GAME NOTES (PDF)
EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP women's basketball team (9–7, 1–4 CUSA) continues its homestand Saturday with a Conference USA matchup against FIU (9–6, 2–2 CUSA) at the Don Haskins Center. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. MT, as the Miners look to bounce back and defend home court in El Paso. The game will serve as the Miners' "Noche Latina" celebration
GAME COVERAGE
Saturday vs. FIU –
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SCOUTING FIU
FIU enters Saturday's matchup at 9–6 overall, 2–2 in Conference USA, and 2–3 on the road, riding a two-game winning streak following an 83–74 victory at New Mexico State (Jan. 15). The Panthers are led by head coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley, now in her sixth season at the helm.
FIU is averaging 76.8 points, 37.8 rebounds, and 15.0 offensive rebounds per game while shooting 42.1 percent from the field, 27.8 percent from three, and 66.3 percent from the free-throw line. The Panthers rank first in CUSA and inside the top 50 nationally in scoring and lead the league in free-throw attempts per game (27.53) while ranking sixth nationally in made free throws (18.27 per game). Defensively, FIU is holding opponents to 43.0 percent shooting overall and 31.5 percent from three, while forcing 25.73 turnovers per game (6th nationally, 2nd in CUSA) and averaging 13.4 steals per contest (11th nationally, 2nd in CUSA).
FIU is led by Rhema Collins, who paces the Panthers with 19.8 points per game (top 25 nationally, 1st in CUSA) and 10.3 rebounds per contest (top 25 nationally, 1st in CUSA), while adding 4.8 offensive rebounds per game (2nd nationally), 1.7 blocks per game (50th nationally, 1st in CUSA), and shooting 50.3 percent from the field. Collins also leads Conference USA with eight double-doubles. Paris Atkins provides a secondary scoring punch with 19.3 points per game (28th nationally, 2nd in CUSA) and ranks third nationally with 4.0 steals per game. Grecia Ferrer Leal directs the offense, averaging a team-high 4.3 assists per game, while also contributing 7.0 points per contest.
MINER NOTABLES
Two Miners are averaging double figures in scoring:
Ivane Tensaie (11.1) and
Ndack Mbengue (10.4). Mbengue and
Mary Moses Amaniyo are each averaging near double-doubles, with Amaniyo leading the team at 9.8 rebounds per game while also contributing 9.2 points, and Mbengue close behind with 8.5 rebounds per game.
Portia Adams leads the team in assists with 2.9 per game, while
Heaven Samayoa-Mathis adds 2.3 per game and leads the Miners in steals at 1.7 per game. Amaniyo tops the team in field-goal percentage at 51.7%, Adams leads from three-point range at 35.7%, and
Delma Zita is the team's best free-throw shooter at 80.0%.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's matchup marks the 21st all-time meeting between UTEP and FIU, with the Miners holding a 13–7 advantage. The teams split last season's series, each winning on its home floor
MINERS COME UP SHORT VS. MISSOURI STATE, 71-64
UTEP fell 71–64 to Missouri State Thursday night at the Don Haskins Center, moving the Miners to 9–7 overall and 1–4 in Conference USA play. The team battled throughout, showing resilience and competitiveness, but early scoring droughts and timely Missouri State runs created separation. Despite multiple pushes to close the gap, the Miners were unable to fully overcome the early deficit.
Missouri State jumped out to an early lead, scoring from the free-throw line and capitalizing on transition opportunities to open the game. UTEP found its rhythm as the quarter progressed, trimming the margin to 19–11 after the first. The Miners stayed aggressive in the second quarter, forcing turnovers and converting inside, but Missouri State maintained a 31–23 lead at halftime. UTEP came out strong in the third, using defensive pressure to generate scoring chances and pulling within two midway through the period. Missouri State responded with timely baskets, entering the fourth quarter ahead 52–45. The Miners continued to fight in the final period, cutting the deficit to single digits, but Missouri State capitalized at the free-throw line and on fast-break opportunities to secure a 71–64 victory.
CAREER NIGHT FOR HEAVEN
Heaven Samayoa-Mathis made her third start of the season against Missouri State, delivering a career night with 17 points, including a career-best five three-pointers, along with five rebounds and two steals.
The senior guard continues to make her mark with activity and instincts, leading the Miners with 1.7 steals per game. She has recorded two or more steals in nine games this season, including a career-high six steals earlier this year against TAMU-CC (Dec. 3).
MBENGUE SPARKS MINERS' DEFENSE
Ndack Mbengue made a significant impact against Missouri State, contributing 15 points along with a career-high five steals, helping the Miners stay competitive throughout the contest. The senior forward has been a consistent presence on the boards and in the post, providing scoring, rebounding, and defensive intensity for the team.
Mbengue began CUSA play against Delaware (Jan. 2) with a career night, posting 26 points and 14 rebounds to secure her fifth double-double of the season while adding two blocks. She followed that performance with a strong effort against Liberty (Jan. 4), pulling down a team-high 11 rebounds, and has now recorded double-digit rebounds in nine games this season, underscoring her importance to UTEP's frontcourt production.
ADAMS SETS THE PACE
Portia Adams contributed 13 points and five rebounds against Missouri State, continuing to anchor the Miners' backcourt with her steady offensive presence. The senior guard has scored in double figures in multiple games this season, consistently attacking the defense and providing leadership on both ends of the floor.
Adams also leads the team in assists (3.0 per game) and has orchestrated the offense with precision during UTEP's recent stretch, including a career-high eight assists in the conference-opening win over Delaware (Jan. 2) and seven assists against USW (Dec. 29). She continues to lead the Miners in three-point shooting at 36.6 percent, with her combination of scoring efficiency and playmaking serving as a key driver of UTEP's success.
