UTEP Women’s Basketball Looks To Remain Unbeaten On Year Against UTPA

THE OPENING ACT

Miners Look To Remain Unbeaten On Year Against UTPA

UTEP will continue its five-game homestand by challenging UTPA at 7:05 p.m. MST Tuesday. The Miners are 3-0 on the year, including 2-0 at home, after dispatching Houston Baptist, 82-53, on Nov. 19. The Broncos enter 1-2 overall, including 0-1 on the road. UTPA was edged out, 66-61, in a hard-fought game against Texas State on Nov. 18.

We Meet Again

UTEP leads the overall series against UTPA, 13-4, with the most-recent match-up resulting in a 80-34 Miners? victory at the Don Haskins Center on Jan. 2, 2006. The two programs first locked up during the 1981-82 season. UTEP is 2-1 against the Broncos during the Keitha Adams era, with the squads splitting a season series during her first year on the Orange and Blue sidelines in 2001-02 and the Miners notching the aforementioned triumph in 2005-06.

Getting Out Of The Gates Fast

UTEP is off to its first 3-0 start since the 2006-07 season and the fifth such opening overall in program history. With a triumph against UTPA, the Miners would tie the 1998-99 squad for the second-longest winning streak to christen a campaign. The program standard for most wins to start a season is held by the 1996-97 squad, which bolted out of the gates at 7-0.

All About The Promos

It will be ?Greek Night,? with all Greek Life organizations on campus being invited to attend the contest as special guests. For ticket inquiries, please call (915) 747-5234.

Following The Miners In 2011-12

Video and audio for every home game for the Miners on the year will be available through Miner TV on UTEPAthletics.com (subscription-based). All of the road contests on the season for UTEP will be broadcast on Talk Radio 1150 AM.

Staying Up Through Social Media

To keep up with the very latest on the program, LIKE the team?s page on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/UTEPWomensBasketball) and follow the official team Twitter Feed (www.twitter.com/UTEPWBB). Additionally, connect with head coach Keitha Adams by following her on Twitter, @UTEPWBasketball.

Get Your Tickets Now

Season tickets for the 2011-12 campaign remain on sale, with $50 guaranteeing individuals a reserved floor seat. To purchase season tickets (while seats remain) please call (915) 747-6150. Individual tickets ($7 adults, $3 kids) are also on sale for all contests by calling (915) 747-5234.

Up Next

UTEP will square off against Denver at the Don Haskins Center at 4:05 p.m. MST. The game is a part of a doubleheader, with fans receiving free admission by purchasing a ticket for the men?s basketball team contest against Stephen F. Austin (7:05 p.m. MST).

GOING BACK IN TIME UTEP Routs Houston Baptist, 82-53

Kayla Thornton posted a double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds) while freshman Jenzel Nash poured in a career-high 18 points to propel UTEP past Houston Baptist, 82-53, at home on Nov. 19.

The Huskies jumped out to a 2-0 lead but the Miners (3-0) used an 11-0 run to stake an advantage they would never relinquish. UTEP led 43-17 at the half before putting it on cruise control in the second half.

Crashing The Glass

UTEP secured 29 offensive rebounds, the third most in program history, which led to 33 second-chance points in the win against Houston Baptist (11/29/11). Overall the Miners tallied 60 rebounds, which was their highest sum since the 2005-06 season and tied for ninth overall in school history.

Big Rebounding Nights For Vitola & Warren

Junior Kristine Vitola and senior Erika Warren both got after it on the glass with nine rebounds each. The nine board sets a career high for Warren, while it matches Vitola?s personal-best effort.

