EL PASO — Mathilde Hergott set career-highs with five 3-pointers and 22 points, but it wasn’t enough, as UTEP closed the game with a 14-6 run en route to a 78-65 victory on Wednesday night at the Don Haskins Center.
Kamra King joined Hergott as the only Roadrunners in double figures with 17 points after going 8-of-12 from the free throw line. Hergott finished the contest 8-of-12 from the field and 5-of-8 from behind the 3-point line.
Jenzel Nash’s 16 points led four players in double figures for UTEP (22-5, 11-3 C-USA). Kristine Vitola and Stacie Telles each poured in 13 while Sparkle Taylor chipped in 11 as the Miners played without leading scorer Kayla Thornton, who sat out due to injury.
Hergott led UTSA (13-14, 4-10 C-USA) in the first half with seven points after knocking down 2-of-3 from behind the arc, as the opening half featured a series of runs from each team.
UTEP’s 12-0 burst in the middle of the half allowed the Miners to lead by as many as nine. Telles was the main catalyst with a game-high 10 points in the half.
The Roadrunners remained within striking distance in the second half with Hergott pouring in 15 points and three more 3-pointers. The sophomore from Jonage, France cut the Miners lead to 58-53 at the 7:30 mark with back-to-back triples and back to five again three minutes later with another shot from distance.
That was when the veteran Miners showed their poise on the closing 14-6 run to end the game. Taylor scored five straight and UTEP knocked down four straight free throws to ice the victory.
UTSA will return to the friendly confines of the Convocation Center on Saturday for its final home game of the season against Florida Atlantic (14-13, 4-10 C-USA). Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. and seniors McKenzie Adams and Miki Turner will be honored as part of Senior Day festivities prior to the contest.