UTEP To Ring In New Year & Start C-USA Play At SMU
THE OPENING ACT
UTEP To Ring In New Year & Start C-USA Play At SMU
UTEP will play for the first time of 2012 when it opens Conference USA play at SMU at 6 p.m. MST Thursday. The Miners (11-2) capped non-league play at a high note by routing Texas State, 81-58, on Dec. 31 while the Mustangs (7-6) were tripped up by Stephen F. Austin, 66-60, on Dec. 30. The game will be broadcast locally in El Paso on 1150 AM. Fans can also get live updates by following the team on Twitter (@UTEPWBB) or through the gametracker feed.
We Meet Again
The Mustangs lead the series, 23-10, which has been aided by an advantage of 13-2 in Dallas. Both of the Miners? wins at SMU have come during the Keitha Adams era, and UTEP has forged a mark of 2-3 against its traditional rivals since the start of the 2009-10 season.
Been Some Success In League Openers Lately
UTEP has gone 5-2 since 2005 in league openers, including 4-1 at home during that time frame. Overall, the Miners are 5-5 in conference christeners during the Keitha Adams era.
Not So Much Before
UTEP went 3-12 (1980-81 to 2000-01) in conference openers, which included separate losing streaks of five and seven games. The Miners were without conference affiliation from 1985-86 to 1988-89.
Talking League Openers On The Road
UTEP is 7-23 all time in league road openers, including 2-4 since joining C-USA. The Miners are 3-7 in the situation during the Keitha Adams era, including 2-2 since 2008.
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, @UTEPKeithaAdams.
Get Your Tickets Now
There are still eight home games remaining on the docket for the 2011-12 season, and individual tickets ($5 adults, $3 kids) are on sale for all of them. They may be purchased by calling (915) 747-5234.
Up Next
UTEP will return home to play host to C-USA preseason favorite Memphis in a national-TV tilt (Fox Sports) at 11 a.m. MST Sunday. The game can also be accessed through Miner TV, gametracker or fans can get updates through the team?s Twitter feed (@UTEPWBB).
GOING BACK IN TIME
UTEP Thrashes Texas State, 81-58
Kayla Thornton poured in a career-high 20 points, Gloria Brown notched her second straight double-double (10 points, 13 rebounds) and Baiba Eglite provided a spark off the bench with a season-high 11 points to help UTEP rout Texas State, 81-58, on Dec. 31. The Miners trailed 12-8 with 10:36 to play in the first half before going on a 17-5 run on the way to taking control of the contest. Eglite fueled the sequence with a trio of three pointers, and the Bobcats who had won three in a row- never recovered.
Houston Shows Her Skills
Senior Whitney Houston, who made her UTEP debut at Arizona State (12/28/11), displayed some scoring ability by pitching in five points in six minutes of action against Texas State (12/31/11).
December Once Again Month To Remember
UTEP rolled to a mark of 5-2 in December. The Miners are now 46-24 under Keitha Adams during the month, including 22-2 at home since the start of the 2006-07 season.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU The 411 On SMU As An Institution
Southern Methodist University, or SMU as it is commonly known, is a private, coeducational university located in Dallas, Texas. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church South, but the first classes were not held until 1915. In 2008, SMU was selected as the site of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the George W. Bush Policy Institute. It is one of only 77 schools in the nation with an endowment of more than $1 billion. Notable alumni include Laura Bush (former first lady), Kathy Bates (academy-award winning actress) James Cronin (Nobel Prize winner) and Robert Dennard (computer memory pioneer).
The 411 On SMU Basketball
SMU?s program was started for the 1976-77 season. It has compiled an all-time mark of 522-471, including 7-6 during the 2011-12 regular season. The Mustangs have appeared in 10 postseason tournaments, with seven NCAA bids and a quartet of WNIT showings.
Get To Know The SMU Head Coach
SMU is under the direction of 21st-year head coach Rhonda Rompola, who has compiled a record of 373-242 in the timeframe. Rompola, who graduated from SMU with a business degree in 1983, originally played at Old Dominion. She played on the Monarchs? AIAW national championship teams in 1979 and 1980. She was honored with honorable mention honors on the all-time Lady Monarch basketball team. After transferring to SMU, Rompola led the 1981-82 Mustangs to an 18-15 record, the last winning season by SMU until she became head coach in 1991-92.
