Did the Lady Techsters' Defense Crumble Against UTEP's Onslaught at Don Haskins Center?
In a closely contested battle at the Don Haskins Center, the UTEP Miners edged out a victory over the Lady Techsters with a final score of 61-57. The Miners now stand with an unblemished record, while the Lady Techsters fall to their first defeat.
The game was marked by intense competition from start to finish. The Miners, playing in front of their home crowd, showcased a robust defense that resulted in six blocks and seven steals. Their defensive efforts were complemented by an offense that capitalized on opportunities, scoring 12 fast break points and converting 14 points off turnovers.
The University of Texas at El Paso team demonstrated superior rebounding throughout the game, grabbing 39 rebounds compared to Louisiana Tech's 26. This dominance on the glass was pivotal for second-chance points where they outscored their opponents by seven.
UTEP also excelled in scoring within the paint with 26 points, underscoring their ability to penetrate Louisiana Tech's defenses. Despite committing more turnovers (21) than Louisiana Tech (16), UTEP maintained composure when it mattered most.
A key factor contributing to UTEP's win was their free throw performance; they made good on 70 percent of their attempts from the charity stripe totaling 16 made free throws. In contrast, despite shooting a respectable percentage from both field goal range (40 percent) and beyond the arc (29 percent), Louisiana Tech could not keep pace with UTEP’s scoring efficiency.
The Lady Techsters did put up a formidable fight as evidenced by evenly matched steals with seven each and matching assists-turnover ratios; however, personal fouls proved costly for them as they racked up twenty compared to fourteen by UTEP.
As fans look ahead after this hard-fought victory for The Miners against The Lady Techsters in this conference game witnessed by over one thousand attendees at Don Haskins Center – attention turns toward future challenges.
The next challenge for The Miners will be against Sam Houston Bearkats at Don Haskins Center located in El Paso on January 27th at 3:00 PM local time. Fans eager to support can catch all live action as it unfolds right from home or join others cheering courtside for what promises another display of competitive basketball.