If the Miners were going to lose to a C-USA opponent, it was going to be a solid team that put together a solid effort. Basically, a perfect storm

Today, that storm blew into the Don Haskins Center then blew out taking away the Miners perfect C-USA season and dropped the Miners to 25-3 overall and 14-1 in C-USA.

This was as tough a game as the Miners have had all year.

In the moments where the Miners have received big plays or big baskets, they didn't get them today. The calls that have gone the Miners way in the past went the other way.

Now that is not to say that one glaring stat was not preventable and that stat was free throws. I said a while back that I hoped the Miners never had a close game where the outcome was determined by free throws. Well, this was that game. UTEP was 13-23 from the line and even Coach Adams touched on it after the game.

UTEP lead the whole first half and by as many as 8 points. The Miners took a 28-22 lead into the half but came out flat for the second half and were outscored in the half by 10 points to fall to Rice 52-48.

Credit though where credit is due. Rice played one heck of a game and the Owls were lead by a very special player in Jessica Kuster. Kuster poured in 18 points in the second half and finished the game with a game high 22.

There is no such thing as a good loss but if the Miners were going to lose, it was better to do it now than in the C-USA tournament.

Coach Adams is a master motivator and you can bet she will spin this loss into a motivational tool.

The Miners were led by Gloria Brown who netted 14 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Kayla Thornton added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

UTEP's final regular season game will be this Thursday, March 1st at UAB. The game tips at 6:00pm MST.

#UTEPWBB

#minerstrong

#cusacoachoftheyear

 

 

 

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