UTEP's third freshman to start a game this season became their first Conference USA player of the week, as Arina Khlopkova won the award, the league office announced Tuesday.
After scoring a career-best 14 points off the bench in the 30-point win against Western Michigan on Friday at UTEP's Thanksgiving Classic, the 6-foot guard got her first start Saturday against Georgia State and scored 20 points.
She drew a late charge to foul out Georgia State's best player Taylor Hosendove, then defended a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.