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OPENING TIP: Utah Tech will serve as hosts of the program's first NCAA Division-I multi-team event (MTE) - the inaugural Utah Tech Trailblazer Classic - this Tuesday-through-Thursday inside the Burns Arena (4,779).
            The Trailblazers will play two Power-5 opponents over the first two days of the Classic, beginning with a match-up against PAC-12 power Oregon (8-3/0-0 PAC-12) on Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. 
 
UTAH TECH VS. OREGON: Tuesday's game against Oregon will be the second-ever meeting between the Trailblazers and Ducks on the basketball court. 
            The two sides first met during the 2021-22 season in Eugene, where the then-No. 9 ranked Ducks came away with a decisive 84-35 home win. 
 
LAST TIME OUT: Utah Tech broke two NCAA-era program records, and stopped a two-game slide, in a 110-35 rout of Bethesda University last Saturday afternoon at the Burns Arena. 
            The Trailblazers broke the game open with a 14-0 second quarter run that turned a 26-15 advantage into a 40-15 lead. Utah Tech enjoyed a 53-22 halftime cushion, and outscored the Lion Angels 57-13 in the second half to roll to the easy home victory.  
            Utah Tech's 75-point margin of victory broke a school record that stood for nearly 15 years. During the 2008-09 season, the Trailblazers rang in the New Year with a 95-36 (+59) home win over Chaminade (1/3/09).
            The Blazers also set another school record by holding Bethesda to just 16.5 percent (13-of-79) from the floor. The new shooting percentage standard broke the previous record set during the 2021-22 campaign when Utah Tech limited Antelope Valley to a 19.0 percent shooting effort (11/20/21). 
 
HEAD COACH JD GUSTIN: JD Gustin is in his eighth season at the helm of the Utah Tech Women's Basketball program.
            Gustin has seen marked improvements in each season on the Trailblazer sideline, culminating with an 19-12 overall record last season, a nine-win turnaround from the previous season. The 2022-23 campaign also featured a 10-8 mark and a fifth-place finish in Western Athletic Conference play. In addition, the Trailblazers made their WAC Tournament debut in 2022-23, and advanced on to the quarterfinal round by defeating Utah Valley, 72-68, to win their first-ever NCAA Division-I era postseason victory. 
            Utah Tech's 19 wins last season were the most in the program's current NCAA Division-I transition, and is the highest win total during Coach Gustin's seven-year tenure on the Trailblazer bench. 
            In Utah Tech's final Division II season, the Trailblazers played to an 18-12 under Gustin. The team also capped that 2019-20 season by clinching a berth in the 2020 RMAC Tournament, marking the first time the Trailblazers had qualified for a conference tournament since the 2013-14 season. The Trailblazers entered the tournament as the No. 7 seed, and shocked second-seeded Western Colorado in Gunnison, Colo., for a 65-60 win in the RMAC Quarterfinals.
 
THE REST OF THE STAFF: This past April, Gustin announced the promotion off all three members of his coaching staff. 
            Gustin elevated two of his assistants, Matt Thune (second season at Utah Tech)and Nicole Yazzie (eighth season at Utah Tech), to associate head coach designations, while assistant coach Candace Thornton (second season at Utah Tech) will also serve as the program's recruiting coordinator. 
            
GILLEN THE ONE TO WATCH IN 2023-24: Coming off a banner senior season in 2022-23, fifth-year guard Breaunna Gillen entered her final collegiate campaign with a pair of well-deserved preseason honors to her credit. 
            In October, Gillen was voted as the WAC's Preseason Player of the Year, and was named to the 25-player preseason watch list for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year, presented by Her Hoop Stats. 
            Gillen is the lone WAC representative on the Hammon watch list, which includes women's basketball student-athletes from 23 teams and 16 conferences overall. 
            Last season, Gillen was either at or near the top of the WAC scoring list throughout the entire 2022-23 campaign en route to first team all-WAC honors, wound up as the conference's second leading scorer at 17.8 points per game. 
            The fifth-year guard finished last season as the WAC's leader in assists at 6.45 apg, and finished in the top-10 overall in assist/turnover ratio (2nd; 1.77), field goal percentage (5th; .438), and free throw percentage (10th; .744).
 
