UTEP Stops Memphis? 10-Game Winning Streak, 60-55
MEMPHIS, TENN.- Senior Ashley Milian registered a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds) while Dietra Caldwell (17 points) and Anete Steinberga (13 points) also reached double figures in scoring to help lead the UTEP women?s basketball team to an emotional 60-55 triumph at Memphis Thursday evening.
The effort by the Miners (10-5, 2-1 Conference USA) halts a 10-game winning streak for the Tigers (13-4, 2-1 C-USA), who had also been a stout 8-1 at home on the season.
UM enjoyed early leads of 3-0 and 4-2 before UTEP pulled even at six. The visiting side then rattled off six straight points to stake a 12-6 edge (13:47), one which it would never relinquish. The Orange and Blue carried a 10-point lead (35-25) into the locker room. UTEP pushed its advantage out to as many as 17 (44-27) with 16:55 remaining in regulation before holding on down the stretch.
?The team played very hard and with a lot of passion,? UTEP head coach Keitha Adams said. ?I am very proud of our effort and for the way we played.?
The Miners connected on a crisp 46.9 percent from the floor (23-of-49), including a sizzling 58.3 (14-of-24) in the opening stanza. UTEP pounded the Tigers down low for 32 points in the paint, while also doing plenty of damage (6-of-11) from three-point range. Caldwell was the key from distance, drilling 4-of-6 treys.
UTEP deployed a variety of defensive looks in an attempt to slow down UM, and it paid off in a big way. The Tigers, who had accounted for 76 points per game over the past five contests, never got on track offensively. They were held to just 30.6 percent from the field (8-31), including a mere 25.8 percent over the first 20 minutes. UM also struggled on three-point tosses by filling up just 5-of-16 tosses.
Both squads were challenged in taking care of the ball, with UTEP committing 22 turnovers and the Tigers being harassed into 21. The Miners still came out ahead in the situation, though, out-scoring UM, 24-19, in points off giveaways. Memphis did win the battle of the boards (41-38) but UTEP was able to come out on top thanks to the superior effort in other areas of the tilt.
Milian keyed the efforts with her first double-double of the season and second of her career. Caldwell also got after it on the glass with six boards while Gloria Brown (five) and Erika Warren (four) got involved in that department. Freshman point guard Kelli Willingham pitched in seven points and a quartet of assists, and did a good job in helping get UTEP into its offense. Warren also was in the giving mood, dishing out a career-high four assists.
UM was paced by Ramses Lonlack with 16 points while Alex Winchell supported her with 14 points. Jasmine Lee tallied seven points while grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. Eight of her boards were of the offensive variety.
The Miners will be back in action when they play host to Houston at 2:05 p.m. MT on Sunday. It will be ?Whitney Houston Day,? with UTEP honoring its injured senior guard. A promotional item will be given away to all fans while supplies last.
