EL PASO, Texas (Interstat) — A dominant first-quarter performance by UTEP proved too much for Nicholls State to overcome as the Miners secured a 76-61 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Saturday at the Don Haskins Center.

The Miners exploded for 30 points in the opening period, establishing a 17-point lead that the Colonels spent the rest of the afternoon trying to chip away at. Nicholls State managed to keep the game competitive, even winning the third quarter 20-16, but could never close the gap to single digits against a UTEP squad that controlled the game from the outset.

Portia Adams led all scorers for UTEP, pouring in 16 points while adding six rebounds and four assists. Her backcourt mate, Sirviva Legions, provided a key offensive spark with 11 points. The Miners’ frontcourt was anchored by a strong performance from Mary Moses Amaniyo, who recorded a near double-double with 14 points and eight rebounds, and Ndack Mbengue, who contributed 12 points and six rebounds.

The Colonels were led by a balanced effort. Emani Burks came off the bench to score a team-high six points, while Laryn Scott filled the stat sheet with four points, seven rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. Caroline Adams provided a spark in limited minutes, scoring four points and grabbing two rebounds in just seven minutes of action.

UTEP’s efficient offense was the story of the game. The Miners shot 45.6 percent from the floor and converted 72 percent of their free throws. While Nicholls State managed to score 30 points in the paint, they struggled with their shooting overall, hitting just 35 percent of their field goal attempts and 20 percent from beyond the arc. The Colonels also left points at the free throw line, making only 15 of 24 attempts.

Defensively, both teams were active, each recording eight steals. UTEP capitalized slightly more on opponent mistakes, scoring 17 points off 16 Nicholls State turnovers, compared to the Colonels’ 12 points off 15 Miner turnovers.

The victory moves UTEP to a perfect 2-0 start to the season, while Nicholls State evens its record at 1-1. An announced crowd of 1,040 was on hand to witness the Miners’ home opener.

UTEP will look to continue its winning ways when it hosts Western New Mexico on Tuesday. Nicholls State faces a quick turnaround and a significant challenge, hitting the road to take on Florida State on Wednesday.