Nash Finds Her Rhythm

Jenzel Nash was 0-7 from the floor in her first two collegiate games before breaking through against Houston Baptist (11/19/11). The freshman nailed 8-of-16 from the floor, including a dazzling fake on a one-on-one situation midway through the second half to convert a lay-up and bring the crowd to its feet. The Houston native finished with a team-high 18 points.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU The 411 On UTPA As An Institution

UTPA is a state university in Edinburg, Texas, which was founded under the name of Edinburg College in 1927. It adapted its current name and achieved full university status in 1965. Notable alumni include Olympic gold medalist and former NBA standout Lucious Jackson and actor Valente Rodriguez, who is best known for his role as Ernie Cardenas on the sitcom George Lopez

The 411 On UTPA Basketball

UTPA?s first year as a program was in 1983-84. It has an all-time record of 218-547, including 1-2 this year. The Broncos have been affiliated with four different conferences, including the Great West since the 2009-10 campaign. They have never posted a winning season, with their closest calls being finishing .500 in both 1984-85 & 2004-05.

Get To Know The UTPA Head Coach UTPA is under the direction of third-year head coach Denny Downing. He has compiled 26 wins in that timeframe, putting him on pace to break the record for the most victories by a UTPA coach in their first three years on the sideline. He previously served as the head coach at Texas A&M Commerce, guiding the program four straight winning seasons for the fist time in program history. He also spent one year as the head coach at Collin County Community College and a pair of seasons as both the men?s & women?s basketball head coach at Ranger Junior College.

Quick Rundown On The UTPA Season

UTPA is 1-2 on the year, including 0-1 on the road. That setback came against national power, Miami, 83-37, in the season opener on Nov. 11. It bounced back by derailing Paul Quinn College, 72-43, on Nov. 13 before falling last time out at home to Texas State, 66-61, on Nov. 18. The Broncos led, 46-38, with 12:03 to play before TSU rallied.

The Overview On UTPA

UTPA is accounting for 56.7 points per game while hitting 36.9 percent (66-179) of its shots. It has struggled from distance, making 25.6 percent (11-of-43), while committing 20 turnovers per game. The opposition is producing 64.0 ppg, but it has been held to 36.1 percent (66-183) from the floor. Three pointers have been at a premium for the Broncos? foes, who have sunk just 11-of-42 (26.2 percent). Rebounding has been an area of concern for UTPA, which is -5.7 (36.3-42.0) in that department. Individually the offense has been powered by the play of LaQuita Garner, with 15.7 ppg. Donna Jackson (9.3 ppg) & Bianca Torre (8.3 ppg) have also been consistent scoring threats thus far on the season. Jackson is the top rebounder at 7.3 rpg, with Garner (4.7) and Adanna Opara (4.7) also getting involved. Erin Lewis has dished out a team-high 13 assists while Torre has registered 11. Torre boasts a team-high eight steals, followed by six from Garner & five by reserve Jasmine Thompson.

CRASH COURSE ON THE MINERS

The Basic Facts On UTEP Basketball

2011-12 marks the 38th season for the UTEP women?s basketball team. The Miners have an all-time record of 421-582, including 3-0 this year. They have registered 13 campaigns with a final record of .500 or better. Six of them, including five straight, have come during head coach Keitha Adams? tenure. UTEP has been a member of four leagues, including being affiliated with Conference USA since the start of the 2005-06 season. The Miners have one postseason appearance and one conference championship to their credit, both of which came during the historic 2007-08 season (28-4 overall, 16-0 C-USA). UTEP is under the direction of Adams, who is 158-143 in her 11th year at the helm of the program. Overall she is 285-180 in her 16th year as a collegiate head coach, as she compiled a mark of 127-37 in a five-year run at Independence Community College. Adams was the 2008 C-USA Coach of the Year and a finalist for the national honor. Every player who has exhausted her eligibility at UTEP during her tenure has earned a degree.

All About The Front Court Returnees

The Miners returned four post players this year (senior Gloria Brown, juniors Anete Steinberga & Kristine Vitola and sophomore Kayla Thornton). Brown, the 2011 C-USA Newcomer & Sixth Player of the Year/second-team all C-USA member, has been dominant. She paces the squad in blocked shots (12), points per game (15.7), rebounds per game (9.0) and is one of four Miners with a quartet of steals. She has hit 62.5 percent of her shots to place third on the squad while playing 19.7 minutes per game in coming off the bench.

