UTEP Falls to Arkansas State 76-73

The Miners lost a close contest at Arkansas State in Jonesboro, 76-73 on Tuesday evening on the first of a nine-game road swing.  UTEP is now 5-2 on the season and was lead by a trio of players in Tamara Seda, who registered her fifth consecutive double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds, Najala Howell, who added 17, and Rosehonda Patterson tallied a career best 17 points.  Seda's five straight double-doubles is the longest streak by a Miner in non-conference play since at least 1982-83

The Red Wolves scored a season high points with 76, and field-goal percentage 49.2 to help them rally past the Miners.  UTEP led 44-36 at the half but ASU endured a tremendous third quarter where they outscored the Miners 24-11, hence, enabling then to get the victory. UTEP continued to fight throughout the second half though, as they brought a nine-point deficit down to three on a pair of occasions, but couldn’t quite complete the comeback.

Despite scoring a season high 73 points and connecting on 42.9 percent, 27-63 from the floor and also out rebounding ASU 43-27, it wasn't enough to get the job done.  UTEP lead comfortably in the first half as they jumped out to a 10-5 edge halfway through the first quarter before the Red Wolves responded to get within one at 12-11 with 3:18 to play in the period.

Jordan Alexander halted the surge with a steal and score, followed by an old-fashioned three-point play from Howell to make it 17-11 with 1:40 to play in the stanza. The margin remained six  at 21-15 heading to second quarter, with UTEP’s 21 points marking its highest scoring output in the opening frame this season.

The Miners’ lead hit double figures at 27-17 for the first time of the night on a lay-up by Seda with 8:14 left in the half. It was an eight-point game 37-29 with three minutes left in the quarter before Arkansas State tallied seven straight points to cut UTEP’s advantage down to one at 37-36.  UTEP responded with a half-closing 7-0 run to surge into the locker room up by eight 44-36.

Arkansas State opened up the third quarter on an 8-2 run to cut the Miners’ lead down to two 46-44. UTEP used back-to-back baskets to get some breathing room, and it was up by six, 52-46 with 4:49 to play in the quarter. Arkansas State picked up its play at both ends of the court, allowing it to close the period on a 14-3 push to secure a five-point lead 60-55 heading to the fourth quarter en route to the victory.

UTEP will play at NMSU this Sunday at 2 p.m., following the game they will take a week off for final exams, and will then travel to Myrtle Beach, SC to take on former C-USA foe East Carolina on December 17.  You can listen to all remaining UTEP Women's basketball home and road games on 600 ESPN El Paso.