Tulsa Captures 58-51 Win Over UTEP to Close Out Non-Conference Slate

Sunday, December 29

El Paso, Texas

2:00 pm

Tulsa

5-8

UTEP

7-4

Tulsa

UTEP

Photo by: Dave Crenshaw

Tulsa Captures 58-51 Win Over UTEP to Close Out Non-Conference Slate

12/29/2019 4:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Box Score in PDF

Kendrian Elliott and Maddie Bittle both scored in double figures to lead Tulsa to a 58-51 win over UTEP in the final non-conference game of the regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. The Golden Hurricane moved to 5-8 on the season, while the Miners fell to 7-4 overall.

Elliott had her 12^th career double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds, leading TU in both categories, while Bittle added 10 points, Alexis Gaulden posted eight and Desiree Lewis had seven. Elliott also recorded four blocks, while Gaulden and Morgan Brady both had four steals.

"Our defense was good throughout the night, and that was key in the first half," Head Coach Matilda Mossman said. "I couldn't be prouder of how our team played together tonight. Kendrian continues to be consistent, KK's defensive side and her ability to help stop their drive gave us a huge boost in the second half, and Kayla and Desiree gave us a boost in the first half. This team continues to grow and it seems like we've turned a corner in the last two games."

Tulsa had a 9-6 lead in blocks and a 15-6 advantage in steals, while UTEP had a 43-41 edge in rebounds and a 12-10 lead in assists. The Miners also finished with 22 turnovers to the Golden Hurricane's 19.

TU finished the game shooting 31-percent, including just 22-percent from behind the arc and 60-percent from the free throw line, while UTEP shot 34-percent from the field, 22-percent from three-point range and 52-percent from the line.

Solid defense kept the game close as TU was trailing UTEP, 6-2, at the 4:51 mark of the first quarter. Tulsa was 1-of-8 from the field, but forced four turnovers in the first five minutes. At the end of the frame, Tulsa trailed UTEP, 13-10, as TU shot 20-percent compared to the Miners' 45-percent. TU forced 10 turnovers in the first 10 minutes.

The Miners were up by five points three times in the second quarter, including a 20-15 lead at the 6:03 mark, but a three-pointer by Kayla Moutry and a layup by Desiree Lewis tied the score at 20-20 with 2:38 to play in the frame. TU outscored UTEP, 8-4, to complete their 13-4 run and close out the quarter with a 28-24 advantage.

After owning a seven-point lead to start the third quarter on a three-pointer by Addison Richards, 31-24, the Miners battled back to pull to within one point, 31-30, at the 7:44 mark and then again with 6:50 to play (34-33). The Miners took the lead on a jumper by Katia Gallegos at 6:16 (35-34), but a layup by Elliott just 18 seconds later put TU back on top. There was another two lead changes and four tied scores in the next six minutes, including a 41-41 score at the end of the period.

Neither team got more than one basket ahead in the first five minutes of the final frame, and there was a tied score of 46-46 at the 5:19 mark. KK Rodriguez hit a big three at the 4:03 mark, and then a pair of free throws made by Bittle put TU up 51-46 with 2:45 to play.

A pair of made free throws by Gallegos pulled the Miners to within three at the 2:06 mark, but a made jumper by Gaulden put TU back up by five, 53-48, with 1:21 remaining in the contest. Rodriguez and Brady were both 1-of-2 from the line in the final minute for a 55-48 score, but then Katarina Zec scored on a jumper with 22-seconds remaining for a 55-51 score. Gaulden was then 1-of-2 from the line and Bittle was 2-of-2 for the final 58-51 score. Eight of TU's 17 points in the final frame came from the free throw line.

UTEP was led by Zec with 13 points, while Gallegos added 10 points. Zec and Ariona Gill both had eight rebounds in the contest.

Tulsa will return to action on Saturday, January 4 against Temple. Game time is set for 2:00 pm at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.