Lady Toppers fall on the road at UTEP
EL PASO, Texas — WKU women’s basketball (15-11, 6-5 CUSA) fell to UTEP (9-14, 4-6 CUSA) on the road on Thursday night in El Paso, Texas.
Alexis Mead was the leading scorer for WKU with 20 points, shooting 5-of-8 from three, to go along with five assists. Teresa Faustino tied her career high with 17 points along with four assists and four steals.
The Lady Toppers held a lead at halftime, but turned the ball over 15 times in the second half and was outscored by 21 in the final two quarters.
WKU jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead, scoring just five seconds into the game from the tipoff and then a steal and a layup on the Miners’ first possession. UTEP responded with an 8-0 run that was ended by a three from Faustino. After a Miner layup, WKU outscored the Miners 12-3 through the rest of the quarter to take a 19-13 lead into the second quarter.
Both teams opened the second quarter on a scoring drought, going close to three minutes with a bucket. UTEP broke the seal at the 7:01 mark and Mead made a three just 13 seconds later. Mead made her second three of the game at the 5:05 mark but the Miners made four straight free throws to cut the lead to three. Mead made her eighth straight point at the 3:50 mark and the Lady Toppers scored five straight after a UTEP jumper to go ahead by eight. WKU ended the quarter on a 9-0 run, including a buzzer-beating four-point play by Mead to take a 41-25 lead into halftime.
UTEP cut into that lead in the third quarter, outscoring WKU 22-12 in the frame. The Lady Toppers had 11 turnovers in the quarter and the Miners cashed in with 11 points off those miscues. WKU held on to a 53-47 lead going into the final quarter.
After going back-and-forth to start the fourth quarter, UTEP tied the game with 8:11 left. WKU retook the lead on a layup from Faustino, but UTEP tied again and took their first lead since the first quarter with four straight points. A bucket from Caitlin Staley tied the score again, but the Miners responded with a three and held on to a lead for the remainder of the game.
WKU will stay on the road, taking on New Mexico State on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. (CT).
