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RUSTON -- UTEP used a 22-3 run over an 11-minute stretch covering the second and third quarters to build a 22-point lead and the Miners held off a furious Louisiana Tech rally to down the Lady Techsters 72-65 before 1,974 fans Saturday night at the Thomas Assembly Center.

With the loss, LA Tech (13-12, 8-6 C-USA) fell out of fourth place tie and into a fifth place tie with Old Dominion, one full game behind Charlotte. UTEP (23-2, 14-1 C-USA) maintained its game and a half lead over Middle Tennessee in the Conference USA race.

Tech led 19-17 on a pair of Reauna Cleaver free throws with 7:17 to play in the second quarter. However, the Lady Techsters went ice cold, connecting on only 1-of-its-next-15 field goals. By the time Kierra Anthony hit a jumper with 6:01 to play in the third quarter, Tech was down 20 points.

"That was the ball game," said Tech head coach Tyler Summitt. "That stretch late in the second quarter and then early in the third. Give UTEP a lot of credit. They definitely didn't overlook us. They came ready to play. We have to learn how to play 40 minutes and until we do we will have nights like this."

UTEP guard Jenzel Nash, who led the Miners with 24 points, hit a layup with 8:12 to play in the game to push the lead to 61-39. It looked over for Tech.

However, just as they have done a number of times this year, the Lady Techsters found another gear. Using a full-court approach, Tech began to cut away at the deficit. A Wingate layup with 1:45 remaining cut the UTEP advantage to single digits at 65-56.

Another Anthony jumper, this one coming with 40 seconds to play, pulled Tech to within 67-63. However, UTEP hit some free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Wingate led Tech with 21 points, 9 rebounds and four assists while Cleaver, Anthony and Santos each registered 12 points.

After hitting just 8 of its first 39 shots (21 percent) in the game, the Lady Techsters connected on 17 of its final 24 (71 percent) down the stretch, giving itself a chance to make a late run.

Tech will return to action Thursday when it travels to North Texas to face the Mean Green.