By LUKE DEROUEN

Sports Writer

Amisha Carter turned in a career performance Saturday night with 20 points and 21 rebounds to lead the eighth-ranked Techsters to a 75-58 victory over Texas-El Paso.

With the career night on the boards, Carter earned Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors.

Carter recorded nine offensive rebounds along with 12 defensive rebounds to set her new career high. The double-double was her ninth of the season, which is tops in the WAC.

"Amisha hasn't disappointed me all year in rebounding," head coach Kurt Budke said. "She can do that any night she wants to. Twenty points and 21 rebounds is a pretty awesome night."

The Techsters' guards came out a bit sluggish, relying on forwards Carter and Trina Frierson to score the teams first 17 points.

UTEP was able to hang with the Techsters throughout the first half due to their size, something the Techsters have not seen in other WAC opponents this season. The Techsters carried a 36-25 lead into the locker room at halftime.

"Let's give UTEP credit," Budke said. "They are a big strong team, and when we (play in El Paso) it is going to be a battle. They have a good inside, outside mix and usually do a good job of not turning the ball over."

The second half resembled that of a usual Techster route. Tech guards Amber Obaze, Tasha Crain, Erica Smith-Taylor and Lakiste Barkus gave the UTEP backcourt no room to work, forcing much needed turnovers that were not present in the first half.

"I was afraid to go too much full court tonight because I didn't know if we had enough juice left after Thursday night," Budke said. "I would have liked to have pressed more, but I didn't think we had enough energy. When you play Thursday (and) Saturday, you have to be careful."

Carter was joined in double figures by Frierson, who had 15 points, and Smith-Taylor, who recorded 13 points, five assists and five steals.

Although over-anxious officiating tried time and again to hold down the Techsters Jan. 29, a strong second half helped them defeat Boise State 95-57.

The first half resembled that of the UTEP game as the Techsters played a solid low key defense, and experienced some sloppy passing and missed lay-ups.

The Thomas Assembly Center was filled with disgust as the trigger-happy officiating put the Techsters over the first half foul limit with 5:20 remaining, helping Boise to trial the Techsters by only five at the half.

The Techsters came out with an offensive burst in the second half that was only heightened with 15:50 remaining when Budke received a technical foul for arguing an offensive foul called on Frierson.

The Techsters never looked back after that point, going on to force a season-high 38 turnovers.

"That was the turning point of the game," Smith-Taylor said. "We hate for him to get upset. It did a lot for us. It got us pumped up and gave us a little boost."

Carter led Tech in scoring with 23 points while Obaze added 17, Frierson 16, Shan Moore 12, Smith-Taylor 11 and Crain 10.

The Techsters continue WAC play by heading west again to take on Fresno State tonight at 9 p.m. and then play Nevada Saturday at 4 p.m.