The UTEP Women's basketball team could not overcome 19 turnovers and shot 35.4 percent for the game as New Mexico (2-7) turned a game controlling first half run into a 72-57 win inside the Pit Sunday afternoon.
New Mexico's Anthiesa Brown led three Lobos in double figures with 18 points, and the Lobos held a 15-3 points off turnovers edge late in the second half, stretching their lead to as much as 18 at the 6:05 mark of the final half.
UTEP would actually take an early 9-8 lead but would allow a 10-0 New Mexico run from that point, and finish the half with eleven turnovers compared to just three from the Lobos who took a 39-28 lead into the halftime break.
Sparkle Taylor paced UTEP with 14 points, and seven rebounds, though after a Stacie Telles three pointer cut the lead down to eight in the early stages of the second half, the Miners were unable to close gap the rest of the way.
Khadijah Shumpert added 16 points and Bryce Owens also reached double figures for New Mexico with 10 points as the Lobos shot 47 percent from the field and cashed in 17 points off UTEP turnovers.
Anete Kirstiene was the only other Miner in double figures with 11 points, UTEP shot a icy 30.8 percent in the second half, though held a 34-31 advantage on the boards in final numbers tally.
UTEP drops to 3-4 on the season, and will host Prairie View A&M Saturday December 20th at 2:00 p.m. in the Don Haskins Center.