Vitola has solidified herself as a starter, with 6.3 ppg (7th team) and 6.7 rpg (2nd team) while drilling 53.3 percent of her shots (4th team). Thornton, only a sophomore, is second on the squad in both ppg (10.7) and rpg (7.0) while playing 23.0 mpg as a starter in all three games. She has hit a team-best 65.0 percent of her shots while also sharing the lead for steals. Steinberga, a two-year starter, is learning to come off the bench in 2011-12. She was limited to 14 total minutes due to picking up six fouls in the first two games. The junior looked more comfortable against Houston Baptist (11/19), scoring six points while grabbing four rebounds and only one infraction in 17 minutes of action.

All About The Back Court Returnees

The Miners also have four guards back (seniors Baiba Eglite, Kim Smith and Erika Warren) and sophomore Kelli Willingham. Briana Green, who missed the final 20 games last year with an injury, is back in the fold Whitney Houston is still recovering in aim of making her debut with the Miners, as she went down with an injury prior to the start of the 2010-11 season. Smith has been solid with 7.7 points per game (t3rd team) to go along with a team-best 3.0 assists per contest. She has drilled a team-high-tying four three pointers, made two starts while logging 19.0 minutes per game. Willingham, a 2011 All C-USA Freshman member, has registered 2.7 apg (2nd team) to go along with 7.0 ppg (6th team). After going 0-7 from the floor in the first game, she has nailed 5-of-10 since, and shares the squad lead with seven free-throws made. Green has pitched in 4.0 ppg while making a pair of triples at NM State (11/16/19), and is earning 14.7 mpg. Warren has logged 11.3 mpg but hasn?t found her shooting touch with an effort of 2-of-11 from the floor thus far. She is pitching in 3.7 rpg, thanks largely to grabbing nine boards vs. Houston Baptist (11/19/11). Eglite hit a three pointer while making two steals in eight minutes of action in her season debut against the Huskies.

All About The Newbies

Six newcomers, all guards (freshmen Syerra Davis, Jenzel Nash, Chrishauna Parker & Marissa Rodriguez, sophomore Ryah Lacy and junior Melisa Mendes) are in the mix for the Orange and Blue in 2011-12. Mendes, an all-conference performer at NW Florida State College, has logged 19.3 minutes per game while starting all three contests. She shares the team lead for three-pointers made (four) and steals (four) while checking in tied for third on the squad with 7.7 points per game.

Parker is producing 10.5 ppg (3rd team)-on 64.3 percent shooting (2nd team)- to go along with 4.5 rpg (3rd team). A top-50 guard nationally out of Atascocita HS, she has made one start while earning a squad best 26.5 mpg. Nash, the program?s first Parade All-American after leading the nation in scoring with 37.7 ppg for Worthing HS, has earned 12.3 mpg in coming off the bench. was 0-7 from the floor in her first two collegiate games but got things going with a team-best 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting against Houston Baptist (11/19/11). Davis, a top-50 guard who won three straight state titles with Tolleson HS, has logged 11.0 mpg in two games of action, contributing three total rebounds against Houston Baptist (11/19/11). Lacy, who led Grayson County College to a fifth-place finish nationally, has registered 14.5 mpg. She was at her best against the Huskies (11/19/11), chipping in five points, four rebounds and an assist in 21 minutes off the bench. El Paso native Rodriguez, who played at Reagan High School (in San Antonio), walked onto the team. She grabbed one rebound in three minutes of action in her collegiate debut vs. HBU (11/19/11).

Let The Good Times Roll

UTEP will look to continue an unprecedented string of success at the school in 2011-12. The Miners have posted a program-best five straight seasons with a winning percentage of .500 or better, four of which have been outright winning campaigns. The effort has resulted in a record of 103-54 in that timeframe, including 3-0 in 2011-12.

