UTEP Women’s Basketball Team in Limbo After COVID Outbreak

Moreover, the Miners have a home matchup against Utah State in less than four days. That game is now in question amid the uncertainty for this squad.

UTEP is currently 5-1 on the year following a series split in the Las Vegas South Point Thanksgiving Shootout, losing to Kansas (81-55) and beating Seattle (62-57). They went to the invitational short-handed and the Miners were without Avery Crouse, Mahri Petree and Adhel Tac, per Bret Bloomquist.

Once they returned, the team had additional positive cases between players, coaches and trainers. All of the members that went to Las Vegas were vaccinated, according to Bloomquist. The university did not comment on the players that missed last week and the athletic department only noted "multiple positive cases" and contact tracing.

UTEP-NMSU was set to tip off on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Now, both schools will attempt to try and reschedule at a different date to be determined. The Miners' home game on Saturday against Utah State is slated for a 1 p.m. start.

The rules in Conference USA are as follows: "If a team is unable to compete in a regular season conference game/match due to COVID-19, that team will forfeit the contest, which will count as a loss in the conference standings. In this instance, the team that is available to play will be awarded a win in the conference standings.

"In the event that both teams are unable to participate due to COVID-19, a no-contest will be declared. Should circumstances within the current scheduling framework allow (e.g. teams sharing an open date later in the schedule), rescheduling may be possible."

UTEP will play at Texas State on Monday, Dec. 13.