Maggie McCord led four Trailblazers in double figures with 21 points as Utah Tech returned to the win column on the strength of a 78-69 victory over Abilene Christian on Thursday night inside the Burns Arena.

How it happened 
Utah Tech (10-9/4-4 WAC) was locked in a back-and-forth battle with the Wildcats for much of the first half. 
 
The Trailblazers looked as though they were starting the get some separation late in the second quarter, thanks in part to consecutive 3-pointers from McCord and Macie Warren, which helped turn a slim 31-29 Utah Tech lead into a 40-31 cushion with 1:53 to play in the first half.
 
However ACU (8-9/4-4 WAC) countered with six-unanswered points to pare the Blazer lead to 40-37 at the halftime break. 
 
Whatever newfound momentum the Wildcats took into the locker room stayed there as Utah Tech came out on fire with a 14-0 run to start the second half. The Trailblazers knocked down their first five shots of the frame, including four 3-pointers, to turn their slim three-point halftime lead into a 54-37 cushion with two-plus minutes gone in the third quarter. 
 
Maddie Warren, who was held scoreless in the first half, knocked down her first two shots, while McCord drained two more treys and Macie Warren hit from downtown to cap the rally.
 
Utah Tech nursed its double-digit advantage through the remainder of the third, and maintained at least a three-possession for much of the fourth quarter.
 
Trailing 70-60 with just over two minutes to play, ACU's pressure defense forced two quick Utah Tech turnovers, which the Wildcats turned into points to pull to within six at 70-64 with 1:48 left.
 
The Blazers would solve the defense on their ensuing possession, which Macie Warren ended with a mid-range pull up jumper to up the Utah Tech lead to eight.
 
Utah Tech then hit on all six of its foul shots in the waning seconds to hold off ACU and come away with the hard-fought home win. 
                                                           
Numbers to know
McCord finished one rebound shy of her third double-double of the year as she grabbed a co-game high nine boards to go with her 21 points. 
 
McCord went 8-of-12 from the floor, including a 5-of-8 effort from the perimeter, which marked the third time this season that the fifth-year guard had hit at least five 3-pointers in a game. 
 
Macie Warren added 15 points to go with four rebounds and four assists, while Maddie Warren scored all 12 of her points after halftime and picked off a game-high three steals.
 
Freshman Calyn Dallas also enjoyed a solid night, filling the stat sheet with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting with three 3-pointers, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. 
 
Utah Tech shot 51.0 percent (26-of-51) from the floor, which included a 14-of-30 night (.467) from beyond the arc, highlighted by a 6-of-10 clip from the perimeter in the third quarter.
 
The Trailblazers also hit on 12-of-16 (.750) from the foul line and outrebounded ACU by a 39-34 count. 
 
Bella Earle led three Wildcats in double figures with 18 points. ACU connected on 26-of-70 (.371) from the floor and was just 9-of-40 (.225) from three-point country.
 
Up next
Utah Tech wraps up its four-game homestand with a Saturday matinee against Tarleton. Tip-off inside the Burns Arena is set for 2 p.m. (MST).