There are times when the sophomore slump is real.
UTEP's talented power forward Ariana Taylor seemed a likely candidate to avoid it, but through November and December, she found herself mired in one.
A starter from last season who emerged as a freshman leader, then lost 20 pounds in the offseason in an effort to get quicker and better, Taylor's big expectations got mired toward the back of the bench during UTEP's quick start.
Seasons, though, go through stages, their dynamics change, and as the calendar turned to a new year, Taylor came around. As UTEP prepares to host UTSA Saturday firmly in the hunt for a Conference USA title, the 6-foot-1 forward in the middle is entrenched as a starter, still the strongest voice on the team and a big reason the Miners have hit a new level through the start of league play.