FROM WAY DOWNTOWN....BANG: Utah Tech has hit at least one 3-pointer in 240-straight games, which included 17 made threes in the season opener vs. La Verne (11/6), along with 10 more trifectas vs. Bethesda last Saturday.
            The 17 made treys vs. La Verne (17-of-38; .447) tied for the third-highest single game total in program history, which, coincidentally, was the same number of perimeter jumpers the Blazers hit in last season's win over La Verne (11/26/22).
            In the 2021-22 season, the Trailblazers nailed a school-record 22 3-pointers in its 107-57 blowout win over Life Pacific (11/9/21).
            That record was one of two 3FG school records to fall that night as the Blazers also broke a team record for 3FG attempted (51). 
            Utah Tech has reached double figures in made 3-pointers 90 times during the program's NCAA era, including in seven of its 10 games this season, and in a school-record 19 games last season. 
            In fact, the Trailblazers broke single season school records for 3FGM (310), 3FGA (898), and 3FG% (.345) last year.
            In all, Utah Tech has hit at least one 3-pointer in 448 of its 451 games during its NCAA era, which began in the 2006-07 season.
            Two of the three instances when the Blazers did not hit a three happened during the 2013-14 season (vs. Hawai'i-Hilo, 2/13/14; at California Baptist, 1/18/14), and the other came in the program's first NCAA season in 2006-27 (vs. UHH, 1/7/07). 
            Meanwhile, Utah Tech has surrendered at least one made opponent 3-pointer in 450 of 451 games during its NCAA era. 
 
RELEASE - ROTATION - SPLASH: Meanwhile, the Trailblazers are ranked THIRD-NATIONALLY, behind only Utah (13.3) and TCU (11.1), in made 3-pointers per game (11.0 3FGM/g), and are currently t-sixth in the NCAA D-I ranks with 110 made 3-pointers overall.  
DEFENSE DOES TRAVEL: Utah Tech broke a single-game record for fewest points allowed in a quarter when the Trailblazers held New Hampshire to only three third-quarter points in their win back on Nov. 22.
            The Trailblazer defense limited UNH to 1-of-16 shooting in the period, this after the Wildcats missed their final nine shots to close out the second quarter. UNH shot a paltry 26.5 percent (18-of-68) from floor overall, which included a 7-of-35 (.200) clip in the second half. The Wildcats were also just 2-of-25 (.008) from beyond the arc.
            Utah Tech's previous school record for fewest points allowed in a quarter was four points set three times - coincidentally all on the road. In fact, the last occurrence came last season in the Blazers' road win against, again coincidentally, Weber State (3Q; 12/17/22).  
            Meanwhile, the Blazers achieved the feat two other times during their Division II era, both in the fourth quarter of road victories at UT-Tyler (W, 75-41; 11/8/2019) and at Holy Names (61-44; 2/20/16).
 
