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UTEP women's basketball: Second half rally helps UTEP hold off North Texas

In conference play it doesn't have to be pretty, just play defense, rebound, survive and move on.

By Alex Nicolas
www.minerrush.com

UTEP used a second half run to grab a lead, and withstood a last ditch effort in the final minutes to escape with conference win number one thanks to a 60-58 triumph against visiting North Texas.

A rough offensive first half for the Miners saw the Orange and Blue go on a field goal drought in the final 3:41 of the first half, and trailed the Mean Green 30-25 at halftime.

Cameasha Turner who finished with 13 points on the evening led a second half charge that gave UTEP momentum, and eventually their first conference win of the season.

The Mean Green outscored UTEP 8-2 in the first 2:46 of the second half via a pair of three pointers from BreAnna Dawkins, and Candice Adams, and continued to push the issue over the next few trips.

Trailing 40-32 with under 16 minutes left, Turner knocked down a jumper to spark a 13-3 UTEP run capped off by a three pointer from Turner that gave UTEP a 45-43 lead with 9:04 to play.

UTEP sophomore Sparkle Taylor scored a game high 18 points, though North Texas answered with a 5-0 swing almost five minutes later after Terra Ellison tied the game at 53 with a jumper at the 4:28 mark of the second half.

Turner would score on back-to-back trips to put UTEP ahead 57-53 with 2:05 left, though North Texas hit a late three to pull within one, but UTEP managed hit two free throws in the final seven seconds to seal the win.

UTEP won the battle of the boards with a 36-29 advantage, and got a much needed performance from JUCO transfer Rudiane Eduardo who finished with 9 points, and five rebounds including a clutch bucket during the second half run.

Lawana Kennedy also had five rebounds, and scored 6 points, Irene Gari had 8 points and three rebounds for the Miners.

The Miners shot 46.3 percent from the field, though were 8/16 from the free throw line, and forced 19 turnovers.

Ellison led the Mean Green with 14 points, and Briesha Winn did a little bit of everything adding 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and four steals for the Mean Green who drop to 1-11 on the season.

Despite going 2/11 from deep, UTEP rebounded and defended their way for conference win number one, improving to 6-4 on the season, and will now host Rice Sunday 2:00 p.m. in the Don.