UTEP Picks Up Vote In ESPN/USA Today Top-25 Coaches’ Poll

EL PASO, TEXAS ? A day after picking up a vote in the Associated Press top-25 poll, UTEP has received a vote in the ESPN/USA Today top-25 coaches? poll which was released Tuesday. It marks the first time this season that the Miners have been recognized in both of the top-25 polls in the same week.

There have now been two campaigns (2007-08 & 2011-2) where the UTEP has grabbed a vote in both top-25 polls at the same time, with both coming during the Keitha Adams era.

UTEP has won seven straight games and sits atop the C-USA standings. It is one of 10 teams nationally to be both undefeated in league play and have two or fewer total losses.

Thirteen of the 17 victories on the year have been by double figures, including a school-record-tying eight triumphs by 20+ points. Depth has been an important key to the season, with 12 different players logging at least 10 minutes per game.

That depth was on display in the 87-43 dismantling of Houston on Jan. 22, which marked the largest margin of victory for a league game in program history. All 13 Miners who saw action against the Cougars scored at least four points, with sophomore Kayla Thornton leading the way with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting. The Miners? bench poured in 48 points, out-scoring the entire UH squad in the process.

UTEP will be back in action when it concludes a stretch of three of four away from home at Southern Miss at 6 p.m. MST Thursday. The game will be broadcast locally in EL Paso on 1150 AM.

Source: UTEP Athletics