TRAILBLAZER PLAYER NOTES
* - Fifth-year guard Breaunna Gillen posted her team-high fourth 20-point game of the season with 21 points in the Bethesda win last Saturday afternoon ... she connected on 8-of-12 from the floor, including a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, and tallied eight rebounds and four assists. 
* - For Gillen, it was her 22nd 20-plus point outing of her career, and marked the 67th time overall the fifth-year guard had scored in double figures.
* - That effort came after a 20-point day vs. Weber State (12/9) one week earlier, against which she was just 4-of-12 from the floor, though Gillen did go a perfect 10-of-10 (career best) from the foul line, and tallied seven rebounds, three assists and a season-best four steals.
* - Gillen's 10 made free throws were one off of her career high of 11 that she set twice last season, the first time at Kansas City (11/18/22), and again a month later against, coincidentally, at Weber State (12/17/22).
* - Gillen also became just the third different Trailblazer to go at least a perfect 10-of-10 at the line, and she's the first to do so since former Blazer Haley Holmstead set a school record with a 12-of-12 day at the foul line vs. Dominican (3/6/14) in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Pacific West Conference Tournament ... meanwhile former Trailblazer Breann Hill went 10-of-10 at the charity stripe twice during the 2010-11 season (vs. Hawai'i Pacific 2/19/11; at Notre Dame de Namur 1/22/11). 
* - Gillen became Utah Tech's career scoring leader on a straight away 3-pointer midway through the third quarter in Utah Tech's home loss vs. CBU on Dec. 6. 
* - Gillen (1,258 pts) moved past former Blazer guard Johnna Brown (1,212; 2009-11, 12-13), who held the record for more than a decade. 
* - Gillen also became the fifth player in program history to play in 100 career games with her start vs. Weber State (12/9) ... Gillen now stands seven games shy of becoming the program's career leader in games played (Kaylah Miller - 107, 2011-15), and is on pace to do so when the Trailblazers host Utah Valley on Saturday, Jan. 20. 
* - Gillen, who is already far and away Utah Tech's career leader in both assists (440) and FGM (477), is now within striking distance of three more career record standards ... in addition to the games played record, the fifth-year guard is on track to become the program's career leader in games started (t-3rd - 78, needs 4 more), and steals (t-5th - 107, needs 42 more). 
* - Gillen has also joined both Brown (1,212 pts/232 assts) and Miller (1,055 pts/200 assts) as the only three players in program history with 1,000 career points and at least career 200 assists.
* - Gillen poured in a game-high 24 points in the Jax State (11/9) win ... her 24 points were two off of her career high of 26 set nearly one year ago to the day in a home win vs. Utah State (11/15/22).
* - Redshirt sophomore guard Macie Warren has scored in double figures in nine of her 10 starts this season, highlighted by a season-high 26 points in the loss to CBU (12/6) ... Warren posted season highs in both field goals (10) and 3-pointers (5 - t-career high) made as she connected on 10-of-17 from the floor, 5-of-11 from beyond the arc.
* - Warren's 26 points were three points shy of her career high of 29 points, which she recorded nearly one-year-ago-to-the-day in a road win at Air Force (12/10/22). 
* - Warren tallied 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers in the Bethesda win last Saturday ... Warren also collected six boards, five assists and two steals. 
* - Warren's sharp-shooting on Saturday vaulted her up to 29th-nationally in FG% with a WAC-leading 58.8 percent clip. 
* - Warren's torrid shooting to start the season has already vaulted her into fourth place on Utah Tech's career FG% list (188-of-391; .481). 
* - Warren posted her third double-double of the season, and career, in the WAC season-opener at Utah Valley (12/2) with 12 points and a career-high tying 10 rebounds.
* - Warren also pulled down 10 boards and led all scorers with 16 points in the New Hampshire win (11/22), 
* - Warren narrowly missed her first collegiate triple double in the La Verne win (11/6), though she did notch her first career double-double with 19 points, a career-high 10 assists and seven rebounds.
* - Meanwhile, twin sister Maddie Warren poured in 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting in the Bethesda win, which was her fourth 20-point outing of the year. 
* - The redshirt-sophomore guard enjoyed a three-game stretch last month that saw her score at least 20 points in each of those starts, including a pair of 20-point outings against Jax State (11/9) and at UNLV (11/14), and a season-high 21 at TAMU-Commerce (11/20).
* - Warren went 8-of-15 from the floor with a career-high tying five 3-pointers at Texas A&M-Commerce, and picked off a career best four steals.
* - Warren's five treys matched her previous career high she first tied exactly two years earlier in a home win vs. Antelope Valley (5-of-10; 11/20/21) ... she also hit five 3FG in her collegiate debut vs. Life Pacific (5-of-8; 11/9/21) on her way to a career-high 22 points.
* - Warren led four Blazers in double figures with 19 points in the win at UVU (12/2) ... Warren went 4-of-8 from the perimeter and pulled down a career-high tying eight rebounds. 
* - Fifth-year guard Maggie McCord, who DNP'd in the Bethesda win, enjoyed a solid Turkey Week, during which she averaged 15.0 points on 55.6 percent shooting (15-of-27), including 57.1 percent from the perimeter (12-of-21), along with 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals in Utah Tech's three games.
* - McCord began the week by scoring 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting (3-6 3FG), with four rebounds and two assists at TAMU-C (11/20) ... she followed that up with her first double-double of the year in the win at New Hampshire (11/22), going for 11 points with three more three pointers and a co-game high 10 rebounds.
* - Then in the win at Stonehill (11/25), McCord led all scorers with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting with six 3-pointers (6-of-9) ... she also grabbed a co-game high eight rebounds, and had two assists and a steal ... her six treys were two off of her school record-tying eight she drained at Seattle U (2/26/22) during the 2021-22 season.
* - McCord accounted for all six of Utah Tech's points in the first quarter at Utah Valley (12/2) on her way to 13 points on the day ... McCord also grabbed five boards and dished out four assists, which matched her career high she recorded exactly nine-months-to-the-day at, coincidentally, Utah Valley (3/2/23) in the 2022-23 regular season finale. 
* - Calyn Dallas replaced McCord in the starting lineup vs. Bethesda last Saturday, and the freshman guard responded with her first collegiate double-double with career-highs of 22 points and 15 rebounds.
* - Dallas, who went 10-of-19 from the floor with a pair of 3-pointers, flirted with a triple-double as she finished with a career-best six assists along with two blocks and one steal in her second start of the season.
* - Dallas also had the shooting touch going at Stonehill (11/25), against which she knocked down a career-best four 3-pointers on her way to a then-career 16 points off the bench on 6-of-11 shooting. 
* - Dallas made the most of her Trailblazer debut as she poured in 15 points in 24 minutes off the bench in the La Verne win (11/6) on 5-for-5 shooting with three 3-pointers.
* - Sophomore forward Alyson Deaver put together her overall best game as a Trailblazer in Saturday's win over Bethesda with a career-high 14 points in 22 minutes ... Deaver went 7-of-8 at the foul line and tallied eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in 22 reserve minutes. 
* - Twin sister Catelyn Deaver enjoyed her best game as a Trailblazer in the La Verne win (11/6) with a career high nine points, along with four rebounds and two blocks ... the sophomore forward also made her first career start in the Bethesda win and filled the stat sheet with two points, six rebounds, one block, and a career-high three steals.
* - Freshman forward Caitlynn Jordan just missed her first collegiate double on Saturday vs. Bethesda, notching career highs with nine points and 10 boards. 
* - Freshman forward Nicole Willardson, who had started in each of the last seven games prior to the Bethesda game, posted career highs of eight points and three blocks, and grabbed five rebounds in the Bethesda win. 
 
