Game Notes: UTAH TECH - PDF | WESTMINSTER
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TRAILBLAZERS AT A GLANCE
Utah Tech opens up a five-game holiday homestand this Saturday afternoon with a post-Thanksgiving matinee vs. former RMAC rival Westminster University.
 
Saturday's game will be the 12th meeting between the Trailblazers and the Griffins on the basketball court, though this match-up marks the first time the two in-state rivals will square off during Utah Tech's current NCAA D-I era.
 
Utah Tech is 2-9 all-time against Westminster, with both of the Blazers' victories coming at home (11/24/17; 3/1/19). The Griffins have won the last three games in the series, including a 65-53 triumph in the semifinal round of the 2020 RMAC Tournament (3/6/20) in Grand Junction, Colo.
 
Utah Tech enters Saturday's game vs. Westminster with a 96-97 (.497) all-time record against non-conference opponents during its NCAA era, which began in 2006-07. Meanwhile, the Trailblazers are 27-30 (.473) in non-conference play during their five-plus seasons as a Division I program. 

OPENING TIP: Utah Tech (3-2/0-0 WAC) kicks off a five-game holiday homestand this Saturday when the Trailblazer play host to former RMAC rival Westminster University (2-2). Tip-off inside the Burns Arena (4.779) is slated for 12 noon (MT).
      Saturday's game will be streamed live on ESPN+, and broadcast live on the radio on Utah Tech's campus radio station KUTU 91.3 FM.
 
WAC FOR ONE MORE SEASON: The 2025-26 campaign will mark an end of an (brief) era as Utah Tech will compete as a member of the Western Athletic Conference for the sixth, and final, season. The Trailblazers joined the WAC in 2020-21 during the first year of the program's NCAA Division I transition. 
 
GOING "BIG" IN 2026: This past June 25, Utah Tech announced that it had accepted an invitation to join the Big Sky Conference beginning on July 1, 2026. 
      Starting in the 2026-27 season, 14 of the Trailblazers' 17 sports, including women's basketball.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Utah Tech could not overcome a cold shooting night as the Trailblazers fell at Big 12 member Arizona State, 81-54, this past Tuesday night at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe.
      With the loss, the Trailblazers fell to 1-9 all-time against NCAA D-I Power 4 conference opponents (0-6 vs. the Big 12 Conference). 
 
HEAD COACH JD GUSTIN: JD Gustin is in his 10th season as Utah Tech head women's basketball coach. 
      In 2023-24, Coach Gustin guided the Trailblazers to an 18-14 overall record, including a 12-8 mark in Western Athletic Conference play, which was good for fourth place in the conference standings and a first round bye into the 2024 WAC Tournament.
      Along with the 18 wins last season, his 2023-24 Trailblazers broke school records in made 3-pointers (327; #1 WAC/#6 NCAA), points (2,343), single game points (116), field goals made/attempted (853/1942), 3-pointers attempted (945), free throw percentage (.736) and fewest turnovers (420).
      Gustin has seen marked improvements in each season on the Trailblazer sideline, culminating with an 19-12 overall record in 2022-23, 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. 
      Utah Tech's 19 wins that season were the most in the program's newly minted NCAA Division-I era, and is the highest win total during Coach Gustin's tenure on the Trailblazer bench.
 
TRAILBLAZERS PICKED SEVENTH THE WAC: Utah Tech was picked to finish sixth in the 2025-26 Western Athletic Conference women's basketball preseason coaches poll, which was released on October 29.
      Abilene Christian received two of a possible seven first place votes and 32 total points to be tabbed as the WAC preseason favorite, while California Baptist collected four first place nods to finish second in the poll with 31 points.
      UT Arlington (1 FPV/25 pts) was picked to finish third, followed by Utah Valley (23 pts) in fourth, Tarleton State (18 pts) in fifth, Utah Tech (12 pts) in sixth, and Southern Utah (6 pts) was picked to finish seventh. 
 
