Feb. 24, 2008

EL PASO, Texas - - The No. 19/25 UTEP women's basketball team raced out to an early double-digit lead and never looked back, leading wire-to-win in a 89-74 win at UCF Sunday afternoon, securing the 2008 Conference USA regular-season title in the process. It is the first conference championship in the 34-year history of the program.

"I thought we played and performed really well," UTEP head coach Keitha Adams said. "UCF has a good young team and hit some shots, but we showed some composure and did what we had to do to win today's game. We're thrilled about the win."

The win for the Miners, (23-2, 14-0 C-USA) is historic for several other reasons, including:
* It is the school-record-setting 23rd triumph, topping the effort of the 22-victory 2006-07 squad
* UTEP becomes the first school in Conference USA history to finish undefeated on the road in league action, concluding a perfect 8-0 in C-USA road games
* It is the Miners' 14 Conference USA triumph, which matches highest victory total (for league games only) in the history of the conference.
* The Miners have now won a nation-tying-best 19 consecutive games. Prior to last season, the school-record for single-season triumphs was 18.
* Keitha Adams recorded her 100th-career win at the helm of UTEP

As has been the case throughout the entire season, it was a balanced attack by the Orange and Blue. All five starters reached double figures, which pushed the Miners' to a season-high 89 points. UTEP connected on a sizzling 56.7 percent from the floor-the seventh-highest figure in program history-, doing so with extremely unselfish play. The Orange and Blue tallied 27 assists, to match the second-best sum in school annals.

UTEP was in control from the start of the game, leading 5-0 early. UCF fought back to make it 5-4 and 12-10, but the Miners responded with a 22-3 run to race ahead by 18. UTEP increased the advantage to 20, before UCF rattled off five straight points to climb within 15 at the break.

The Knights made it interesting in the second stanza, three times closing to within four points. Each time the Orange and Blue had an answer, eventually pulling away for the 15-point triumph.

The Miners will be back in action on Thursday at 6:05 p.m. against SMU at the Don Haskins Center. The contest will be carried live by CSTV.