UTEP Runs Over UTPB 86-32

Coming into Monday night's matchup with UTPB the message seemed simple for the UTEP women's basketball team.

Defend like hell, jump out to an early led, sharpen up the efficiency on offense, and continue working on themselves with an important pair of games coming up this weekend in Long Beach.

UTEP did that and much more in a 86-32 rout of Division Two UT-Permian Basin.

Keitha Adams' talented group broke a program record for field goal percentage defense, stifling UTPB into a 16.7 percent shooting mark from the floor, all while forcing 31 Falcon turnovers that led to 27 UTEP points off miscues.

Four Miners reached double figure scoring numbers led by Starr Breedlove who finished with 13 points, four assists, and five steals.  Jenzel Nash added 11 points, and six rebounds while Sparkle Taylor and Anete Kirsteine each added 10 points.

UTEP shot 52.5 percent from the field, and scored on 54 percent of their 80 possessions in the game to push their record to 8-0 on the season.

The first five minutes would start off in UTEP's favor, but ended in UTPB snatching an early lead with some efficient three point shooting after a rash of turnovers.

UTEP forced turnovers in each of UTPB's first four possessions of the contest, but the Falcons would knockdown 4-of-5 from three point land in a two minute span to take a 12-8 lead with 4:59 left in the first quarter.

Then the Miners signature pressure defense took over and the Miners never looked back.

UTPB would commit seven turnovers in the final 4:46 of the first quarter allowing UTEP to finish the quarter on a 13-2 run and take a 21-15 lead after the first ten minutes of play.

Starr Breedlove fueled UTEP's offense during the run with seven points including a three pointer that was apart of seven straight scored from UTEP,

The strong defense would continue into the second quarter with the Miners holding UTPB scoreless for 9:15, and only allowing three second quarter points extending the lead to 36-18 at the halftime break.

Sierra LaGrande would actually pull the Falcons with a three pointer early in the second quarter, but UTEP turned their slim 21-18 lead into a 28-1 run that lasted well into the third quarter.

UTPB would start off the second half 0-of-7 from the field as the drought would bleed late into the third quarter until LaGrande sank a three ball to stop the run, but the Miners were well in front holding a 49-22 advantage with 4:04 left in the third quarter.

The Falcons had as many turnovers as points at the end of the quarter, while UTEP's bench mopped up the rest of the fourth quarter to put a bow on the win.

Next up for the Miners is the 2016 Beach Classic where they will face Long Beach State on Friday, then square off with UNLV on Saturday.