UTEP falls to LSU at Paradise Jam

UTEP struggled from the field after the opening five minutes of the game, and let an early run bury them in a 78-45 loss in their first game against LSU at the Paradise Jam in the US Virgin Islands.

The Miners shot just 28.6 percent from the floor in the game, with only Roeshonda Patterson the only Miner to score in double figures with 11 points as she knocked down three, 3-pointers.

LSU forced 27 UTEP turnovers leading to 31 points off UTEP miscues, 16 of those came on fast breaks as they had three score in double figures.

“We turned it over way too much, we had 27 turnovers and they scored 31 points off that,” UTEP head coach Keitha Adams said. “We didn’t take care of the ball and had a poor shooting night. We just didn’t play very well.”

UTEP trailed 10-6 at the 4:36 mark of the first quarter, but LSU outscored the Miners 31-15 for the rest of the first half to take a 41-19 lead at halftime.

The Tigers dished out 21 assists on 31 made field goals, and only attempted five 3-pointers. UTEP struggled from long distance with a 4-of-22 clip in the game, and went 9-of-16 from the free throw line.

UTEP now drops to 1-3 on the season, and will face NC State tomorrow afternoon at 1:15 p.m. Mountain Time.