UTEP Women’s Basketball Returns Home After Sweeping UTSA

For three quarters, the UTEP women's basketball team could not put away rival UTSA. The Miners had tons of chances to finish off the Roadrunners, but easy missed opportunities kept the home team in the game. Finally in the fourth quarter, all of the shots UTEP had missed all night started to go into the basket and a four point lead after 30 minutes quickly grew to a 20 point cushion. When the final horn sounded, UTEP (14-11, 7-7) completed the sweet of UTSA by a score of 86-59.

The big takeaway from last night was that the Miners had plenty of contributors despite their best player having an off night. Senior Kat Zec scored just six points on 3-8 shooting, but four of her teammates finished in double figures led by freshman Avery Crouse's career high 21 points. Fellow freshman point guard Katia Gallegos had 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists while senior Ariona Gill had a monster second half and finished with 17 points and 18 rebounds. Michelle Pruitt came off the bench to score 14 points and help propel the Miners to their 14th win of the season.

The team returns home from San Antonio this afternoon and will prepare to host Middle Tennessee (17-9, 9-5) tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Don Haskins Center. UTEP will look to avenge their 76-60 road loss against the Blue Raiders back on January 30th. "When the buzzer went off in the fourth quarter in Murfreesboro our team wanted another shot at Middle Tennessee," head coach Kevin Baker said on Monday. "We really played well the last time we played them. Had we gotten a couple of breaks late in the game, we would have given them a very close call. That was an emotional game for us. Our team is just glad we are getting another shot at them. Especially since the game will be at home."

Tickets for $5 for adults and $3 for kids. Traci Miller will join me courtside for the call on 600 ESPN El Paso.