Looking At The SMU Season
SMU surged out to a 3-0 start before enduring a stretch of 1-4. It halted the sequence with back-to-back triumphs, but is 1-2 since, including a 66-60 defeat against Stephen F. Austin last time out on Dec. 30. Overall the Mustangs are 7-6 on the season, including 6-3 at home.
This And That On SMU?s Offense
Six players contribute at least 5.0 ppg, including a pair in double figures (Samantha Mahnesmith, 10.2 & Alisha Filmore, 10.0). Filmore is the lone player with more assists (35) than turnovers (28). Mahnesmith (18) & Filmore (14) have made 32 of the 47 team?s three pointers. SMU has 182 offensive rebounds but Christine Elliot (38) & Akil Simpson (37) are the only with more than 20. Five different players have hit better than 70.0 percent from the free-throw line.
This And That On SMU?s Defense
Four Mustangs have posted at least 15 steals, with Alisha Filmore (28) & Akil Simpson (25) setting the tone. With 11 blocks, Christine Elliot is the lone player with double digits of rejections. SMU has held six straight & 11 of 13 opponents to fewer than 70 points.
CRASH COURSE ON UTEP HOOPS
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 429-584, including 11-2 this year. They have registered 13 campaigns 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 returned three starters (and eight letterwinners (four guards, four posts) overall from last year?s squad (16-14, 7-9 C-USA). 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.
Getting To Know Coach Adams UTEP is led by the winningest coach in program history, Keitha Adams. She is 166-145 in her 11th year at the school, including 11-2 this year. Overall Adams is 293-182 in her 16th season as a collegiate head coach, having compiled a mark of 127-37 in a five-year run at Independence Community College. Adams has delivered the three most successful seasons in program history (22-8, 2006-07, 28-4 2007-08 & 18-12 in 2009-10). She was the 2008 C-USA Coach of the Year/finalist for national honor after leading the Miners to their first league championship & postseason bid (advanced to second round of NCAA Tournament). Every player who has exhausted her eligibility at UTEP during her tenure has graduated.
Talk About A 10-Year Stretch
Including the mark of 11-2 in 2011-12, the Miners are now 163-20 over the past 10 years (2002-03 season-present). The effort obliterates the prior standard at the school for a decade-long stretch (115-155 from 1990-91 through 1999-2000).
Winning Mark At Major Junctures
Thanks to the 10-0 start (now 11-2), UTEP was above .500 at the 10-game mark for the fifth time in the past six years. The Miners are assured of their school-record eighth straight year with a winning record at the 15-contest juncture (prior standard four). It also guaranteed of its program-best seventh consecutive campaign for the 20-game mark (prior record six).
Hometown Heroes
The Miners have featured at least one player from the El Paso area in every year of the Keitha Adams era, with this year?s team sporting a pair. Sophomore forward Kayla Thornton starred at Irvin High School in El Paso while freshman guard Marissa Rodriguez grew up in the area before moving to San Antonio and playing high school basketball at San Antonio Reagan.
Success In Non-League Play
UTEP is 87-56 in non-conference play during the Keitha Adams era, which was aided by going 11-2 this year. The Miners have posted a school-record seven straight years of .500 or better in non-league play (prior standard four, 1994-95 through 1997-98).
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 fought hard throughout the year, with a single-season school record 12 of the 14 setbacks coming by single digits. UTEP was 13-6 in El Paso, including 8-3 during non-conference play.
TRENDING WITH THE TEAM Getting Offensive
The Miners had 57.6 ppg during a recent five-game stretch before breaking out for a season-high-tying 81 points against Texas State (12/31/11). After making a season-best 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from three-point land at LMU (12/17/11), UTEP has slipped to 27.1 percent (13-of-48) in the three games since. The Miners were 34.0 percent (36-of-106) overall in setbacks to UCSB (12/21/11 & at Arizona State, 12/31/11) but improved to 42.0 percent (29-of-69) vs. TSU. UTEP enjoyed a six-game stretch with 14 or fewer turnovers before making 19 & 15, respectively, the past two tilts. It has grabbed 10+ offensive boards in five consecutive contests and in 11 of 13 overall.
Getting Defensive
The Miners gave up 63 & 72 points in the first two games but have not allowed a foe to get out of the 50?s since. The effort was aided by limiting a school-record 10 straight opponents (prior mark, five, 2007-08) to fewer than 55 points, with six of those squads failing to crack the 50?s. In terms of field-goal percentage defense, only UC Santa Barbara, which made 40.8 percent, on Dec. 21 has been into the 40?s. Nine of the foes have been kept to below 34 percent. The Miners forced 18+ turnovers-including five of 20+, in the first seven games, but the past five opponents have committed 16, 15, 15,16 & 17.