TRAILBLAZER TEAM NOTES
* - Utah Tech begins the week as one of two teams (Abilene Christian) currently in the WAC featuring four players averaging double figures in points through the first 10 games of the season
* - In addition, Utah Tech is the only team in the WAC with three players listed in the conference's top-10 in scoring (Gillen 16.2 ppg/Macie Warren 16.1/Maddie Warren 15.7 ppg). 
* - Bolstered by Gillen's perfection at the foul line, Utah Tech shot a season-best 94.4 percent (17-of-18) at the stripe in the Weber State (12/9) loss ... The Blazers then followed that up by going 14-of-15 (.933) at the line in the Bethesda win.
* - Utah Tech's 110 points vs. Bethesda were the second-most in a game this season and the third-most in the program's four-year era. 
* - Meanwhile, the 35 points allowed vs. Bethesda were the third-fewest surrendered during the Trailblazers' NCAA era.
*- All eight Trailblazers who played on Saturday scored and recorded at least three rebounds ... in addition, seven of the eight also had at least two assists and one steal in an overall balanced day up-and-down the Utah Tech line-up.
* - For the second time this season, Utah Tech had five players score in doubles figures in the Bethesda win ... the Trailblazers also had five players score in double figures in the season opener vs. La Verne (11/6). 
* - Utah Tech shot 54.4 percent from the floor (43-of-79) in the Bethesda win, which included a 10-of-35 (.286) clip from the perimeter ... the 43 made field goals last Saturday were the third-most in a single game in the program's NCAA era.
* - The Blazers pulled down a season-high 64 rebounds (t-third all-time at UT) and recorded a season-high plus-27 rebounding margin (64-37). 
* - Utah Tech also posted season highs in both steals (13) and blocks (10) ... in fact, the last time the Trailblazer defense recorded 10 blocks in a game was during the 2010-11 season (10 vs. Academy of Art; 2/12/11). 
 * - Utah Tech connected on a season-best 58.4 percent of its field goal attempts (45-of-77) vs. La Verne (11/6), which was the fifth-highest single game field goal percentage in program history.
* - Utah Tech's 45 made field goals tied a program single game record that was set all the way back in the 2015-16 season in a home win vs. Chaminade (1/5/16). 
* - Utah Tech outrebounded La Verne 57-32, and finished with 27 assists on its 45 made field goals ... the 27 dimes are the sixth-most in a single game in program history.
* - Utah Tech held Jax State to just 27.8 percent shooting (20-of-72), which included an 11-of-40 clip (.275) from the perimeter.
* - The Blazers were just as stingy vs. La Verne, limiting the Panthers to 25.0 percent (19-of-76) from the floor in that game. 
* - Overall, Utah Tech has held four of its first 10 opponents below 30 percent shooting (all wins) ... for context, Utah Tech only held two total opponents to under 30 percent shooting all of last season. 
 
