Editor’s Note: this is not the most recent game of UTEP women’s basketball.
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day at the women’s basketball matchup vs. the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Feb. 1. As a part of the celebration, UTEP honored the woman pioneers who have paved the way for their program.
The 1974-75 team, the first women’s basketball team in school history, took to the court 50 years ago. This was a celebration of the progress in women’s sports at the university, but also of all the girls and women who play sports.
Though, in the end, the Miners (9-11, 2-7 Conference USA) could not cap off the night with a win and fell to the Blue Raiders (16-6, 8-1 CUSA), 64-42.
The Miners came out strong in the first quarter with senior guard Ivane Tensaie who scored UTEP’s first points in the game and continued to be a consistent offensive piece throughout the matchup leading her team in scoring with 23 points.
Sophomore forward Luisa Vyrdrova accumulated nine rebounds total, just three short of her season’s high of 12 achieved in November vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
Despite an early lead at the end of the first quarter 17-11, the Miners were not able to widen the gap. The Blue Raiders were able to create 29 points off turnovers alone, surpassing the Miners who were only able to utilize turnovers by 7 points. UTEP struggled defensively allowing Middle Tennessee to score 26 points in the paint.
“Middle Tennessee’s defense is good, and that made it challenging for our team today. Ivane [Tensaie] hit some big shots and played well, but we really struggled and never got much of a rhythm.” Head Coach Keitha Adams said to UTEP Athletics.
While the Blue Raiders capitalized off their starting lineup, the Miners scored 11 bench points, and the Raiders only scored 2.
The UTEP Miners made 38.5% from the three-point line, 69.2% from the free throw line, and 30.4% of field goals. Middle Tennessee took the lead in the second period and didn’t look back, taking the victory with a final score of 64-42.
The Miner’s will look to bounce back at their next matchup on Feb. 15 against Liberty University.
Evelyn Palma is the web and copy editor for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected] and on Instagram @evelynp.media.