Not Just Winning But Winning Big
Nine of UTEP?s 10 wins have come by double figures, eclipsing the effort by last year?s squad. Furthermore, the Miners have seven triumphs by at least 20 points.
Even In Defeat, UTEP Is Competitive
Dating to the start of last season, 16 of the 18 setbacks in that timeframe have been by single digits. The Miners were saddled with a single-season school record 14 defeats by fewer than 10 points in 2010-11 while the two losses in 2011-12 have been by a combined three points.
It?s A Scheduling Thing
Following the game at SMU, the Miners will play back-to-back home contests. UTEP will then have to adapt to life on the road, with three of the next four away from home.
Playing Time A Plenty
Twelve Miners are earning double figures in minutes played. Kelli Willingham tops the list at 23.8 mpg, while six others are snagging better than 15.0 mpg.
The Bench Bunch
The Miners? back-ups are accounting for 37.2 points per game. They have 10 games with 30+, including five with 40+ points.
Diving Deeper With The Reserves
UTEP?s bench has outscored the opposition?s reserves in every game, with a double-digit advantage in 12 of the 13 contests. Furthermore, the Miners? reserves have out-paced the opposition?s starters in six games while matching their effort in two others.
Ready To Rebound UTEP was out-rebounded in the first two games but has won the battle of the boards in nine of 11 contests since. Overall the Miners boast a +7.1 margin. Six different players are grabbing at least 2.5 rpg.
FRONT COURT VETS TRENDING What Can Brown Do For You
Gloria Brown was the 2011 second-team all C-USA member & Newcomer/Sixth Player. She has reached double figures in five of the past six games and eight occasions overall. Brown has managed 8+ points in 12 of the 13 contests. She has grabbed 25 boards in the past two match-ups, surpassing her sum, to more than double her sum (10)from the previous two games. Brown went 4-of-4 at the free-throw line against Texas State (12/31/11). She was 4-of-10 in that area the prior three. She has seven games with at least two blocks, and is responsible for 32 of the team?s 70 rejections on the year.
Vitola?s Venue
Junior Kristine Vitola has hit 48.2 percent of her shots, a stark improvement of 36.8 percent in her first two seasons. After scoring 6+ points in eight of the first 10 games (topping 2010-11 seasonal total of seven) she has tallied combined six points since. Vitola had only three boards against Idaho State (11/12/11). She has grabbed 4+ in 11 games since, including eight with six or more. She has swatted two or more shots in seven games. Vitola was 1-of-2 at the free-throw line vs the Bengals (11/12/11) but has gone 17-of-18 since.
Kayla?s Corner
Sophomore Kayla Thornton has been an impact player with high-energy motor. After tallying two points on 1-of-3 shooting at Arizona State (12/28/28), she bounced back to pour in a career-high 20 points while nailing 8-of-13 from the floor against Texas State (12/31/11). She has registered five or more rebounds in eight of the past nine match-ups. Ten of her 18 steals on the season have come in the past four contests. She drilled all four free-throw attempts vs. TSU, snapping out of a 3-of-7 skid from the previous three.
Anete?s Area
Junior Anete Steinberga, a two-year starter, was utilized as a reserve for the first 11 games this year. She has started the past two contests. She is 4-of-18 (22.2) from the floor in the past four games. She had made 19-of-26 (73.1) in the prior seven. Steinberga has defended smartly, with two or fewer fouls in 10 of the past 11 match-ups.
BACK COURT VETS TRENDING Willingham?s Will To Succeed
Kelli Willingham, a 2011 All C-USA Freshman honoree, was scoreless in 12 minutes against Texas State (12/31/11). She had pitched in 11.3 ppg in the previous eight games, with all four of her double-digit efforts occurring in the stretch. She made nine turnovers in the first five games but has committed eight since. Willingham has drilled 8-of-21 from three-point range over the past four games. She was 2-of-9 in the two tilts prior to the stretch.
No Ordinary Smith
Senior Kim Smith has been a quality on-ball defender while getting involved in the offense in her second & final season for the Miners. She has multiple assists in nine straight games, including five with 3 or more. Smith is 4-of-4 at the free-throw line in the past two contests. She was 3-of-7 in the prior eight contests. Smith scored 23 points over the first three games (7.7 ppg) on 40.0 percent (6-of-15) shooting, but she has scored 20 points (2.0 ppg) while making 18.2 percent (6-of-33) since.