BLAZING A TRAIL TO GREECE: In preparation for the 2023-24 season, Utah Tech embarked on its first-ever foreign trip this past August when the Trailblazers traveled to Greece. 
            The trip included tours of the Kallimarmaro Olympic Stadium, which was the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, the Acropolis of Athens and its museum, and a boat excursion to the Greek islands of Hydra, Poros and Aegina. 
            The Trailblazers won a pair of exhibition games while on the trip, the first came against the Amilia Peristeriou Basketball Club in a 119-45 on August 12, followed by an 88-68 victory over the Athens All-Stars on August 14. 
            Per NCAA rules, college teams are allowed to make an international trip once every four years. Additionally, the team is allotted an extra 10 practices in preparation for the trip.
 
ABOUT THE OREGON DUCKS: Oregon makes its first-ever trip to St. George on the heels of extending its season-high win streak to four-straight after a 61-48 home win over UT-San Antonio this past Sunday afternoon in Eugene.
            Though the Oregon program overall will be first-time visitors to southern Utah, it will be a homecoming of sorts for one member of the Ducks' staff as Head Coach Kelly Graves returns to his native St. George. Graves, a 1981 graduate of Dixie High School, was an all-state basketball player for the Flyers before playing collegiately at then-Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho 1983-85) and New Mexico (1985-87).
            The Ducks boast three starters averaging double figures, led by sophomore forward Grace VanSlooten (6-3) at 15.6 ppg on 41.7 percent shooting. Meanwhile, junior center Phillipina Kyei (6-8) enters this week's action tied for third in Division I in rebounding at 12.1 rpg, and is averaging 12.5 points on a team-best 55.9 percent shooting.
            Utah Tech will be the second WAC team that Oregon will have faced this season. Last month, the Ducks ventured down to Phoenix and came away with a 64-56 road win at Grand Canyon (11/16/23).  
 
NEXT UP FOR THE TRAILBLAZERS: Utah Tech will close out its five-game, pre-Christmas homestand, and its portion of the Trailblazer Classic, on Wednesday afternoon when the Blazers face Big-12 member Oklahoma State at 2 p.m.
            The Classic will then wrap up on Thursday with Oregon and Oklahoma State squaring off in the Burns Arena at 2 p.m.