HOME SWEET HOME: Since joining the NCAA ranks in 2006-07, Utah Tech has played to a 149-86 (.634) overall record in 235 games inside the Burns Arena, including a quick 3-0 start this season.
      The Trailblazers hope the home-cooking trend continues throughout the 2025-26 campaign as Utah Tech's season slate features an NCAA-era program record 17 home games, while 22 of the Trailblazers' 28 contests this upcoming season overall will be played in "The Beehive State."
      Under Coach Gustin, the Trailblazers are 69-53 (.565) on their home floor and have won eight or more home games in six of their last eight seasons overall. In fact, Utah Tech has won 11 home wins twice during Gustin's tenure on the Trailblazer bench (11-5 in 2023-24; 11-4 in 2018-19).
 
AWAY FROM THE BURNS: Utah Tech owns a 90-142 (.388) record in 232 road games since the 2006-07 season, including an 0-2 start this season. 
      That said, the Trailblazers will not don their road jerseys again until their WAC opener at Southern Utah on Dec. 29. Additionally, Utah Tech will not leave the state of Utah again until mid-January when the team makes the first of three trips to Texas during conference play. 
      Under Coach Gustin, the Blazers are 33-73 (.311) away from home, which included a 1-13 mark last year, and a 7-8 road record during the 2023-24 campaign. In addition, Utah Tech is 22-20 (.524) all-time on neutral courts, 5-7 under Coach Gustin.  
 
FROM WAY DOWNTOWN....BANG: Utah Tech has hit at least one 3-pointer in 298-straight games, including eight treys last Saturday vs. Portland State (8-of-28), and a season-high 10 perimeter jumpers (10-of-28) in the season-opening victory over Northern Arizona (11/8). 
      The Trailblazers have reached double figures in made 3-pointers 30 times in their last 68 games dating back to the 2023-24 campaign. That number includes 11 instances in 31 games last season, highlighted by a season-high 17 perimeter jumpers (17-of-47) in last year's season-opening victory vs. Northern New Mexico (11/4/24).
      In addition, Utah Tech has knocked down at least 10 treys in 115 games during its NCAA era overall. 
      In 2023-24, Utah Tech led the WAC and finished the year ranked sixth-nationally with a school record 327 made 3-pointers, and broke a school records in both 3-point field goal attempts (945) and 3FG percentage (.346). 
      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). 
      In all, Utah Tech has hit at least one 3-pointer in 506 of its 509 games during its NCAA era, which began in the 2006-07 season.
      Two of the three instances when the Blazers did not hit a 3-pointer 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 2006-07 (vs. UHH, 1/7/07). 
      Meanwhile, Utah Tech has surrendered at least one made opponent 3-pointer in 508 of 509 games during its NCAA era.
 
BORDEN CLAIMS WAC WEEKLY HONOR: On the strength of her career night in last Saturday's win over Portland State, redshirt senior guard Kaylee Borden was named WAC Newcomer of the Week this past Monday.
      Borden, who enters Saturday's game vs. Westminster as the WAC's leading scorer (17.6 ppg), poured in a career high 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting (2-of-5 3FG) and went 5-of-7 at the foul line. "Keke" scored 17 of her 25 points in the first half, and tallied five rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes of game action.
 
QUITE THE DEBUT: Though she was held to eight points at ASU last Tuesday night, Borden's career night in the PSU win continued her torrid pace to her debut season as a Trailblazer.
      Thanks to her 25-point night last Saturday, the fifth-year guard joined some pretty elite company as she became just the sixth Trailblazer in the program's NCAA era to score at least 20 points in three of the first four games to begin a season. 
      Keke announced her presence with authority with a then collegiate career high 21 points in the season opener vs. Northern Arizona (11/8). 
      Borden then followed that up with a team-high 13 points in the Omaha victory (11/12), then posted her first collegiate double-double with career highs of 21 points and 11 rebounds at Weber State (11/15).
      Borden became just the seventh different Trailblazer to score 20 or more points in a season opener in the program's four-year era. In fact, the NAU win marked the fourth-straight opener that a Trailblazer had tallied at least 20 points.
      Senior guard Chardonnay Hartley also poured in 21 points in last year's opener vs. Northern New Mexico (11/4/24), while former Blazer guard and current assistant coach Breaunna Gillen hit for 21 points in consecutive season openers in 2023 vs. La Verne (11/6/23), and in 2022 on the road at Washington (11/7/22). 
 
