The glass slipper was so close to fitting. Entering the Conference-USA Tournament as a seven seed, UTEP upset second-seeded Colorado College Nov. 2, won in penalty kicks against sixth-seeded Rice Nov. 4, but fell just short to nationally-ranked No. 4 Memphis 2-1 in the second overtime in the C-USA Championship game.

In head coach Mika Laaksonen's first year last season, it was his relay team and throwers that sent some UTEP athletes to the NCAA Championships. But after sophomore hurdler/sprinter and Clemson transfer Janice Jackson entered prior to the current indoor track and field season, he may have found a way to send an athlete in all facets of track and field to the NCAAs.

Moving from another country wasn't the only challenge senior guard Baiba Eglite had to overcome. Losing her mother, while being thousands of miles away, has been a wound that basketball has helped her heal. "At first it was hard, but I was just trying to stay busy and not let myself down.

Floyd: Young Miners ‘have surprised me’

When head coach Tim Floyd held a free scrimmage to UTEP fans at the Don Haskins Center prior to the season, he used the opportunity not only to introduce the team, but send one message: be patient, this is a rebuilding year. But while Floyd let his fans in on his plan, he said he never really told his players the same idea.

When the Miners take on Memphis Feb. 18 at the FedEx Forum, it will not only be a game of last-time occurrences, but a chance for UTEP to achieve something for the first time.

In what head coach Mike Price considers his most competitive schedule since he took over UTEP in 2004, the Miners announced their opponents for 2012, which will commence with a home game against Oklahoma Sept. 1 at the Sun Bowl.

Conference-USA and the Mountain West Conference announced Feb. 13 that the two have agreed to form a new intercollegiate association, which will begin in 2013-14. "We think that the institutions that we would be partnering with in the Mountain West are institutions that we've always had a great deal of respect for," UTEP President Diana Natalicio said.

Players make relationships work, even during a season

Finding the time to maintain a relationship as an athlete might not be easy, but some of the UTEP men's basketball players gave details about their relationship, what it takes to balance out things and some Valentine's surprises. "I have been with this girl almost a month now and I like her a lot.

Despite sophomore center John Bohannon not being able to score in regulation, one of the best scorers on the team was still able to come in the clutch. Bohannon scored all five of his points in the last two plays in overtime and the Miners avenged their loss to Tulane from earlier in the season, 54-52 Feb. 11 at the Don Haskins Center.

Senior forward Erika Warren was feeling it from the beginning. She hit the game's first points, a 3-pointer just seconds into the game, and finished with a career-high 20 points to lead UTEP past Tulane 80-65 Feb. 12 at the Don Haskins Center.

Some college programs have fans with a level of confidence that borders that dreadful term of cockiness. Whether it's Texas, USC or Notre Dame and their historic football programs, Duke, North Carolina or UCLA and their basketball teams, these fans have every right to brag about their respective schools and their accomplishments.

The Miners will travel to College Station to compete in their final meet before the Conference-USA Indoor Championships in hope of staying sharp and not overlooking the event Feb. 11 at Texas A&M. Head coach Mika Laaksonen is hoping the team stays focused but is aware that athletes may look past the event and have the C-USA championships, which is Feb.

The Miners took the early lead and never trailed, ending the Tulsa Golden Hurricane's seven-game winning streak and halting UTEP's four-game slump in a 64-55 victory Feb. 8 at the Don Haskins Center. Freshman guard Julian Washburn came out of the locker room, scored eight of his 13 points to begin the second half and put the Miners up 38-25.

Miners out for payback from 2011 record

The memory of the 2011 season still lingers in the back of co-head coach Kathleen Rodriguez's head, and she plans on making that the driving force for the 2012 campaign. "There's a lot to be said for someone who has a lot of competitiveness. There's a lot to be said for someone who still kind of hurts from last year.

El Paso native and senior thrower Matt Dudley has his goals set beyond an NCAA title. Instead, he wants to follow in his father's footsteps and earn a trip to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Matt's father, Steve Dudley, once qualified for the Olympics in the discus throw, the same event Matt has excelled in this year.

