KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — On a frigid Tuesday night before a sparse crowd at Municipal Auditorium, the UTEP Miners used a dominant third-quarter surge to overcome a sluggish start and defeat the Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos, securing their fifth consecutive victory to open the season.

In a game defined by runs and resilience, the Miners weathered an early offensive storm from the Kangaroos before unleashing a 29-point third quarter that ultimately proved insurmountable, handing the home team its fourth loss in six games.

The contest began as a back-and-forth affair, with the Kangaroos seizing an early advantage. Emani Bennett, a hometown guard from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, was electric in the opening period, connecting on a trio of three-pointers to fuel a 19-point quarter for UMKC. Despite the Kangaroos’ hot start, UTEP’s Ndack Mbengue kept the Miners afloat. The 6-foot-3 forward from Bergamo, Italy, was a force inside, drawing fouls and converting at the free-throw line, helping UTEP stay within striking distance at 19-16 after one quarter.

The second quarter saw both teams struggle to find an offensive rhythm, with turnovers and missed opportunities plaguing each squad. UMKC extended its lead slightly, outscoring UTEP 14-11 in the period to take a 33-27 advantage into the halftime break. The Kangaroos’ Jamyah Winter provided a scoring punch off the bench, while UTEP’s offense sputtered, managing just 11 points in the quarter.

The narrative of the game flipped dramatically after halftime. The Miners emerged from the locker room with renewed purpose, immediately erasing the deficit with a blistering offensive display. The third quarter belonged to UTEP guard Ivane Tensaie. The 5-foot-7 sophomore from Roseville, Minnesota, caught fire, draining a series of critical three-pointers as part of her game-high 19-point performance. Her backcourt partner, Heaven Samayoa-Mathis, orchestrated the offense with precision, dishing out six assists, several of which fueled the third-quarter explosion.

UTEP outscored UMKC 29-13 in the decisive period, turning a six-point halftime deficit into a commanding 56-46 lead. The Miners shot an efficient 8 of 15 from beyond the arc for the game, with many of those makes coming during their game-altering run.

The Kangaroos attempted to mount a comeback in the final frame, but every push was met with a response from the Miners. Mbengue continued her strong interior play, finishing with 18 points, while Mary Moses Amaniyo provided a crucial presence off the bench, contributing 11 points and controlling the glass. UMKC’s Bennett finished with 16 points and Winter added 14, but the team’s offensive efficiency waned down the stretch, posting an offensive rating of 93.2 on 69 possessions compared to UTEP’s 102.9.

Defensively, UTEP’s ability to force 17 turnovers and limit second-chance opportunities, despite being narrowly out-rebounded on the offensive glass, was pivotal. The game was a statistical oddity, with both teams finishing with an identical number of assists and steals. UMKC’s Kelby Bannerman was a defensive standout, recording three of her team’s four blocks.

The victory pushes UTEP’s record to a perfect 5-0 as they continue an impressive start to the season, which includes an overtime win against Tennessee-Martin. The loss drops Missouri-Kansas City to 2-4 as they look to regroup after a tough stretch against power-conference opponents.

The announced attendance was 283 at Municipal Auditorium. UTEP will look to continue its winning streak when it returns home to face Denver on Saturday. Missouri-Kansas City will also be back in action on Saturday, hosting Austin Peay.