THAT ELITE COMPANY: Former post player Haley Holmstead was the player to score at least 20 points in three of the first four games of a season, opening the 2013-14 season with three straight 20-plus point efforts, including a 30-point night at Cal State LA (11/23/13) on her way to setting the school's single season scoring record (646 points). 
      The four other instances have come in the program's NCAA D-I era by current members of the program.
      Hartley achieved the feat last season beginning with a 21-point night in the 2024-25 opener vs. Northern New Mexico (11/4/24). Hartley then went for 23 points at New Mexico State (11/7/24) and a career-high 28 points in a home win over Weber State (11/16/24). 
      Prior to Hartley, redshirt senior guard Maddie Warren opened the 2023-24 campaign with consecutive 20-point outings against both Jacksonville State (11/9/23) and UNLV (11/14/23), followed by a 21-point day at Texas A&M-Commerce (11/20/23). 
      Meanwhile, twin sister Macie Warren did it one year earlier in the 2022-23 season thanks to consecutive 25-point games vs. Benedictine Mesa (11/10/22) and Utah State (11/15/22), before pouring in 21 points at Kansas City (11/18/22).
      Also that same year, Gillen scored 20 or more points in four of her first five games, starting with a 21-point effort in the opener at Washington (11/7/22). Gillen followed that with 26 points vs. USU, 25 points at Kansas City, and 23 points at Kansas State (11/20/22). 
 
PICKING UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF IN 2024-25: Speaking of Hartley, the senior point guard wasted little time returning to form as she filled the stat sheet with 19 points, three rebounds, four assists and five steals in the NAU victory (11/8).
      Hartley knocked down seven of her 13 shots with a pair of 3-pointers, and collected her third-career blocked shot in that win. Meanwhile, her five steals were two off of her career high of seven set last season at Abilene Christian (2/6/25). In fact, Hartley has 63 total steals in just 36 career games as a Trailblazer.
      Hartley, who dished out a season-high eight dimes to go with seven points at ASU last Tuesday, also became the sixth Trailblazer in the program's NCAA era to reach the 200-assist plateau in the NAU win, and she currently stands in fifth place (220) overall on Utah Tech's career assists list. 
 
WELCOME BACK: Maddie Warren got the starting nod in her first game back in the season opener vs. NAU (11/8), this after she missed the entire 2024-25 campaign due to injury.
      Warren marked her return with 11 points, five rebounds and two steals in 17-plus minutes. 
      Warren also made a little history as she became the eighth player in program history with 100 career 3-pointers when she knocked down a perimeter jumper to open the second half scoring.
      The senior guard followed that up with another 11-point night in the Omaha win (11/12), and a season-high 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting with two 3-pointers at Weber State (11/15).
      Warren, who has 107 made threes to her credit in 47 career games, knocked down three more treys en route to a team-high 14 points in the ASU loss last Tuesday night.
 
THROWING A BLOCK PARTY: Utah Tech tied a Division I era high with 10 blocked shots in its home win over Omaha back on Nov. 12.
      Junior forward Lauren Crocker led the defensive effort with a career-high four blocks, while sophomore forward Paige Cofer collected two blocks of her own, which was also her career high. In all, six of the nine Trailblazers who played saw time in the victory had at least one block. 
      Utah Tech went on to block five more shots at Weber State (11/15), with four of those rejections coming from Crocker.
      Prior to the Omaha win, the last time the Trailblazers swatted away 10 shots came in a home win vs. Bethesda (12/16/23) during the 2023-24 season. The 10 blocked shots also tied for the second-most in a single game in the program's NCAA era, and marked the sixth time the Trailblazers reached double figures in blocks overall. 
      Utah Tech posted a school record 12 blocks in a neutral site win vs. Alaska Fairbanks (12/10/10) during the 2010-11 season.
 