Not Easy Being Green
Senior Briana Green, who has fought through a pair of season-ending injuries (freshman & junior), has been healthy thus far as a reserve for the Miners in 2011-12. She has 11 rebounds in the past four games, topping her total (eight) from the first nine. After a three-game stretch of going 7-of-14 from the floor, Green is 3-of-12 in the past three tilts.
Warren?s Way
Second-year Miner & senior Erika Warren drilled 4-of-7 from the floor for a season-high 12 points against Texas State. She had managed 17 points on 5-of-15 shooting the previous five. After back-to-back games with one rebound, Warren has grabbed nine total in the three tilts since.
Eglite?s Extent
Senior Baiba Eglite scored 14 points in a combined 30 minutes of action in her first six games on the season. She contributed a campaign-high 11 points while nailing 4-of-6 tries in 16 minutes. Seven of her nine FGM have been of the three-point variety. She is 5-of-7 from distance over the previous three tilts played. She was 2-of-8 in her initial five appearances.
Whitney Worth The Wait
Senior Whitney Houston transferred to UTEP from Colorado prior to the start of the 2010-11 season, but she missed a year-and-a half due to injury. She has played in the past two games, scoring all five of her points in six minutes of action against Texas State (12/31/11).
NEWBIES TRENDING Parker Power
Freshman Chrishauna Parker was a top-50 guard nationally out of Atascocita HS. After coming off the bench for nine of her first 10 appearances, she has started the past two contests. Parker was 2-of-4 from the floor with four points against Texas State (12/31/11). She was 3-of-10 in that area the previous three match-ups. She made 5-of-8 free throws at New Mexico (12/10/11) but is 3-of-10 in the six contests since.
Mendes Means Business
Junior Melisa Mendes was an all-conference performer at NW Florida State College. She tallied eight points against Texas State (12/31/11). She managed three points combined in the previous four games on 1-of-8 shooting. She has made multiple three pointers in a quartet of contests, and is a combined 10-of-20 from distance in those contests. She is 2-of-21 in the other games on the season.
The Name Is Nash
Freshman Jenzel Nash joined UTEP as the program?s first Parade All-American after leading the nation in scoring with 37.7 ppg for Worthing HS. She scored 26 points while nailing 12-of-25 from the floor against Houston Baptist (11/19/11 & Lamar, 12/01/11). She has managed 17 points while going 6-of-35 in the 10 other games. She grabbed three rebounds against Texas State (12/31/11). Nash had been without a rebound in the prior four.
Lace It Up With Lacy
Sophomore Ryah Lacy, who led Grayson County College to a fifth-place finish nationally, made a combined 5-of-12 from the floor for 12 points against Houston Baptist (11/19/11 & NM State, 11/29/11). In her other nine contests played she checks in at 5-of-24 for 11 points. She is 3-of-22 from three-point land, but did go 1-of-4 in that area at Arizona State (12/28/11). Half of her steals on the year (5-of-10) have come in her past four games.
Davis Does It
Syerra Davis, a top-50 guard who won three straight state titles with Tolleson HS, was 0-6 from the floor in her first five games as a Miner, but she is 3-of-5 in her six contests since. She had two boards against Texas State (12/31/11), matching her sum from the previous six.
Welcome Home, Marissa
Freshman Marissa Rodriguez grew up in El Paso before starring at San Antonio Reagan High School after her family moved. She has appeared in three games, securing four minutes and a rebound in that timeframe.
THREE-POINT LAND
New Line Impacting Miners
The three-point line was moved back this year, and it has had an impact. Through 13 games, the Miners are down from 34.8 percent (81-of-233) to 28.9 percent (71-of-246) on three-point shooting. The opposition has also suffered, though, slipping from 29.1 percent (69-of-229) to 23.4 (41-of-175).
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 managed eight games 10 or more made triples. The Miners have registered 11 such contests since, including one thus far in 2011-12.
180 Straight Games With A Triple
UTEP has made least one three-point shot in a program-record 180 straight games. The last time UTEP failed to fill up a triple in a contest was on Dec. 30, 2005. They have hit one in all but four games during Keith Adams? era.
STAT LOVERS? LANE
Jekyll & Hyde
There have been two different Miner clubs this year, with the Dr. Jekyll version showing up 11 times and the Mr. Hyde unit appearing on two occasions.
