UTEP Women’s Basketball: Miners slip past FAU 51-50

For the second consecutive game in the state of Florida, the outcome was decided by a final shot at the buzzer, but this time the basketball gods were on the Lady Miners’ side.

FAU’s Sasha Cedeno missed a 3-pointer that bounced around the rim before falling off giving UTEP a 51-50 road win to close out their Florida road trip.

Both team struggled from the floor, each shooting below 40 percent in the game, and the lead changed hands nine times. But the young Miners continue to take positive steps forward all while picking up a road win during conference play.

UTEP built an early 9-6 lead, but would only score 10 points the rest of the opening half, and trailed 26-19 at halftime.

FAU scored the first points of the second half opening up their lead to nine, and led the entire first six minutes of the third quarter until UTEP grabbed their first lead since the opening quarter.

Six straight points coming from three point play by Tamara Seda, then a 3-pointer from Ax Bernard put UTEP ahead 31-30 with 3:43 left in the third quarter.

The game went into the fourth quarter tied at 34, then UTEP got a pair of 3-pointers that gave them some much needed separation.

Down 41-40 after an FAU 3-pointer with just under seven minutes left in the game, Lulu McKinney, and Naj Howell each hit a 3-pointer pushing UTEP out in front 46-41 with time approaching the six minute mark of the fourth.

UTEP never gave up the lead thanks to a strong rebounding outing, and the luck of a last second shot going in their favor.

Tamara Seda scored 13 points, and grabbed 14 rebounds for UTEP who shot 34.5 percent from the floor in the game.

Howell was the only other Miner to score in double figures adding 10 points, Sparkle Taylor chipped in eight points, and eight rebounds.

After a rough offensive first half with 11 turnovers, UTEP took care of the ball in the final half with only six turnovers. They also went 3-for-6 from behind the three point line, and 6-for-12 from the field in the fourth quarter.

UTEP improves to 5-12 overall, and 2-3 in conference play and will return to action next Saturday in San Antonio against UTSA.