TRAILBLAZER PLAYER NOTES
* - Hartley has scored in double figures in 17 of her 36 career starts at Utah Tech with three 20-plus point outings, highlighted by her collegiate career high of 28 points along with 12 assists last season in a home win over Weber State (11/16/24) ... that double-double in the WSU victory was one of four she recorded in her first year as a Trailblazer.
* - Cofer posted her second career double-double with 10 points and a career-high tying 11 rebounds in the Portland State win last Saturday ... nine of Cofer's 11 boards came on the defensive end, while she hit on 5-of-7 of her shot attempts, and tied a career high with two blocked shots. 
* - Cofer scored in double figures in six games during her debut season in 2024-25, highlighted by a career-high 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting with four 3-pointers and a career-best 11 rebounds at California Baptist (3/1/25).
* - Senior guard Brie Crittendon just missed recording her first collegiate double-double in the Omaha win (11/12), going for nine points and a season high 10 rebounds ... Crittendon flirted with another double-double at Arizona State last Tuesday, finishing with seven points and 10 more caroms ... Crittendon's 10 boards were one off of her career high of 11 set last year vs. Seattle U (1/16/25).
* - Crittendon tallied a season-high 13 points with four boards, two assists, two steals and a block in the Portland State win last Saturday. 
* - Junior guard Calyn Dallas has knocked down two 3-pointers in three of her first five games to start the season ... Dallas scored a season-high 10 points off the bench in the Omaha win (11/12) ... through five games this season, the junior guard has accounted for 29 of Utah Tech's 70 overall bench points. 
* - Crocker put together a solid game off the bench at Arizona State, pouring in a career-high 11 points and a Utah Tech career-best eight rebounds in 23 minutes ... she also swatted away a co-game high two shots, running her team-leading season total to 13 blocks in five games.
* - Crocker logged a career-high 27 minutes off the bench at Weber State (11/15), where she finished with eight points (2-of-7 3FG) and three caroms to go with her career high-tying four blocks. 
* - Freshman guard Merceius Mili played 12 minutes in her collegiate debut game vs. NAU (11/8) and scored four points on 2-of-4 shooting with three rebounds, one assist and one steal ... Mili also chipped in three points, all at the foul line, along with two rebounds and her first collegiate blocked shot in the Omaha win (11/12). 
* - Redshirt freshman guard Andjela Colic enjoyed her best outing of her brief Blazer career, hitting for seven points on 3-of-4 shooting with a 3-pointer at Weber State (11/15) ... Colic dished out a career-best three assists and recorded her first two collegiate points in the second quarter vs. Omaha (11/12). 
* - Freshman forward Annalyse Shimada scored her first collegiate point and corralled her first two collegiate rebounds in last Saturday's win over Portland State. 
 
ABOUT THE WESTMINSTER "GRIFFINS": Westminster has split its first four official games to open the 2025-26 season, with both victories coming at home last weekend vs. both Alaska Fairbanks (W, 99-74; 11/21), and Texas A&M-Kingsville (W, 54-46; 11/22). The Griffins have also played two in-season exhibition road games at both Idaho State (L, 47-99; 11/4) and Weber State (L, 47-84; 11/8).
      Westminster features three players averaging double figures, led by senior guard Teuila Nawahine (5-7) at 16.8 ppg on 48.9 percent shooting (5-of-13 3FG; .385). Meanwhile, junior forward Emily Evans (5-11) is averaging 13.0 points in four starts and is the team's leading rebounder (7.5 rpg). Utah Tech will also see a familiar face wearing Griffin purple on Saturday afternoon as former Blazer guard Makeili Ika (Jr.; 5-4) is a Westminster starter and averages 5.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per outing. 
 
NEXT UP FOR THE TRAILBLAZERS: Utah Tech continues its homestand this upcoming Tuesday night, Dec. 2, when the Trailblazers welcome McNeese State to the Burns Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. (MT).