UTEP Women’s Basketball: Miners bounce back to drop Marshall 84-74

UTEP’s entire starting five scored in double figures for the first time all season, led by Sparkle Taylor who poured in 25 points helping UTEP pick apart Marshall 84-74 Saturday afternoon.

The Miners averaged a point per possession, assisting on 23 of their 29 made field goals, and also went 21-for-29 at the free throw line putting together one of their more consistent offensive games of the conference season.

Marshall ended the first quarter with a 17-12 lead thanks to a 3-pointer from Shayna Gore in the final minute of the quarter. Gore scored a game high 26 points for the Herd.

UTEP had a monster second quarter, shooting 61.1 percent in the second en route to a 30 point second quarter explosion giving the Miners a 42-27 halftime lead.

The Herd shot 38.1 percent from the floor, and turned it over 19 times in the game, helping UTEP build a 21-point lead midway through the third quarter which was never threatened.

Tamara Seda scored 15 points, and added 12 rebounds in 22 minutes. Katarina Zec added 11 points and five assists. UTEP turned those 19 Marshall turnovers into a 28-8 UTEP edge in points off turnovers.

Zuzana Puc also recorded a double-double for UTEP with 13 points, 11 rebounds on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor. Lulu McKinney went 7-for-8 from the free throw line adding 10 points.

Taylor also grabbed five rebounds, and handed out four assists shooting 7-for-9 from the charity strip.

The win improves UTEP to 6-14 overall, and 3-5 in conference play with a road trip to UAB, and then Middle Tennessee looming next week.