In 11 Wins (Average Stats)
Team Pts FG% 3fg% FT% RB TO
UTEP 72.6 42.8 29.6 68.6 44.2 14.8
Opp. 51.5 31.6 22.6 72.5 35.5 19.8
In 2 Losses (Average Stats)
Team Pts FG% 3fg% FT% RB TO
UTEP 46.5 34.0 23.3 51.9 37.5 15.0
Opp. 48.0 36.2 27.6 60.0 39.0 15.5 The Magical 70-Point Barrier
The Miners are 106-12 during the Keitha Adams era, including 7-0 this year, in games which they eclipsed 70 points.
Seems Logical
UTEP holds a record of 87-15 in the past 102 contests in which it has hit on at least 40.5 percent from the field. The Miners are 9-0 in the situation this year.
It?s All About The Triple
UTEP sports a mark of 47-9 in its past 56 games when making 40 percent or better from three-point range (min. 5 3PM). The Miners are 1-0 in area this season.
Better Get Ready To Rebound
UTEP has a record of 99-41 under Keitha Adams, including 32-10 in the past 42 games, when out-rebounding the opposition. It is 8-1 in the situation this year, with the lone loss coming to UCSB (12/21/11).
Helping Hand Leads To Triumphs
UTEP is a robust 52-2 under Keitha Adams, including 3-0 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 through 2000-01, going 13-6.
As Does Forcing Turnovers
The Miners are 61-15 over their past 76 games that they?ve forced the opposition into committing at least 20 turnovers. UTEP is 5-0 in the situation this year. No foe has made fewer than 15 in a game this year, with eight committing 18+.
Turning Up The Pressure
UTEP is 60-12 during the Keitha Adams era, including 42-3 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 6-0 in the situation this year.
Making Free Throws Can Help
UTEP is 45-10 over the past 55 contests when knocking down better than 70 percent at the free-throw line (minimum 10 FTM), including 4-0 in 2011-12.
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 25-13 in games in which they were below 61-percent from the free-throw line (minimum 10 attempts. They are just 1-2 in the area this year though.
Go Figure
The Miners are 16-8 in their past 24 regular-season contests, including 1-0 this year, in which they have made more three pointers than free throws.
Start Them Up
The Miners are 25-10 when Kristine Vitola has started while standing 17-8 with Kayla Thornton earning a starting nod during their respective careers.
MILESTONE MOMENTS Adams Adding To Record With Every Win
Eleventh-year UTEP head coach Keitha Adams, the winningest coach in program history, has compiled a mark of 166-145 in her time in the Sun City. She has led her charges to a record of 163-120 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).
Green?s Got It Going On
Briana Green?s career has been hindered with injuries (missed 29 games), making her numbers across the board even more impressive. She is 10th all time for assists (190) and individual wins (61). Green is one of 25 Miners with at least 75+ steals (79) & one of 27 with 600+ points (612). Additionally, she became the 16th Miner to earn 2,000+ minutes of playing time (2,027).
Brown?s Not Too Bad Either
Gloria Brown is the 11th Miner to reach the half-century mark after joining the program as a junior, and the 35th player overall at the school to do so. She has piled up 512 points, with currently rating first all-time at the school for career free-throw percentage at 79.1 (121-153) helping that. Brown is also nearing the century mark (97) in blocked shots, which would make her the 5th Miner to achieve the feat.
Block Party
Senior Gloria Brown has blocked 97 shots in her time in the Sun City, including 32 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 2.4. Junior forward Kristine Vitola rates tied for 6th on the list with 67 swats, including 18 this year.
Was A Historic Start To The Season
UTEP opened up at 10-0 (now 11-2) to stand alone for the best start to a season in program history, besting the prior standard out of the gates (7-0) during the 1996-97 season. The Miners became the first Conference USA school since 2004-05 & fifth overall to open up with 10 straight wins. Overall it tied as the third-best start in league history.
Piled Up The Non-League Wins
UTEP went 11-2 in non-conference play. The 11 wins tied for the most in school history heading into the start of league action, matching the effort by the 2006-07 squad (11-1).
Miners Pick Up Votes In ESPN/USA Top-25 Poll
UTEP received a pair of votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches? top-25 poll on Dec. 19. It marked the earliest point in a season that UTEP had garnered votes in either of the top-25 polls, besting prior mark from 2007-08 season. There have now been two campaigns in school history (2007-08 & 2011-2) where the Miners have grabbed a vote in a top-25 poll.
Now That?s Balance
Source: UTEP Athletics