Making Some Strides In Rebounding

UTEP, which had a -6.5 rebounding margin after two games, took a big step in the right direction against Houston Baptist (11/19/11). The Miners outrebounded the Huskies, 60-38, to drive their season margin into the positive +3.0 (44.3-41.3). UTEP was +3.8 in the department last year, which allowed it to finish in the positive in the category for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign.

Success In Non-League Play

UTEP, 3-0 thus far, is taking aim at notching its seventh straight season with a winning record in non-conference play in 2011-12. Furthermore, the Miners are looking for their 10th straight season of .500 or better outside of league play. UTEP registered nine such seasons from the program?s inception (1974-75) through the end of the 2000-01 season.

Second-Half Dominance

The Miners are outscoring the opposition, 43-31, on average in the second half of contest this year. UTEP has hit on 48.5 percent of its shots while holding the foes to 28.8 percent. Rebounding average is also in favor of the Miners (20.7-19.7).

Hometown Heroes

Sophomore forward Kayla Thornton and freshman guard Marissa Rodriguez are carrying on the trend of local talent competing for the Orange and Blue under head coach Keitha Adams. The Miners have featured at least one player on the team from the El Paso area in every year of the Adams era.

Miners Picked Fourth In Preseason Poll

The UTEP women?s basketball team was selected tied for fourth in the 2011-12 Conference USA Preseason Poll, as voted upon the league?s 12 head coaches. Additionally, senior forward Gloria Brown was tabbed to the all-conference preseason team, which was also revealed by the league office on Oct. 6. Memphis was selected as the preseason favorite, with Tiger guard Brittany Carter being named the preseason player of the year.

In Brief 2010-11 Year-In-Review

UTEP overcame the loss of four key players to injuries at various points in the year on the way to finished with an overall record of 16-14 during the 2010-11 season. The Miners were 13-6 in El Paso, including 8-3 during non-conference play. UTEP registered 69.6 points per game on .427 percent shooting, including .348 from beyond-the-arc. The opposition was held to 65.2 ppg and .385 from the floor. The Miners did a good job on the glass, with a +3.8 margin (39.6-35.9).

THREE-POINT LAND

Threes A Plenty Since 2008

From the time the three-point shot was introduced in college basketball (1986-87) until the end of the 2007-08 season, UTEP posted eight games with double-figures in three pointers made. The Miners have registered 10 such contests since, with a school-record five in 2008-09, three in 2009-10 and a pair last year. UTEP?s single-game high this year is seven, which it did against both NM State (11/16/11) and Houston Baptist (11/19/11).

170 Straight Games With A Triple

UTEP has made least one three-point shot in a program-record 170 straight games. The last time UTEP failed to fill up a triple in a contest was on Dec. 30, 2005. Overall, UTEP has nailed a three in all but four tilts during the Keitha Adams era.

STAT LOVERS? LANE

The Magical 70-Point Barrier

The Miners are 102-12 during the Keitha Adams era, including 3-0 this year, in games which it eclipsed 70 points.

Seems Logical

UTEP holds a record of 80-15 in the past 95 contests in which it has hit on at least 40.5 percent from the field. The Miners are 2-0 in the situation this year.

Three-Point Success Add Up To Wins

UTEP sports a mark of 45-9 in its past 54 games when making 40 percent or better from three-point range (min. 5 3PM). The Miners? best effort from distance in 2011-12 was a 38.9 percent readout at NM State (11/16/11).

Better Get Ready To Rebound

UTEP has a record of 92-40 under Keitha Adams, including 25-9 in the past 33 games, when out-rebounding the opposition.

Helping Hand Leads To Triumphs

UTEP is a robust 50-2 under Keitha Adams, including 1-0 this year, when registering at least 20 assists in a contest. Sharing hasn?t always been so common, though. UTEP compiled 19 such games from 1984-85 until the last year before Adams? arrival (2000-01). The Miners were 13-6 in those contests.

