#25 Madyson Elliot with the ball in an early-season game at VyStar Arena. Photo by Jackson Louneoubonh.
Women’s basketball dominated UTEP 83–52 on Thursday night at VyStar Arena, snapping a three-game losing streak in of its best performances of the season.
The win marked not only a bounce-back but also the largest margin of victory KSU has posted in conference play since March 2024.
From the opening tip, the Owls set an aggressive tone on both ends of the floor. They moved with confidence on offense, finding high-percentage shots inside and attacking UTEP’s defense in transition.
Defensively, KSU forced turnovers and disrupted passing lanes, helping it build and sustain a large lead throughout the contest.
Shania Nichols and Trynce Taylor led the way offensively for the Owls, each putting up 18 points.
Strong contributions across the roster contributed to aided the pair’s scoring, making Thursday one of the more balanced offensive nights of the season.
The Owls shot 46% from the field overall, notably better than UTEP’s 35%. Nichols started the game with an explosive performance in the first quarter putting up three 3-pointers.
“I think what really clicked with me tonight was an energy standpoint,” Taylor said. “I came on the court and hype my team up, and I felt like that helped with my game tonight.”
KSU’s attack was especially effective inside the paint, putting pressure on UTEP to defend both the rim and the surrounding areas. The Owls took control on early defensive stops by converting them into points, creating constant scoring pressure UTEP struggled to match.
Rebounding was another decisive factor.
The Owls out-boarded the Miners 44–29, translating into second-chance scoring opportunities that helped KSU keep the pressure on every time UTEP attempted a rally.
KSU also thrived on UTEP miscommunications, scoring 24 points off 17 UTEP turnovers. This scoring opportunity not only grew the Owls’ lead but demonstrated KSU’s performance — turning defense directly into offense repeatedly throughout the evening. .
Even though the Owls pulled off the impressive win, there was still some room for improvement according to Head Coach Octavia Blue.
“One of our biggest challenges tonight was just trying to defend without fouling,” she said. “We need to really lock down defensively.”
The Owls’ victory was impressive not only for the score, but also for what it represented. The complete 40-minute performance addressed several issues KSU had struggled with in recent games. From rebounding dominance to transition execution with several key fast breaks and defensive pressure, everything clicked for the home team.
With the win, KSU not only improves its conference record but also is expected to regain some confidence. The Owls improve to 9-8 overall and are 2-4 in their conference.
