UTEP Drills UNLV 60-52

Sparkle Taylor scored 19 points, while Lulu McKinney added 12 points to help UTEP bounce back from their first loss of the season with a 60-52 win against UNLV that was not as close as the final score indicated.

Things started off slow for the Miners, but a key run to end the first quarter got things going and put this one to bed early.

Trailing 9-4 early in the first in the midst of an almost four minute drought, Cameasha Tuner and Lulu McKinney would knock down back-to-back three pointers to start a 12-0 that gave UTEP a 16-9 lead after the first quarter.

UTEP held UNLV to a 24 percent shooting clip from the field in the first half, limiting the Rebels to just seven second quarter points to grab a 28-16 lead at the halftime break.

The Miners shot under 30-percent themselves in the first half, but held a commanding 29-19 advantage on the boards in the first half to keep their lead in a double digit margin.

Tough defense, and even tougher rebounding continued into the second half with UTEP dominating the third quarter to hold a 46-26 lead after three quarters.

UTEP led 57-37 with 5:59 left in the fourth, UNLV made a late run in garbage time, but the outcome was never in doubt as UTEP moves to 9-1 on the season.

In the end UTEP forced 21 turnovers, held a 44-41 advantage on the boards, despite shooting 39.7 percent from the floor.

The Miners take a break for Christmas and return to the floor December 28th against Eastern New Mexico in the Don.