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WKU (15-5, 6-2 CUSA) held a lead most of the game, but UTEP (9-10, 2-6 CUSA) made a push in the fourth quarter, taking a lead with 2:55 left in the game but a Lady Topper 8-0 run to end the game sealed the win for the Lady Toppers.
Tonight was WKU's 1,100th program win all-time. The Lady Toppers are just the 15th NCAA Division I team to reach 1,100 all-time wins. The 14 others are: Tennessee, UConn, Stanford, James Madison, Texas, Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion, Maryland, South Dakota State, Green Bay, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Baylor.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alexis Mead scored the first points of the game on a 3-pointer. The Miners scored the next four points to take the lead, but a three from Josie Gilvin put the Lady Toppers back on top. UTEP scored the next five points and held a lead until a 5-0 run by WKU with under three minutes to play put WKU ahead. That 5-0 run was part of a 11-2 run to end the first quarter, giving the Lady Toppers a 21-15 lead going into the second quarter.
Acacia Hayes scored the first four points of the second quarter, expanding WKU's lead out to 10. The Miners bounced back with a 7-0 run, but WKU rattled off an 8-0 in response. UTEP scored the final basket of the half at the buzzer, giving WKU a 33-24 lead going into the second half.
The Lady Toppers scored the first four points of the third quarter and the two teams went back-and-forth for the next four minutes. The Miners cut the score to five with 3:04 left behind a 7-0 run. Zsofia Telegdy stopped the run and once again the two teams traded baskets to end the quarter with WKU taking a 51-44 lead into the fourth quarter.
UTEP opened the fourth quarter with an 8-2 run to get within one. A layup from Mead put WKU back ahead by three but the Miners scored five straight to take their first lead since the fourth quarter. A layup from Destiny Salary tied the score, but UTEP made two free throws to go back ahead by two. The Lady Toppers closed out the game on an 8-0 run, including a a jumper from Mead, a putback from Gilvin and big free throws from Telegdy and Hayes.
NOTABLES
- For the 10th time this season, four different Lady Toppers scored in double figures. WKU is 8-2 this season when doing so.
- WKU improves to 11-1 on the season when scoring first.
- The Lady Toppers improve to 47-9 under head coach Greg Collins when holding teams below 60 points (7-0 this season) and 95-25 when keeping teams below 70 (14-1).
- WKU is 101-7 under Collins when leading with 5:00 left in the game (15-0 this season). WKU improves to 79-16 when leading at halftime (12-0 this season).
- The Lady Toppers have shot about 40 percent from the floor in five straight games. WKU improves to 13-0 on the season when shooting better than their opponent.
- WKU is 6-2 on the road this season.
- The Lady Toppers improve to 8-4 all-time against UTEP and 5-2 against the Miners in El Paso. WKU has six of the last seven meetings between the two teams. The last five meetings have all been decided by six points or less and the Lady Toppers are 4-1 during that span.
- Alexis Mead and Destiny Salary each had 15 points and seven rebounds, both marks leading the team. Mead also added three assists and two steals while Salary provided two assists.
- Acacia Hayes had a nice bounce back game after missing the last game. She went off for 13 points, four assists, three rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
- Zsofia Telegdy added 13 points and pulled down five rebounds.
NEXT UP
The Lady Toppers stay on the road to take on New Mexico State on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. (CT).
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on Lady Topper Hoops, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @LadyTopperHoops on X, @LadyTopperHoops on Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball.
