WKU Women’s Basketball took down the UTEP Miners 81-58 on Thursday at Diddle Arena behind efficient scoring and four players with double-digit points
Junior guard Josie Gilvin led the way with her fourth straight double-double finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Gilvin had support in the scoring and rebounding category from senior guard Alexis Mead finishing with 15 points and 11 rebounds. According to WKU Women’s Basketball X post, Mead’s double-double was the first of her career.
“Rebounding has definitely been an emphasis for us. So I know I can always contribute to the rebounding more, so I’ve been trying to make sure that’s one of the things that I work on the most,” Gilvin said in the post-game press conference.
Senior guard Destiny Salary added 17 points of her own all in the first half, and to round out the double-figure scoring junior guard Acacia Hayes had 12. Hayes also scored her 1,000 career point in the 8:14 mark of the third.
“That is kind of who we are, that’s why we have four kids averaging double figures,” Head Coach Greg Collins said. “I was really proud of how we responded on the boards, we responded and ended up winning the rebounding battle.”
WKU outrebounded UTEP 39-26, the biggest rebounding margin by the Lady Toppers this season. The Lady Toppers shot 50% from the field and 32% from the 3-point range.
First Half
It was a fast start for the Lady Toppers jumping out to a 10-4 lead, forcing an early UTEP timeout. Coming out of the timeout the Miners pulled it within one, 16-15, thanks to eight points from sophomore forward Luisa Vydrova.
The Lady Toppers got their footing back, finishing the first quarter on a 10-3 run behind 13 points from junior guard Josie Gilvin. All of Gilvin’s points came with 5:18 left in the first, helping the Lady Toppers take a 26-18 lead going into the second.
UTEP looked to close the gap once again in the second quarter, behind Vydrova tacking on six more points to her total. However, the scoring continued to come in waves for the Lady Toppers, this time from senior forward Destiny Salary with 17 points.
WKU went into the halftime break with a comfortable 42-29 lead.
Second Half
UTEP came out quick in the third quarter pulling the deficit to 49-41 behind a 6-2 run.
Coming out of the media timeout the Lady Toppers went on a 11-6 run behind eight points from Mead, taking a 63-47 lead going into the fourth.
The Lady Toppers had an answer for everything UTEP threw at them, trading points back and forth. WKU continued to add to their lead with nearly everyone getting involved. The Lady Toppers outscored UTEP 18-11 on their way to an impressive 81-58 win.
Next on the schedule is New Mexico State on Saturday, March 1, for their final home game of the season.
Sports Reporter Peyton Reid can be reached at peyton.reid502@topper.wku.edu.
