UTEP Splits Florida Roadtrip with a 72-66 Loss at FAU

The Miners longest roadtrip since the 1987-88 season ended with a 72-66 loss at Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton on Sunday afternoon.  Overall UTEP went 5-4 on their five and a half week journey that spanned both coast lines and then some, totaling over 11,000 miles with a split on their Florida trip to open C-USA play.  With a record of 10-5, 1-1 in C-USA, Kevin Baker has tied the best start for a first year coach in program history.

The Miners played a dismal first quarter by coming out flat and falling behind by as many as 14 when FAU took an 18-4 lead.  UTEP trimmed the deficit to five at 31-26 with 1:39 to play the first half but the Owls hit two of their nine 3-pointers in the contest to secure an 11-point 37-26 halftime lead.  The Miners tried to play catchup the remainder of the game, but in the end, despite shooting a better field goal percentage than the Owls, could not whether FAU's game from long range en route to the defeat.

After missing the majority of Friday's one point win at FIU, Tamara Seda returned and tallied 18 points to lead a trio of Miners in double figures.  Najala Howell added 14 points and Faith Cook poured in 11.  UTEP will return to action when it tips off a three-game homestand against Charlotte at 1 p.m. MST Thursday. It will mark the first home contest since Dec. 2.  Steve Kaplowitz will have the call for 600 ESPN EL Paso.