WKU breezes past UTEP to secure 20-win season

Published 10:54 pm Thursday, February 27, 2025

By Micheal Compton

The Western Kentucky’s women’s basketball team kept passing the proverbial baton during Thursday’s game against UTEP at E.A. Diddle Arena.

First it was Josie Gilvin, then it was Destiny Salary and then Alexis Mead took the offensive reins — helping the Lady Toppers cruise to the 81-58 victory and lock up at least a top-four seed in next month’s Conference USA Tournament.

Gilvin and Mead both recorded double-doubles, and Salary and Acacia Hayes joined them in scoring with double figure nights as WKU (20-7 overall, 11-4 Conference USA) secured the 34th 20-win season in school history.

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“We know anyone can have that kind of night and quarter,” Gilvin said. “We just try to find the hot shooter.”

Gilvin got it started scoring 13 out of 16 points during one stretch in the first quarter, helping WKU race out to a 26-18 advantage. Salary had the hot hand in the second quarter, scoring 10 straight for WKU during one stretch that included a pair of 3-pointers. The graduate guard finished with 12 points in the quarter, giving her 17 in the first half as the WKU margin grew to 42-29.

UTEP (10-16, 3-12) tried to make a run to start the second half, getting within 49-41 after a 3 from Ivane Tensaie. The Lady Toppers were able to regain control, with Mead stepping up on the offensive end. Mead scored 12 in the third, including the final eight for WKU to help push the lead to 63-49.

WKU maintained a comfortable margin the rest of the way, with UTEP unable to get closer than 14 in the final period.

“I’ve said all year that is kind of who we are,” WKU coach Greg Collins said. “That’s why we’ve got four kids averaging double figures. When Destiny got going, because I’ve seen her do that before, I thought it might be lights out.”

Gilvin finished with a team-high 21 points and 11 rebounds to record her fourth straight double-double. Mead had 15 points and 11 rebounds to get her first career double-double. WKU finished with a 39-26 advantage in rebounds, including 18 on the offensive glass.

“I think a lot of us go in there and try to get every single ball,” Mead said. “Just go in there and fight for the ball. If they are going to stop us they are going to stop us, but if they don’t then we are going to get the rebound. We just keep on doing that until one of them stops us. I think we both had 11 tonight.”

Salary finished with 17 points, four rebounds and four assists. Hayes scored 12 points, reaching the 1,000-point career milestone.

The 20-win season is WKU’s first since 2019-20 and third under Collins.

“We are obviously focused on New Mexico State for Saturday, but it is a good check box,” Collins said. “It’s good to move on from that and get that behind you. First time since 20 and Covid wasn’t our friend. It didn’t help us. We didn’t have players coming back. We lost really good players that didn’t get a chance to play for a championship. We’ve been trying to fill those shoes since then.

“A lot of credit goes to kids like Josie Gilvin, Alexis Mead and Acacia Hayes. They’ve been here and stuck with it when other players have moved on. I’m thrilled they are getting the opportunity to enjoy this season.”

WKU will wrap up the home schedule at 2 p.m. on Saturday, hosting New Mexico State on Senior Day.

I am a sports reporter and movie critic for the Bowling Green Daily News.

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