23  Kristine Vitola Hometown: Riga, Latvia High School: Riga Secondary #84 Height: 6-4 Position: C Experience: 3L

MINER NOTE: Two-time member of C-USA Academic Honor Roll (2011 & 2012); Fifth all time at UTEP for career blocked shots (96).

2011-12 (JUNIOR): Made big strides from first two years with UTEP while playing in 32 games, including 16 starts ... ranked second on the team, fourth in Conference USA and 102nd nationally with 1.5 blocked shots per game ... aiding effort was 17 games with at least two swats ... was third on squad in rebounds (5.4) and fourth in scoring (5.8) ... reached double figures in rebounding in three games, with career-best 11 at Arizona State (12/28/11) ... posted four double-digit scoring contests, including tallying 13 against both Denver (11/26/11) and Tulane (2/12/12) ... secured five rebounds or more in 19 games ... set a career high with four assists against Houston (1/22/12) ... had two steals in five different tilts ... tabbed to the Conference USA Academic Honor Roll (min. 3.0 GPA).

2010-11 (SOPHOMORE): Appeared in all 30 games, including eight starts ... was one of two Miners with double-digits in blocked shots (24) ... chipped in 3.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg and was one of 12 individuals on the team to secure double figures in playing time (13.0 mpg) ... tallied at least eight points in five contests on the year, including a season-high 13 in the win against Idaho State (11/26/10) ... also grabbed career-high nine rebounds in that game ... blocked multiple shots in four games, with campaign-high effort of four in the season opener vs. UC Irvine (11/13/10) ... earned placement on the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll (min. 3.0 GPA).

2009-10 (FRESHMAN): Lone freshman and one of three Miners to play in every game ... first freshman post to start a season opener at UTEP since Timika Williams did so in 2006 ... made her biggest impact with 25 blocked shots (1st team/11th C-USA ) ... challenged a bit offensively early on with just 3.0 ppg through first 12 games of the year but finished strong with more than double that (6.9 ppg) in final 19 titls ... showed good shooting touch as one of eight Miners better than 40 percent from the floor ... drilled 69.8 percent of her free throws (3rd team) ... consistency in rebounding was a challenge ... had 4.5 rpg the first 18 games but only 1.8 rpg in the next 10 ... secured eight boards final two tilts of year ... earned 15 starters and proved 5.6 ppg (6th team) and 3.7 rpg (t-5th team) in 18.1 mpg.

PRIOR TO UTEP:: Boasted plenty of international experience ... has been a member of the Latvian U16, U18 and U20 teams ... played with the U20 squad at the 2008 European Championships, where she chipped in 5.6 ppg and 5.5 rpg despite being one of the youngest members of the team ... competed with Latvia's U18 squad at the 2009 event ... as a senior for her unit in Riga, she poured in 18 ppg and 13.2 rpg.

PERSONAL:Full name is Kristine Vitola ... business major... daughter of Brigita Vitola and Dainis Vitols ... has two brothers ... enjoys going out with friends and listening to music in her spare time ... born on June 2, 1991 (Riga, Latvia).