Junior Lulu McKinney scored a season-high tying 15 points while freshmen Jakeira Ford (11 points) and Zuzanna Puc (10 points) also hit double digits for UTEP but first place Middle Tennessee rode big games from Ty Petty (27 points, six assists) and Alex Johnson (25 points, seven boards) to a 76-53 home conquest Saturday evening.
The Miners (6-16, 3-7 C-USA) showed good fight and trailed by five (38-33) with 4:37 to play in the third quarter only to have the Blue Raiders (14-8, 9-2 C-USA) wrap a 12-0 run around the quarter break.
“Coach Insell does have quite an excellent program,” UTEP head coach Keitha Adams said.