GAME NOTES (PDF)
EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP women's basketball team (9–5, 1–2 C-USA) continues its two-game conference road swing Saturday to face Western Kentucky (4–10, 0–2 C-USA) at E.A. Diddle Arena. Tipoff is set for 11:00 a.m. MT / 12:00 p.m. CT, as the Miners aim to bounce back and regain momentum in league play.
GAME COVERAGE
Saturday at WKU –
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SCOUTING WKU
Western Kentucky enters Saturday's matchup at 4–10 overall, 0–3 in Conference USA, and 2–4 at home, riding a three‑game losing streak following a 70–67 home loss to New Mexico State (Jan. 8). The Lady Toppers are led by head coach Greg Collins, now in his eighth season at the helm.
The Lady Toppers are averaging 57.0 points, 33.6 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game, while shooting 38.9 percent from the field, 29.6 percent from three, and 72.4 percent at the free-throw line. Defensively, Middle Tennessee is allowing 60.6 points per game, while giving up 39.8 percent shooting and 28.6 percent from beyond the arc, leaning on half-court toughness and disciplined rotations to stay in games.
WKU is led by Zsófia Telegdy and Torri James, who each average a team-high 9.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Salma Khedr adds 8.8 points per contest, while Trinity Rowe directs the offense with a team-best 5.4 assists and 7.7 points. Jennifer Silva contributes 7.8 points and anchors the interior defense with 1.4 blocks per game, and Tia Shelling adds 2.2 steals, rounding out the Lady Toppers' core rotation.
MINER NOTABLES
Four Miners are averaging double figures in scoring,
Ivane Tensaie (11.1),
Mary Moses Amaniyo (10.6),
Sirviva Legions (10.3), and
Ndack Mbengue (10.2). Amaniyo and Mbengue are each averaging near double-doubles, with Amaniyo leading the team at 9.6 rpg and Mbengue close behind at 8.6 rpg.
Portia Adams is handing out a team-high 3.0 assists per game, with
Heaven Samayoa-Mathis contributing 2.5 apg. Samayoa-Mathis leads the team in steals at 1.6 spg. Amaniyo is shooting a team-best 53.2 percent from the floor, Adams leads from beyond the arc at 38.5 percent, and Zita is hitting a team-best 85.7 percent from the charity stripe.
UTEP STRUGGLES IN FIRST CUSA ROAD TEST
UTEP dropped its Conference USA road contest Thursday night, falling 86–43 to Middle Tennessee at the Murphy Center, as the Miners moved to 9–5 overall and 1–2 in league play. UTEP faced challenges offensively throughout the evening and was unable to recover from an early surge by the Lady Raiders, who used pace, pressure, and efficient scoring to build separation.
After opening the game with a new starting lineup, UTEP fell behind following a 16–0 Middle Tennessee run midway through the first quarter and trailed 23–9 after one. The Miners continued to battle in the second period but struggled to find consistent offense as the Lady Raiders carried a 44–19 lead into halftime. UTEP showed renewed energy coming out of the break, but MTSU answered with timely perimeter shooting and strong rebounding to extend the margin to 68–29 entering the fourth. The Miners improved defensively in the final period, holding the Lady Raiders to 7-of-21 shooting, despite the effort MTSU capitalized on second-chance opportunities and points in the paint, as UTEP fell 86–43.
AMANIYO ANCHORS THE PAINT
Mary Moses Amaniyo delivered another strong interior performance at Middle Tennessee, leading the Miners with 14 points and 10 rebounds to record her second straight double-double and seventh of the season, while making her first start of the year. The sophomore forward was a steady presence on both ends of the floor, providing UTEP with physicality and consistent effort in the paint throughout the night.
Through 14 games, Amaniyo is averaging nearly a double-double with 10.6 ppg and 9.6 rebounds while shooting a team-best 49.5 percent from the field. She remains one of UTEP's most reliable interior performers, combining efficiency, toughness, and rebounding to anchor the Miners inside.
HEAVEN BRINGS DEFENSE IN FIRST START
Heaven Samayoa-Mathis made her first start of the season against Middle Tennessee, bringing energy and defensive intensity while contributing across multiple areas. The senior guard finished with two steals, helping spark UTEP's defensive effort and activity in passing lanes.
The senior guard continues to make her mark with activity and instincts, leading the Miners at 1.6 steals per game. Earlier this season, she set a career high with six steals against TAMU-CC (Dec. 3).
ADAMS SETS THE PACE
Portia Adams led UTEP with 17 points against Liberty, marking her fourth straight game scoring in double figures as she continues to anchor the Miners' backcourt. The senior guard consistently attacked the defense and provided a steady offensive presence throughout the contest.
Adams also leads the team in assists (3.2 per game) and has orchestrated the offense with precision during the Miners' recent stretch, dishing out a career-high eight assists in the conference-opening win over Delaware and adding seven more in the victory against USW. She continues to lead UTEP in three-point shooting at 40.1 percent, with her blend of scoring efficiency and playmaking serving as a key driver of the Miners' success.
MBENGUE INTERIOR IMPACT CONTINUES
Ndack Mbengue turned in a career night in UTEP's Conference USA–opening win over Delaware, finishing with career highs of 26 points and 14 rebounds to secure her fifth double-double of the season while adding two blocks. The senior forward controlled the paint on both ends, providing consistent scoring, rebounding, and physicality as the Miners seized momentum and pulled away down the stretch.
Mbengue followed that performance with another strong effort against Liberty, pulling down a team-high 11 rebounds to continue her steady presence on the glass. She has now recorded double-digit rebounds in eight games this season, underscoring her reliability and importance to UTEP's frontcourt production as conference play continues.
LEGIONS LOCKED IN
Sirviva Legions continued her consistent all-around play with seven rebounds against Liberty, marking her 10th 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 14 games, Legions is averaging 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest.
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 (17th 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 6th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (4.5) and sits 35th in rebounds per game (9.6), while Mbengue is close behind at 20th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (4.0) and 62nd nationally in rebounds per game (8.6). 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
Entering the 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 C-USA player (min. 20.0 MPG) since UCF's Emma Cannon in 2009-10, who averaged 8.6.
TENSAIE FOR THREEE!
Ivane Tensaie stayed hot from beyond the arc against Delaware (Jan. 2), pouring in 20 points while knocking down six three-pointers. The graduate guard's timely perimeter scoring helped fuel UTEP's second-quarter surge and provided consistent spacing as the Miners seized momentum and pulled away down the stretch.
Tensaie previously 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). Her eight made three-pointers set a UTEP single-game record, surpassing her previous mark of seven. Earlier in the week, she added 19 points on 5 for 8 from beyond the arc in the road win at Kansas City (Nov. 25).
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 14 games, the Miners rank among the nation's elite on the boards, sitting 21st nationally in rebounds per game (43.57) and top 10 nationally in offensive rebounds per game (17.3), 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 top 75 nationally and first in Conference USA in bench points per game at 25.0. Through 14 games, UTEP holds a 350–240 advantage in bench scoring, outpacing opponents by eight points per game (opponents averaging 17.1).
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.
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.
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.
UP NEXT
UTEP returns home for a two-game Conference USA homestand against Missouri State (Jan. 15) and FIU (Jan. 17).
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