UTEP Women’s Basketball Team Survives Overtime Scare Against UAB in CUSA Tournament Quarterfinals

There is a reason why people call postseason basketball "March Madness". For the UTEP women's basketball team, those two words took on a new meaning earlier today against UAB in the quarterfinals of the CUSA Tournament. The top seeded Miners survived a major scare from the (8) Blazers and won 62-59 in overtime. However, that was only because a half court shot by UAB's Chelsee Black that banked in off the backboard was overturned by the officiating crew minutes later. The replay showed that Black's shot was released just a tenth of a second after the clock had reached 0:00. The Miners breathed a huge sigh of relief and will meet Old Dominion in the CUSA semifinals.

"We were telling our girls to foul, but I don’t think they heard me," UTEP head coach Keitha Adams said. "And when she hit that shot, it reiterated why we fouled them and didn’t let them shoot threes. During the break we started talking about how we’re going to prepare for the next overtime but then when they called the game over I thanked the Lord above. UAB plays great defense, and they deserve credit in the game today."

The Miners led for much of the game, but the Blazers came back from a three-point deficit in the final seconds to force overtime. UTEP led by two points late in overtime when Chrishauna Parker grabbed a huge offensive rebound and made one of two foul shots to put the Miners ahead by three. Black received the inbound pass and took two dribbles before she heaved up her prayer from half court.

Three Miners finished in double figures, led by Jenzel Nash and Lulu McKinney who each scored 11 points. Starr Breedlove scored 10 and hit two huge three-point baskets late in regulation and overtime. Parker had 10 rebounds including six on the offensive glass.

Next up for the Miners will be (5) Old Dominion Lady Monarchs who narrowly defeated (4) Charlotte 57-54 in the second quarterfinal game. The Miners defeated Old Dominion 70-64 at the Don Haskins Center on February 25th. 600 ESPN El Paso will have the broadcast beginning at 9am tomorrow morning.