UTEP
Game 28 Preview: vs UTEP
3/5/2026 11:22:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game 28 • vs UTEP
Huntsville • Johnson Coliseum (6,500)Â
Sam Houston (16-11, 9-7 CUSA) vs UTEP (13-14, 5-11 CUSA)Â
Thursday, March 5 • 6:30 PM CT
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TV: ESPN+ (Randy McIlvoy, Jason Barfield)
RADIO:Â BSNÂ (Stephanie Keele)
HOW TO FOLLOW: Live Stats • @Bearkats_WBBÂ
Series vs the Miners: 1-7
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HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston will look to back into the win column when it hosts UTEP on Thursday for the second of three game homestead at Johnson Coliseum.
Tipoff for the game is set for 6:30 p.m. CT with Randy McIlvoy and Jason Barfield on the call courtside on ESPN+.  Â
The game can also be heard online on the Bearkat Sports Network and the Bearkat Athletics app with Stephanie Keele moving behind the mic for the Kats for the 2025-26 season.   Â
KATS LOOK TO GET BACK INTO WIN COLUMN
- The Bearkats drop to sixth in the conference standings following the 75-60 loss to Louisiana Tech, marking their largest margin of defeat since a 73-36 setback against Alabama earlier this season. It also stands as their biggest Conference USA loss since last year's 71-57 defeat to the Lady Techsters. The skid now marks their longest losing streak in conference play this season.
- Bearkats lead CUSA and rank fifth in the nation with 25.8 turnovers forced per game. The Kats has forced 20+ turnovers in 25 out of the 27 games this season, with Rice and Jax State being the lone exception
- Fanta Kone has 126 assists and 92 steals on the year. No Bearkat has had consecutive seasons of 100+ assists since Britni Martin (2011-12, 2012-13) and no Kat has had 90+ steals in consecutive seasons since LaKeita Richardson (1993-94, 1994-95)
- Whitney Dunn led the Bearkats offensively with 16 points, shooting 5-of-9 from the field, 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 3-for-3 at the free-throw line against the Lady Techsters. Nyla Inmon added 15 points and Annika Corcoran continued her strong stretch, recording her third consecutive double-digit performance with 12 points, including two three-pointers.
- Kone now ranks ninth in program history in career steals with 183, surpassing Amber Leggett (177 steals, 2018-21), Ray Alexander (173 steals, 2005-10) Khamra Echols (170 steals, 2008–12)
-Â The Kats are averaging 13.6 steals per game, ranking ninth nationally and leading CUSA.
SERIES HISTORY
- This will be the eighth all-time meeting between the schools
- Sam Houston earned their first-ever win over UTEP this season when they defeated the Miners 70–58 at the Don Haskins Center.
- Deborah Ogayemi led the Bearkats with a second consecutive standout performance, tying her career high with 19 points while adding five rebounds and five steals for her eighth double-figure scoring effort in conference play. Annika Corcoran knocked down three shots from beyond the arc to finish with 14 points, while Nyla Inmon and Fanta Kone each added 12. Inmon also led Sam Houston on the glass with seven defensive rebounds.