In a game featuring nine lead changes, six ties and the largest lead being eight points, it came down to one last shot to determine a winner between UTEP and UAB Feb. 4 at the Don Haskins Center. Down by one with nine seconds left, sophomore guard Michael Perez missed the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer, resulting in the Miners' first Conference-USA home loss of the season Feb.

Young postsbattle for starting role

After losing four starters from last season, head coach Tim Floyd was uncertain as to who would be in his starting lineup at the beginning of the season. Returning one center and one forward, Floyd brought in three new post players for an inexperienced post presence.

By Daniel Ornelas The Prospector After competing in two events in back-to-back weekends, UTEP took a two-week break to prepare for its third meet of the indoor season when the Miners travel Feb. 3-4 to Lincoln, Nebraska for the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational.

While head coach Tim Floyd was left with a multitude of talented guards from the 2009-10 Conference-USA champion team, his two largest losses in forwards Derrick Caracter and Arnett Moultrie translated into a grim year on the boards. The Miners may have found some relief to the rebounding  statistic as they find themselves on the brink of rectifying their rebounding problems that have followed since last season.

As they have done the past three games, UTEP overpowered their Conference-USA opponent when they let their bench loose once again. UTEP's reserves outscored UCF's 36-2, 13 players saw action, 10 scored and the Miners routed the Golden Knights 67-38 to improve to 8-0 in C-USA play Jan.

After being forced to watch a team with the second-worst record in program history from the dugout last season, fifth-year senior catcher Camilla Carrera is ready to lead again. Coming off another back injury, the 2012 season will be a chance for Carrera to duplicate the success she had early in her career.

Miners seeking first road win against Rice

After falling short in overtime to Houston on the road 81-76 Jan. 28, the Miners look to bounce back and capture their first road win against Rice Feb. 1 at Tudor Fieldhouse in Houston. "It was tough. We felt like it was a winnable game because we played well for about 35 minutes there," sophomore guard Michael Perez said.

Following a dismal start on the road, head coach Tim Floyd lectured another page from his coaching book to his players. "Like coach says: boys play at home, men play on the road," senior forward Gabriel McCulley said. The Miners will continue the hunt for their first road win of the season, Jan.

‘Mama/papa’ technique helps recruit players to UTEP

Whether it's appealing to the city, the tradition or style of play, every collegiate program has a different style of recruiting high school athletes for every sport. For the Miners' softball program, family comes first, because being a part of the roster is like being part of a family of 20 siblings, parented by co-head coaches and spouses James and Kathleen Rodriguez.

The UTEP track and field program has a new assistant coach. Starting this semester, Scott Roberts will be leading the women track team, overseeing the sprints, hurdles, multi-events and jumps athletes. "We had a position open and we had a lot of candidates and he was by far the most qualified for the position so that's why he's here," head coach Mika Laaksonen said.

Following a successful first half of the season and a long layoff, the UTEP rifle team will be looking to get back in the swing of things when they resume the 2011-12 season Jan. 28 in Murray, Kentucky at the Withrow Tournament. The Miners, whose last competition was in November, are looking forward to capitalizing on the success they received the first half of the season.

As the Miners continue their roller coaster season, injuries have become a consistent problem for head coach Tim Floyd, who has still found ways to adapt to the circumstances and utilize the reinforcements he does have. "We have been in this situation since December, dating back to (Nov.

The last six times UTEP and Houston met, the Cougars were either leading or competing for a Conference-USA regular season or tournament title with Houston ending the Miners' season the last two years. This year, however, conference-leading UTEP turned the tables and avenged themselves against the Cougars in blow-out fashion.

Following a tightly contested first half, UTEP used two 9-0 runs to pull away beat East Carolina 70-56 Jan. 18 at the Don Haskins Center.

With age comes experience, and with that experience, confidence builds. This could be said for junior forward Kristine Vitola and her improved play. This season, the 6-foot 4-inch 21-year old athlete from Latvia is averaging career-highs with 5.8 points and 6.

