UTEP Women Challenge Mountain West Power New Mexico Tonight

The UTEP women's basketball team has lost their last five games by a total of 13 points. It does not get easier for Miners head coach Kevin Baker, whose team will play up the road on I-25 against the New Mexico Lobos. The game tips off at 7 p.m. and Duke Keith will call the action on 600 ESPN El Paso from the Pit in Albuquerque.

UTEP enters the game with a record of 2-5, but they could easily be 7-0. They have had numerous opportunities to win every game this season, but the team has not been able to finish any of their close games with the exception of Cal State Bakersfield lat month. They will have their work cut out for them tonight, since the Lobos are 5-1 and already have impressive wins over Houston and Oklahoma. Their last victory came December 1st, when they crushed in-state rival NMSU 83-58.

"New Mexico is by far the best team we will face so far this season," UTEP head coach Kevin Baker said in the official school release. "They are a very talented team with only one loss on the year. We are looking forward to the challenge of playing at The Pit and we hope to match the energy they will bring to the game. Our team continues to get better each time we take the floor and we are confident that we will do the same at UNM."

For the Lobos, Jaisa Nunn has posted four double-doubles (first MWC/24th nation), aided by 18.0 ppg (1st MWC/68th NCAA) and 8.3 rpg (second MWC/117th NCAA). Aisia Robertson (15.3 ppg, fifth MWC/182nd NCAA) and Jayla Everett (15.0 ppg, sixth MWC/202nd NCAA) have also been team leaders in scoring. Robertson paces the nation in assists per game (10.3). She is also among the league/national rankings for steals per game (2.5, third/86th) and minutes per game (34.6, fourth/100th). Nike McClure puts up 3.5 ppg, but makes her presence felt with her rebounding (7.8 rpg, fourth MWC/151st NCAA) and shot-blocking ability (3.3 bpg, first MWC/fourth NCAA). Ahlise Hurst is contributing 12.2 ppg, aided by nailing 3.0 triples per contest (second MWC/36th NCAA). She is 18 (third MWC/95th NCAA) of 50 (second MWC/104th NCAA) from distance on the season.

For the Miners, three different players are averaging in double figures for scoring. Zuzanna Puc and Ariona Gill are tied at 13.3 ppg (tied 14th C-USA) and Katarina Zec (10.7 ppg, 26th C-USA) is third on the squad. The trio is responsible for 14 of the 19 double-digit scoring efforts on the season.