As Does Forcing Turnovers

The Miners are 58-15 over their past 73 games that they?ve forced the opposition into committing at least 20 turnovers. UTEP is 2-0 in the situation this year

Turning Up The Pressure

UTEP is 56-12 during the Keitha Adams era, including 38-3 since the start of the 2006-07 campaign, when forcing the opposition into committing more turnovers than field goals made in a game. The Miners are 2-0 in the situation this year.

Making Free Throws Can Help

UTEP is 41-10 over the past 51 contests when knocking down better than 70 percent at the free-throw line (minimum 10 FTM).

Finding A Way To Win When Not Though

Dating to the start of the 2006-07 campaign, the Orange and Blue boast a head-scratching mark of 24-11, including 1-0 this year, in games in which they were below 61-percent from the free-throw line (minimum 10 attempts.

Go Figure

The Miners have won 15 of their past 23 regular-season contests in which they made more three pointers than free throws.

MILESTONE MOMENTS Block Party

Senior Gloria Brown has blocked 77 shots in her time in the Sun City, including 12 this year, to rank fourth for career rejections at the school. She is second all time in blocked shots per game, with an average of 2.3. Junior forward Kristine Vitola rates 10th on the list with 52 swats, including three this year.

Gloria Was Glorious

Gloria Brown flirted with a triple-double (21 points, nine boards, eight blocks) while playing a career-high 31 minutes in the win at NM State (11/16/11). The eight rejections rate third all time at the school, trailing only former Miner Izabela Piekarska?s single-game effort (10, twice).

Adams Adding To Record With Every Win

Eleventh-year UTEP head coach Keitha Adams, already the winningest coach in program history, has compiled a mark of 158-143 in the timeframe. She has led her charges to a record of 155-118 from the start of the 2002-03 campaign. From the program?s inception in 1974-75 through the end of the 1990-91 season, six different coaches aided UTEP to a record of 145-286. Sandra Rushing was 123-175 in 11 seasons on the sideline (1990-91-2000-01).

Double Your Pleasure

For the second straight season, Gloria Brown posted a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) in the campaign lidlifter (Idaho State, 11/12). She is the first Miner to achieve the feat, and now has nine career double-doubles.

HOME SWEET HOME

Loving Life In El Paso

The Miners are 69-17 in El Paso since the start of the 2006-07 season, including 2-0 this year.

Keitha Adams? charges have strung together a school-record four straight seasons with 12 or more home triumphs. UTEP only had four campaigns with double figures in home wins in the first 27 years of the program, with the high water mark (12-1) coming in 1988-89.

Home Games A Plenty In 2011-12

By year?s end, the Miners will have played 17 home games (nine non-conference & eight C-USA), which ties as the third-highest figure in program history. The school standard (19 games, 13-6 record) was set last season, which was aided by the Miners playing host to the 2011 Conference USA Tournament. UTEP rolled to a record of 16-2 in 2006-07 while forging a mark of 12-5 in 2008-09.

Don?t Take Things For Granted

Under head coach Keitha Adams, UTEP has posted a program-best eight straight years with at least nine home victories and boasts an overall record of 104-49 in El Paso. The Miners had six such seasons in the 27 years prior to her tenure, and were a combined 163-142

TRAVEL TIME

Life On The Road

UTEP is 39-83 on the road under Keitha Adams, but there have been signs of progress. The Miners are 1-0 this year and 26-32 away from home since the start of the 2006-07 season. They have posted three years (5-5 2006-07/2008-09, and 10-3 2007-08) with a mark of .500 or better on the road in the stretch. Prior to Adams? arrival in the Sun City, UTEP never posted a winning road record and it had only two years (2-2; 1974-75 & 7-7; 1992-93) where it mustered a mark of .500. The Miners were a combined 68-241 in hostile territory the 27 years before Adams? tenure. They were held at two triumphs or fewer in 14 of those campaigns.

Have Had Some Big Wins Away From Home

UTEP boasts 15 double-digit victories on the road under head coach Keitha Adams. The Miners compiled 32 such victories the prior 27 years to her arrival in the Sun City, and almost half of them (13 of the 27) were at the hands of non-division I opposition.

