Warren's career game propels UTEP past Tulane

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.

"She had a great game. Her and I met a couple of days ago and had a really good talk," head coach Keitha Adams said. "We talked about her having good practices and being ready to roll the rest of the way out. She was ready from the jump."

Warren started, had eight of the game's first 12 points, the first four of the second half but the key run in the game came from UTEP's bench players. Leading 44-39, UTEP went on an 18-4 run, fueled by junior forward Kristine Vitola who had nine points during the run.

"My last game was not that good so I knew I had to come out today and play as hard as I can," Vitola said.

Her 3-pointer brought the season-high 4,536 fans to their feet, forcing Tulane to call a timeout, but it was Adams who had to criticize her team.

"I was concerned because our kids got so hyped and in the timeout, I had to rip into them for things that hadn't happened just to bring them back down to Earth," Adams said. "They were flying right along with our crowd in the clouds."

Vitola finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and went 5-of-6 from the field. The Miners' bench outscored the Green Wave's 36-20 and 37-20 in the paint.

Tulane stayed in the game, cutting the 62-43 deficit to 72-63 in the wailing moments of the game. Danielle Blagg kept the team in the game for the most part, hitting nine points after the 19-point deficit, all being threes. She finished with 18 points in 17 minutes off the bench.

After the Miners made their first substitutions following the first official timeout, UTEP went on a 12-2 run, with the reserves contributing to 10 of those points. The Miners led 22-11, which Tulane responded with an 11-2 run of their own.

Both teams exchanged baskets the rest of the half in a high-percentage shooting first half. Tulane shot 44.8 percent, including 6-of-7 from the line and UTEP hit 51.7 percent, 4-of-9 from three and all four of their free throws. Warren had 12 of her points by halftime, including eight of the first 12.

"I was just playing hard, coach challenged me and I just wanted to play hard," Warren said. "For me, if I hit the first one, I might hit the rest, might."

UTEP's 38 first-half points was the highest total for the first half since the Miners scored 40 Jan. 22 at home against Houston. The 34 points UTEP gave up to Tulane in the first half was the second most they've allowed to an opponent since they let East Carolina score 35 Jan. 18 on the road.

The Miners improved to 11-0 in Conference-USA, improving their winning streak to 12.

UTEP will now take on Tulsa Feb. 16 on the road. The Miners won the first meeting Jan. 12 at the Don Haskins Center 67-56.

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