Miners call game over JSU Gamecocks

UTEP’s women’s basketball team defeated Jacksonville State 66-64, setting their record (13-13).

Ashley Alvarado, Contributor Writer • March 1, 2026

Editor’s Note: This is not UTEP women’s basketball most recent game.

On Feb. 26 the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Miners women’s basketball team (13-13, 5–10 Conference USA) went head-to-head against the Jackson State University (JSU) Gamecocks (13-15, 7-9 C-USA) at the Don Haskins Center.

With similar records, both teams were eager for the win. Each quarter being neck-to-neck brought tension in the stands and fans to their feet.

From the start, UTEP senior guard Heaven Samayoa-Mathis was ready offensively. She ended the first quarter with a 3-point buzzer-beater giving the Miners a one point lead.

Samayoa-Mathis also scored the game-winning shot in the final quarter to secure the win for UTEP.

“It felt good and looked good”, Samayoa-Mathis said, referring to the final shot.

UTEP senior guard Heaven Samayoa-Mathis with the go-ahead jumper with four seconds left to secure an 66-64 victory over Jacksonville State. (Diego Figueroa)

When asked what helped the Miners comeback and secure this win, UTEP senior guard Porsha Adams credited the team’s trust in one another.

“We came back by pulling it together. In the end after every possession, I reminded my teammates that it’s not the end of the game, we got to keep going and play till the buzzer goes off,” Porsha Adams said. “And I think tonight is just a matter of trusting each other down this stretch. I trusted my teammates, they trusted me, and Heaven, I trusted her at the end of the game. I told her to get to the middle of that floor, if she goes under pull that and that’s exactly what she did. Trust and coming together is a big reason why we won the game.”

UTEP head coach Keitha Adams said that the team’s defense and effort were key factors in securing the win.

“Our kids are playing hard and when you play hard great things happen,” Keitha Adams said. “We hung in there [fourth quarter], we’re very resilient, made big shots and big plays. They just wanted it [the win] and played extremely hard”.

The Miners went on to play their final home game against Kennesaw State, losing 58-57. However, JSU closed out the game this time, defeating UTEP 82-77 in double overtime during the first round of the C-USA tournament.

Ashley Alvarado is a contributor writer and may be reached at [email protected]

About the Contributors

Ashley Alvarado, Contributor/Writer

Ashley Alvarado is a junior at the University of Texas at El Paso studying multimedia journalism. She is a contributor writer at The Prospector and works for Miner Vision Athletics as a videographer and broadcaster. After graduation she hopes to work as a sideline reporter or journalist for the NBA.

Diego Figueroa, Contributor/Photographer

Diego Figueroa is a junior at the University of Texas at El Paso majoring in digital media production with a minor in film. He is a photo contributor for The Prospector. His goal is to explore photography and what possibilities and opportunities it will offer. After graduation, he hopes to work for the film and entertainment industry or sports media.