UTEP Wins Their Sixth Straight With a 62-55 Triumph Over UTSA

The UTEP women's basketball team continues their season for the ages with a win over interstate rival UTSA on Sunday afternoon at the Don Haskins Center.  The Miners moved to 14-1, 5-0 in C-USA play, matching their best start in program history, and improved to 10-0 at home.  The 2012-2013 and 2006-2007 Miners also began their season 14-1.

UTEP continues to knock off fellow conference foes who had their way with the team last season.  UTSA defeated UTEP twice last year, but this is a much deeper and more diverse squad than they faced in the past.  Cameasha Turner had a brilliant performance by scoring 18 points, Sparkle Taylor added 15, and Jenzel Nash contributed with 13 points.

The Miners, who force an average of 22 turnovers per contest, put on another defensive show by scoring 24 points off of 25 UTSA turnovers in the game.  The Roadrunners held their own defensively by holding UTEP to just 35.3 percent shooting.  The game was a seesaw affair in the first half as UTEP led 21-20 with 4:49 left in the second quarter.  A late run before the half expired gave the Miners a 32-25 halftime advantage.

UTEP took a whopping 40-27 lead in the third quarter, but the Roadrunners would not go away and hung around into the fourth quarter where they pulled to within four by narrowing the Miners' lead to 52-48 with 4:52 remaining in the game.  The Miners showed their poise during the stretch run of the game, and put the Roadrunners away with a strong finish.

UTEP will travel to the east coast next week to face FAU in Boca Raton, Florida on Thursday at 5 p.m. MST, and FIU in Miami on Saturday at 2 p.m. MST.  You can listen to both of those broadcasts from South Florida on 600 ESPN El Paso with the Iceman.