KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — A dominant third-quarter surge propelled the UTEP women’s basketball team to its fifth straight victory to open the season, defeating Missouri-Kansas City 75-64 on Tuesday night at Municipal Auditorium.

The Miners, who remain undefeated, entered the second half with a narrow 27-33 lead but exploded for 29 points in the third quarter to seize control of the game. The Kangaroos, who led after the first quarter, could not contain the UTEP offensive outburst and saw their record fall to 2-4.

UTEP’s victory was fueled by a high-powered offensive performance in the pivotal third period and efficient shooting from beyond the arc throughout the contest. The Miners connected on 8 of 15 three-point attempts, a 53.3% success rate, while the Kangaroos made 9 of 16 from deep.

The Miners were led by a potent scoring duo. Ivane Tensaie, a 5-foot-7 guard from Roseville, Minnesota, poured in 19 points in 31 minutes of action. She was complemented by 6-foot-3 forward Ndack Mbengue of Bergamo, Italy, who also played 31 minutes and scored 18 points.

Heaven Samayoa-Mathis provided a key all-around contribution for UTEP, scoring 9 points and dishing out a game-high 6 assists. Mary Moses Amaniyo added 11 points for the Miners.

Missouri-Kansas City was led by Emani Bennett of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, who scored 16 points. Jamyah Winter from Milan, Illinois, added 14 points for the Kangaroos, while Tierra Trotter of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, chipped in 9 points and 3 assists.

Despite the final margin, the game was a back-and-forth affair early. The Kangaroos held a 19-16 advantage after the first quarter, but UTEP’s defense tightened in the second, holding the home team to 14 points to take a slim lead into halftime.

The game ultimately turned on efficiency and ball security. UTEP committed 17 turnovers, one more than Missouri-Kansas City’s 14, but the Miners were more effective with their possessions, posting an offensive rating of 102.9 points per 100 possessions compared to the Kangaroos’ 93.2. UTEP also capitalized on its opportunities at the free-throw line, making 17 of 25 attempts, while Missouri-Kansas City shot 7 of 12.

The Kangaroos’ Kelby Bannerman was a defensive presence, recording three blocks.

The announced attendance was 283.

UTEP will look to continue its perfect start when it returns home to face Denver on Saturday. Missouri-Kansas City will also be at home on Saturday, hosting Austin Peay.