UTEP drops C-USA opener against UAB, 76-74

EL PASO – The UTEP women’s basketball team played its second consecutive overtime contest in as many games, but fell in this one to UAB, 76-74 OT, on Thursday night in the Haskins Center. 
 
The Blazers (8-4, 1-0 Conference USA) shot a scorching – and efficient – 60.4 percent (29-48) from the field, including a 7-of-12 effort from downtown. The Miners (8-3, 0-1 C-USA) shot 32 percent (25-73) from the floor. 
 
UTEP trailed most of the game – 38:05 to be exact – and was down by as many as eight points. But the Miners battled as usual. 
 
“I was really proud of our team, we were behind most of the night,” UTEP Head Coach Kevin Baker said. “I’m really not disappointed, we played well enough to win. We lost the game in the first five minutes. We would not guard anybody in the first five minutes. But once we settled in, we were really good the rest of the night. We’ll grow from this and we’ll be better. Conference USA is no joke, every game will be like this one and that’s how it should be.” 
 
Four Miners hit double figures led by Destiny Thurman’s 17 points (7-14 FG) with a pair of steals and two assists. Katia Gallegos tallied 14 points, a team-high three assists and two steals, while Teal Battle and Elina Arike each hit 12 points. Arike added a team-high nine rebounds (eight offensive). Battle added two steals and four rebounds. 
 
UTEP entered the fourth quarter down five points (51-46) and was down six points on a trio of…