assists, one steal, and just one turnover in the contest.

DELMA's DISHES
Delma Zita tallied three assists against Sam Houston, marking the 20th game this season that she has recorded three or more assists.

TENSAIE FOR THREEEEE!
Ivane Tensaie is averaging 2.75 threes per game in 2024-25, placing her at the top of CUSA and 15th in the nation in the category.

REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS
The Miners shot 92.3 percent (12-13) from the charity strip against the Bearkats, tying for 10th highest free-throw percentage in program history (they also went 12-13 against Arkansas State on 12/1/18).

HOW MAY WE ASSIST YOU?
UTEP recorded 18 assists against Sam Houston, the third highest total this season.

BAND OF THIEVES
The Miners have snagged six or more steals in seven straight games. Their nine steals against the Bearkats were the highest since grabbing 11 at Liberty (2/15/25).

ON TARGET
UTEP shot 42.1 percent (24-47) from the floor and 41.7 percent (5-12) from beyond the arc against Sam Houston, marking the fifth game this season that the Orange and Blue have shot 40.0 percent or better in both categories.

GUARDING THE PERIMETER
The Bearkats shot just 21.4 percent (3-14) from distance, and did not make a three until the final 1:30 of regulation. it was the 16th time this year that the Miners have held an opponent under 30.0 percent from three.

UPPING THE PRESSURE
UTEP forced 23 turnovers against Sam Houston, the highest total by a conference opponent this year. It also marks the sixth game this year that an opponent has committed at least 20 giveaways in a single game, and highest tally since UAPB registered 23 turnovers (12/19/24).

FEELIN' FINE AT THE FOUL LINE
Five Miners are shooting 75.0 percent or above from the charity stripe, including three hitting 80.0 or higher. Ivane Tensaie paces the team at 85.0 percent, followed by Delma Zita (82.9), Portia Adams (81.7), Luisa Vydrova (78.1), and Irene Asensio (77.8).

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: LA TECH
The Lady Techsters are 14-14 on the year, including 7-10 in league play. LA Tech is averaging 66.7 points, 38.2 rebounds, and 10.5 assists per game. The team is shooting 41.6 percent from the floor, 29.7 percent from distance, and 70.0 percent from the line. Paris Bradley leads the team with 14.1 points per game, followed by Robyn Lee, Jordan Marshall, and Jianna Morris, who are averaging 11.6 points each. Marshall paces the team on the boards with 8.5 rebounds per game, followed by Lee at 5.4 and Isla Airey at 4.4. Bradley also leads the team in assists (3.0) and steals (1.4). Lee sits second on the team in both categories (1.8 assists, 1.2 steals). Morris is tied for second on the team in assists with 1.8. Airey swats a team-best 1.6 blocks per game and also leads the team in FG% (59.3). Morris is shooting a team-high 35.2 percent from beyond the arc and Bradley is draining 81.0 percent from the line. Nationally, the Lady Raiders are ranked in multiple categories. They sit fifth in the country in free throw attempts per game (22.54), 12th in free throws made per game (15.79), 62nd in in rebound margin (4.9), 81st in three-point percentage defense (29.1), and 95th in rebounds per game (38.21). Individually, Airey ranks 62nd in blocks per game (1.61) and 67th in total blocks (45). Marshall sits 73rd in free throw attempts (149) and 86th in rebounds per game (8.5). Finally, Morris sits 75th in made free throws (112).

SERIES HISTORY WITH THE LADY TECHSTERS
UTEP is 12-17 all-time against LA Tech. Earlier this season, the Miners fell 63-50 against the Lady Techsters in Ruston (1/2/25).

FAST FORWARD
The Miners will travel to Huntsville, Ala. to take part in the 2025 CUSA Basketball Championships. UTEP will open the tournament in the first round on Tuesday (3/11). The full championship bracket will be set following the conclusion of tomorrow's contests.

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

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