UTEP advances to 4-0 behind Brown's double-double

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

Leading 33-23, UTEP went on an 8-0 run and did not allow a Bronc field goal over the next four minutes of the game. The Miners' lead was extended to 19 with 4:56 to go when seven different UTEP players scored during that span.

UT-Pan American made a run of their own to end the game, holding the Miners to just four points. The Broncs reeled off 12 points to cut the lead to 60-51 with 1:02 to go but it proved to be too much too late.

"We won the game, we'll take it, put it in the books but obviously, we know we have to play a lot better," Adams said. "It was a very ugly game. Offensively, I just that we had missed layups, big turnovers and lost possessions."

The Miners showed their depth in the game as they outscored the UT-Pan American bench 39-12 and were led by senior forward Gloria Brown. Brown finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks and three steals. It was her second double-double of the year.

"Sometimes I think to pass and sometimes I think to go. I sometimes get confused trying to make up my mind," Brown said.

UTEP showed inside presence where they held a 40-20 advantage inside the paint. Despite nine offensive rebounds, the Miners only managed four second-chance points. Brown and head coach Keith Adams said they felt they should have dominated down low more given the height of their opponent.

"I thought she was indecisive at times. One thing we talked about was when she gets the ball is to face up. She didn't really square up well," Adams said. "But she got a double-double and we'll keep banging at it and keep working at it."

The defense showed some signs of improvement as UTEP held the Broncs to 33.9 percent from the field including 1-of-5 from three-point range. Head coach Keitha Adams said the biggest weakness on defense is their fouling where they sent UT-Pan American 17 times to the line off 17 fouls.

UTEP began the game slow, shooting 26.3 percent in the first 13 minutes but were able to hold UT-Pan American to just 16.7 percent from the field. The only spark the Miners had offensively in the first six minutes came from junior forward Kristine Vitola who had four points, five rebounds and two blocks. She finished the half with eight points in seven minutes due to foul trouble.

"I think it was important to set the tone in the first minutes and I was trying to do that," Vitola said. "Just get in there and bring in the most energy as I could and then the fouls got me out of the game."

Leading 12-9 with 8:04 to go in the first half, The Miners went on a 9-2 run. UT-Pan American would answer would cut the lead to nine but after a quick timeout, UTEP scored the half's final three points to take a 29-17 lead at halftime.

The Miners dominated in the paint, outscoring the Broncos 18-8. Outside of Vitola,  added seven points, six rebounds and two blocks in the first half. UTEP improved offensively, finishing the half shooting 37.9 percent. UT-Pan American shot 20 percent including 0-for-3 from three-point range.

"I thought our defense was pretty good the first half," Adams said. "It was one of those nights where we didn't light it up, the ball wasn't going in…but we won the boards and closed it out."

UTEP will now take on Denver at 4:05 p.m. Nov. 26 at the Don Haskins Center in a rematch of a team the Miners fell to last year on the road.

"We know we're going to play a really good Denver team (Nov. 26). We know we have to play exceptionally well," Adams said. "We went and played them at their place and got beat so we understand that."

William Vega may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.