Hoping to capitalize once again at home, the Miners will host East Carolina Jan. 18 at the Don Haskins Center. "I continue to tell people that we have to take care of home-court to have a chance at this conference and to have a chance at post season," senior forward Gabriel McCulley said.

By Daniel Ornelas The Prospector After the Miners cruised to an 11-2 record in non-conference play behind a favorable schedule, UTEP showed they could beat even stiffer competition after opening league play 4-0. The Miners' first four conference opponents were Jan.

Unselfish play, depth and a strong defensive effort was the final blow in holding off Tulsa behind a 67-56 victory for UTEP Jan. 12 at the Don Haskins Center. The Miners are off to a 3-0 start in league play for the third time in school history.

Freshman forward Julian Washburn christened his new jersey in a big way. Wearing No. 4 for the first time all season after changing from no. 10 in honor of Tim Hardaway's jersey retirement, Washburn tied a career-high with 19 points in a 70-50 Miner victory over the Houston Cougars Jan. 7 at the Don Haskins Center.

The Miners combated one career-high scorer with one of their own as they won the consolation game of the Sun Bowl Invitational 79-58 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff Dec. 29 at the Don Haskins Center.

After exchanging baskets all game, it came down to one final push by Colorado State to defeat host-team UTEP 56-53 in the 2011 Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational Dec. 28 at the Don Haskins Center.

After playing three games in six days, and winning them handedly, the Miners will be looking to start a school-best 8-0 when they face a road test in New Mexico at 2 p.m. Dec. 2 in Albuquerque.

Sometimes, statistics lie. With their top four scorers being held below their averages, the Miners had help from the rest of the team in one of their most balanced games of the season. Five players scored above their average and the Miners improved to 7-0, their best start in school history, behind an 81-52 victory against Lamar Dec. 1 at the Don Haskins Center.

After finishing 5-7 in the 2011 season, UTEP's sixth-consecutive losing record, Bob Stull, director of UTEP athletics, announced Dec. 1 that Mike Price will return for his ninth season as the football head coach.

For eight years, UTEP has been accustomed to one brand of football: Mike Price football. What started off as a match made in heaven for UTEP, having back-to-back eight-win seasons and bowl appearances, is now a distant memory.

The Miners survived a late rally by UT-Pan American to match the best start for a Keith Adams-coached team at  4-0 in a 62-51 victory Nov. 26 at the Don Haskins Center.

After a rout of Great West-opponent Houston Baptist Nov. 19, the Miners will turn their attention to the UT-Pan American Broncs from the same conference Nov. 22 at the Don Haskins Center in search of going 4-0 for the season.

Despite losing 57-28 against Conference-USA foe Tulsa, the Miners still have a chance at a bowl berth with a win in the season finale against UCF Nov. 25 in Orlando.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The UTEP women won the last game on NMSU's 25-year old court Nov. 16. The UTEP men christened the new one by falling to NMSU 89-73 Nov. 12 at the Pan American Center.

Senior day for the Miners was not a memorable one as the Tulsa Golden Hurricane beat UTEP 57-28 Nov. 19 in the Sun Bowl. 

With one game under their belt, UTEP will take on NMSU Nov. 16 at the Pan American Center.

The Miners will play their final home game of the 2011 season Nov. 19 at the Sun Bowl against Tulsa with the chance of earning a second-consecutive bowl berth.

With all the success UTEP has been experiencing at the punting game this season, one can not over look where each process begins. Senior long snapper Matt Camilli is that guy who initiates each punt, extra point and field goal in one of the most underappreciated positions in all of football.

The Miners got their fifth victory of the season, and one short of becoming bowl eligible for the second-consecutive season, by beating East Carolina 22-17 Nov. 12 in the Sun Bowl.

After falling to Rice for the fifth time in their last six tries, the Miners will turn their attention to a team they have yet to beat, the East Carolina Pirates, Nov. 12 at the Sun Bowl.