Arizona women lose to UTEP

Published Nov. 23, 2012 8:24 p.m. ET

foxsports

GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND – Arizona women’s basketball (3-2) suffered a 64-53 loss to UTEP (4-0) in its first game in the Junkanoo Jam in The Bahamas on Friday night.

Senior Davellyn Whyte led the Wildcats with 19 points, while junior Kama Griffitts (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho) finished with a career-high 10 rebounds.

“Obviously, the outcome wasn’t what we wanted it to be,” Arizona head coach Niya Butts said. “We didn’t get enough stops early in the game, and we didn’t get any stops down the stretch.”

Arizona had 17 first-half turnovers and trailed 26-17 at the half. The Miners stretched the lead to 14 in the second half to hold on for the victory.

“The story of the game for us was turnovers, and when we did have offensive possessions, we couldn’t hit shots,” Butts said. “We missed some pretty easy shots and layups, 15-foot jump shots — we couldn’t get anything going offensively and eventually, that took a toll on us defensively.”

Anete Steinberga led the Miners with 18 points.

Arizona will return to the court on Saturday, Nov. 24 to take on Texas Southern.