EL PASO, Texas (Interstat) — A dominant third-quarter surge fueled by defensive pressure and the scoring of Deborah Ogayemi propelled the Sam Houston Bearkats to a 70-58 victory over the UTEP Miners in a Conference USA women’s basketball game Saturday at Don Haskins Center.

The Bearkats, who improved to 14-7 overall, broke open a tight contest by outscoring the Miners 25-15 in the pivotal third period. That run transformed a narrow 31-30 halftime lead into a commanding 56-45 advantage entering the final quarter, a margin UTEP could not overcome.

Sam Houston’s defense was the catalyst. The Bearkats forced 24 UTEP turnovers, converting them into 19 points, while committing 16 turnovers of their own. Sam Houston also tallied 13 steals, led by Ogayemi’s three, disrupting the Miners’ offensive flow throughout the game. UTEP managed only five assists against those 24 giveaways, highlighting their struggles against Sam Houston’s active hands.

Ogayemi, a 6-foot guard from Waterford, Ireland, led all scorers with 19 points in 36 minutes of action. She was instrumental in the third-quarter separation, attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line. She added two assists, a block and three steals in a comprehensive performance.

She was supported by guard Annika Corcoran of Chardon, Ohio, who scored 14 points, including two three-pointers, and forward Nyla Inmon of Tyler, Texas, who added 12 points, three assists and a block. Guard Fanta Kone of Bamako, Mali, also chipped in 12 points for a balanced Sam Houston attack.

UTEP, which fell to 10-12, was led by Portia Adams of Cedar Hill, Texas, who scored 15 points. Guard Delma Zita of Maputo, Mozambique, contributed 12 points and four assists, but also committed six turnovers under constant defensive pressure.

The game began as a back-and-forth affair, with Sam Houston holding a slim 19-17 lead after one quarter. The second quarter was a defensive struggle, with both teams combining for only 25 points, allowing the Bearkats to take a one-point lead into the break.

The most important part of the game unfolded decisively after halftime. Sam Houston emerged from the locker room with heightened defensive intensity, immediately forcing turnovers and creating transition opportunities. This defensive stance fueled the offensive outburst, as the Bearkats shot efficiently in the period to build their first double-digit lead. UTEP’s offense, hampered by Sam Houston’s pressure, never found a consistent rhythm to mount a sustained comeback in the fourth quarter.

Beyond turnovers, Sam Houston won despite shooting just 16 of 29 from the free-throw line. They offset that by shooting a solid 47.2% from the field compared to UTEP’s 39%. The Bearkats also dominated points in the paint, 40-34, and shared the ball effectively with 13 assists.

UTEP’s Aolani Woldai of Fort Worth, Texas, scored seven points, and Mary Moses Amaniyo of Arua, Uganda, added six points and a block for the Miners.

The announced attendance was 1,013.

Sam Houston, which had lost its previous game at New Mexico State, will look to build on this road win when it hosts Missouri State on Thursday. UTEP, coming off a lopsided loss to Louisiana Tech, begins a two-game road trip at Liberty on Thursday.