BYU COUGARS || 6-2, 0-0 || Big 12 Conference
WHAT'S AT STAKE || With a win, the Cougars would move to 24-9 all-time against the Miners. BYU and UTEP played 22 times between 1990 and 1999 as members of the WAC, but have not faced off on the hardwood since Feb. 1999.
DEFENSE IS THE CALLING CARD || Coach Whiting calls defense the silver bullet to her team’s success. In the six wins this season, the Cougars have held opponents to 60.5 points and 36.9 percent from the field. In losses, opponents have shot 45.5 percent from the floor and averaged 67.6 points.
COUGAR ASSIST CLUB || BYU has assisted on 124-of-200 (.620) made field goals this season and has had three or more players finish in double-figures in five of seven games this season. Against Rice, the Cougars had three players in double figures and five who recorded at least two assists. In wins this season, BYU averages 16.5 assists in comparison to 12.5 in losses.
RUN-AND-GUN || With a new roster, the Cougars retooled their offensive approach, playing a four-and five-out system built on playing with pace, space and casting from three. The Cougars have attempted 24.3 3-point field goals per game this season, 5.1 more than their 2023-24 average, and making 7.9 per contest. In wins, BYU shoots an efficient 37.9 percent from behind the arc in contrast to 21.5 percent in its two defeats.
Head Coach – Amber Whiting
- Alma Mater: BYU, 2001
- Division I Career Record: 38-35 || 3rd Season
- Record at BYU: 38-35 || 3rd Season
UTEP MINERS || 4-1, 0-0 || Conference USA
DELMA’S DROPPING DIMES || Delma Zita is the fifth-leading scorer for the Miners at 5.8 points per game, but the senior guard is well-versed in dropping dimes. Zita leads UTEP by recording 5.0 of the Miners’ 13.6 assists per game which is good for the highest mark in Conference USA and the 51st-best mark in the country.
The senior also boasts a 1.92:1 assist-to-turnover ratio which is the second-best mark in the conference and nearly cracks the top-100 in the country.
IVANE TENSAIE || Ivane Tensaie is the leading scorer for the Miners at 16.8 points per game while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 47.7 percent from behind the arc. The senior guard is the third-leading scorer in Conference USA and is just outside the top 100 in the country at 103.
Tensaie also leads the conference in total threes made (21) and three-pointers per game at 4.2 per contest. Her 4.2 threes per game also ranks third in the country.
SHARING THE LOVE || UTEP has three players scoring 10.6 points or more per contest and has assisted on 68 of 123 (.553) made field goals so far this season.
LAUNCHING FROM DEEP || The Miners boast the 17th-highest three-point percentage in the country and best in Conference USA at 38.8 percent through five games.
Head Coach – Keitha Adams
- Alma Mater: Southwestern, 1989
- Career Record: 380-322 || 24th Season
- Record at UTEP: 300-229 || 18th Season