LEGIONS LOCKED IN
Sirviva Legions continued her consistent all-around play with seven rebounds against Missouri State (Jan. 15), marking her 11th game this season with 5 or more boards. The senior guard has been a dependable presence on both ends of the floor, providing physical rebounding from the guard position throughout the season.
Through 16 games, Legions is averaging 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest.
TENSAIE FOR THREEE!
Ivane Tensaie led UTEP against WKU with a team-high 16 points and tied for a team-high three assists, connecting on four three-pointers to keep the Miners competitive throughout the contest. The third-year guard currently leads the team with 11.4 points per game.
Tensaie began CUSA play against Delaware (Jan. 2) with a hot shooting performance, pouring in 20 points and knocking down six three-pointers. Earlier in the season, she delivered one of the best weeks of her UTEP career to claim Conference USA Player of the Week honors, highlighted by a season-high 26 points on 8-for-12 shooting from three against Denver (Nov. 29), which set a UTEP single-game record, and 19 points on 5-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc in a road win at Kansas City (Nov. 25).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE DUO
Forwards
Ndack Mbengue and
Mary Moses Amaniyo continue to anchor UTEP's frontcourt as one of the most productive interior duos in the nation. Amaniyo has recorded seven double-doubles this season (26th nationally), while Mbengue follows with five double-doubles. Together, they consistently provide physicality, rebounding, and second-chance opportunities that drive the Miners' interior identity.
Amaniyo ranks 12th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (4.2) and sits 41st in rebounds per game (9.2), while Mbengue is close behind at 27th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (3.8) and 68th nationally in rebounds per game (8.5). The pair's sustained production on the glass continues to give UTEP a nightly advantage and establishes the Miners as one of the nation's strongest rebounding teams.
AMANIYO TOPS THE NATION
As of last week,
Mary Moses Amaniyo leads all Division I players with at least 250 minutes played this season, averaging 7.8 offensive rebounds per 40 minutes. That mark is on pace to be the best by a CUSA player (min. 20.0 MPG) since UCF's Emma Cannon in 2009-10, who averaged 8.6.
QUARTER SCORING MILESTONES
UTEP has seen three individual 14-point quarters this season, each delivered by a different Miner and tying for the third-most points scored by a player in a single quarter in program history.
HISTORIC REBOUNDING EFFORT
UTEP delivered a historic rebounding performance in the win over University of the Southwest, pulling down a program-record 74 total rebounds and a program-record 39 offensive boards.
The outing marked the second time this season UTEP has rewritten the record book on the offensive glass, after previously setting the program mark with 33 offensive rebounds against Western New Mexico (Nov. 11). Through 16 games, the Miners rank among the nation's elite on the boards, top 50 nationally in rebounds per game (42.4) and top 10 nationally in offensive rebounds per game (16.6), continuing to establish rebounding as a defining strength of this team.
FAST STARTS, HISTORIC RESULTS
UTEP matched a program record with 56 first-half points against USW (Dec 29), tying the most points scored in a half in program history.
Mary Moses Amaniyo fueled the surge with 14 points in the second quarter. The Miners' early offensive rhythm, pace, and ball movement set the tone, as UTEP capitalized on second-chance opportunities and transition looks to build a commanding 56-22 halftime advantage.
The performance continued a trend of strong opening surges this season. UTEP also posted 30 points in the first quarter against Nicholls (Nov. 8), tying for the 10th-most points in a quarter in program history, and erupted for 29 points in the third quarter at Kansas City (Nov. 25). The Miners' ability to generate early momentum and sustain offensive pressure has been a consistent driver of their success.
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
UTEP's depth continues to be one of its strongest assets, with the Miners ranking 81st nationally and first in Conference USA in bench points per game at 23.5.
The Miners second unit has provided consistent offensive balance and versatility, making the Miners' bench one of the most productive in the conference.
DEFENSE DEFINES THE MINERS
UTEP opened the year with an impressive defensive run, holding its first seven opponents under 65 points. The streak marked the longest by any Conference USA program to begin a season since Southern Miss accomplished the feat in 2003–04, holding its first 10 opponents below the threshold.
It was also the first time in 29 years that UTEP started a season with seven straight opponents under 65 points. The last occurrence came during the 1996–97 campaign, when the Miners limited 11 consecutive opponents below the mark to open the year.
QUARTER FRENZY
Ivane Tensaie has joined one of the rarest scoring lists in program history. With her previous 14-point third quarter at Kansas City (Nov. 25) and 13-point fourth quarter vs. FIU last season (Jan. 18, 2025), she is now one of only four players in UTEP history to record multiple quarters with 13+ points.
The exclusive list includes:
- Sparkle Taylor - Four times ('16-17)
- Najala Howell - Three times ('17-18)
- Katarina Zec - Two times ('17-18) ('19-20)
AMANIYO JOINS ELITE COMPANY
Mary Moses Amaniyo 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.
SENIOR 5
For the first time since UTEP began tracking lineup records in 1983, the Miners started their first 13 games with an all-senior starting lineup. The veteran group provided experience, leadership, and stability, anchoring UTEP's strong start to the season.
GOING BACK-TO-BACK
UTEP earned Conference USA Player of the Week honors in consecutive weeks earlier this season, marking the program's first back-to-back weekly awards since the 2013–14 campaign.
Mary Moses Amaniyo claimed the honor on Nov. 24, followed by
Ivane Tensaie on Dec. 1 after her record-setting performance from beyond the arc. The Miners' last pair of consecutive honorees prior to this season came in 2014, when Kayla Thornton earned the award on Jan. 27 and Feb. 3.
UP NEXT
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