Tough To Win On Road When Shots Don?t Fall

The Miners have lost 40 straight road games when falling shy of 33.0 percent from the field. The last time UTEP picked up a win under those circumstances was on a 74-51 defeat of New Mexico State on Nov. 26, 1996. The Miners made 29 free throws in that game-the most ever in a road tilt in program history- to overcome the overall poor shooting.

THIS IS UTEP WOMEN?S BASKETBALL

UTEP has piled up more than 100 victories since the start of the 2006-07 season.

UTEP has posted a school-record five straight seasons with a record of .500 or better in the sequence

Only 20+ win seasons and postseason appearance at school occurred during stretch

UTEP went 28-4 in 2007-08, including historic 16-0 in Conference USA play

Effort tied the 1966 men?s national champions for most wins by a basketball team in school history

Advanced to second round of ?08 NCAA Tournament after drilling Western Kentucky, 92-60

Nationally ranked in polls final six weeks of ?07-08 and received votes at start of ?08-09

One of eight schools in country with multiple players chosen in ?08 WNBA Draft

All players who have exhausted eligibility under head coach Adams have graduated

CLIFF?S NOTES ON THE 2011-12 SEASON

Brown Leads UTEP To 76-72 OT Win At NM State

Gloria Brown poured in 21 points while grabbing nine rebounds and blocking eight shots to help lead UTEP to a 76-72 overtime victory at New Mexico State in the SONIC® ® America?s Drive-In® battle of I-10 on Nov. 16. The Aggies scored the first two points of OT before the Miners ripped off nine straight to surge ahead, 70-63, with 3:03 to play. NM State eventually whittled the margin down to two (74-72) but Melisa Mendes came up with a clutch steal and sank a pair of free throws with six seconds left to seal the win.

Other Standouts In The Game

Chrishauna Parker delivered 11 points and five rebounds in 27 minutes in her first career start while Melissa Mendes. Kristine Vitola came through with eight points-including six in OT- to go along with eight rebounds.

Second-Half Magic

For the second time in as many games, the Miners relied upon a big surge in the second half . UTEP trailed by as many as nine in the first half and was down by six with 9:27 to play. The Miners utilized a 17-3 run over the next seven-plus minutes on the way to surging into the lead (60-52). NM State forced OT by closed the period on a 9-1 run, including a lay-up at the buzzer.

UTEP Rides Big Second Half To Topple Idaho State UTEP thumped Idaho State, 53-28, during a dominating second half on the way to securing a 79-63 win in the 2011-12 season opener for both squads at the Don Haskins Center on Nov. 12.

Defense Does It

The Miners held the Bengals to 30.8 percent (16-of-52) from the floor, including just 4-of-26 (15.4) in the second half. ISU committed 27 turnovers, which led to 28 UTEP points.

Helping Hands

Unselfish play helped with UTEP registering 20 assists on 29 field goals against Idaho State (11/12). Kelli Willingham & Kim Smith accounted for half of them, with five helpers each.

Miners Topple St. Mary?s

The Miners dispatched St. Mary?s, 79-56, in their lone exhibition contest on the year on Nov. 5. Freshman Jenzel Nash paced the squad with 15 points to lead a balanced UTEP offense. Junior Kristine Vitola (13 points, 11 rebounds) and sophomore Kayla Thornton (11 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded a double-double while junior Anete Steinberga (11 points) and freshman Chrishauna Parker (10 points) also reached double figures in scoring.

Getting It Done Across The Board

UTEP connected on 46.0 percent from the floor (29-of-63), including 52.0 percent (13-of-25) after the break. It was locked in at the free-throw line, nailing 16-of-22 attempts (72.7). The Miners took care of business defensively, limiting the Rattlers to 37.9 percent (22-of-58) from the field. They also won the battle of the boards, 45-32, while forcing the visitors into 14 giveaways.

Source: UTEP Athletics