Game Notes: UTAH TECH - PDF | NAU
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TRAILBLAZERS AT A GLANCE
Following the late cancellation of its original 2025-26 season opener vs. Westcliff, which was scheduled for this past Monday, Utah Tech will officially open the campaign this Saturday vs. Northern Arizona inside the Burns Arena.
Utah Tech is 11-8 all-time in season openers during its NCAA era, which includes a 6-3 mark under Head Coach JD Gustin, and has won four of its five season openers during its brief NCAA Division I era.
Meanwhile, the Trailblazers are 14-5 all-time in home openers in their four-year era, and have won seven-straight home debuts overall. 
Utah Tech returns four starters, along with six total letter winners and three redshirts from last year's squad, which concluded its fifth season of NCAA Division I play with a 6-25 overall record.  
The Trailblazers posted an eighth-place finish in the WAC Conference standings (1-15), and advanced on to the quarterfinal round of the 2025 WAC tournament.

OPENING TIP: After its 2025-26 season opener was canceled late last week, Utah Tech (0-0/0-0 WAC) finally opens the 2025-26 season this Saturday morning as the Trailblazers play host to Northern Arizona (0-1). Tip-off inside the Burns Arena (4.779) is slated for 2 p.m. (MT).
 
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, 13 of the Trailblazers' 17 sports, including women's basketball.
 
UTAH TECH VS. NAU: Saturday's game vs. NAU will be just the second time the two future Big Sky Conference foes have met on the hardwood, and the first time they will square off in St. George.
      Utah Tech and NAU first played nearly 10 years ago during the 2015-16 season, when the Division II Trailblazers rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit and had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer before falling by a 68-66 count in Flagstaff (12/12/15). 
 
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.
 
THE REST OF THE STAFF: Coach Gustin will have virtually a new coaching on the bench with him as he begins his 10th season on the Trailblazer sidelines. That said, his staff is made up of a few familiar faces for Utah Tech fans.
      Alan Nakamura begins his first season as an assistant coach after spending last season as an assistant coach at Fresno State. Nakamura comes to Utah Tech with more than 20 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level. Prior to his brief stint at Fresno State, he spent nine years as the head coach of the women's basketball program at Biola University.
      Coach Gustin's other three assistants are all former Trailblazers, including the program's all-time leader in points (1,608) and assists (555) in first-year assistant Breaunna Gillen, Utah Tech's all-time 3-point shooting leader (259) in first-year assistant Emily Chamberlain, and second-year assistant coach Taylia Stimpson (2021-23). 
 
HOME SWEET HOME: Since joining the NCAA ranks in 2006-07, Utah Tech has played to a 146-86 (.629) overall record in 232 games inside the Burns Arena.
      Under Coach Gustin, the Trailblazers are 66-53 (.554) on their home floor and have won eight or more home games in six of their last eight seasons overall. In fact, Utah Tech's 11 home wins in 2023-24 tied for the most during Gustin's tenure (11-4 in 2018-19) on the Trailblazer bench.
 
AWAY FROM THE BURNS: Utah Tech owns a 90-140 (.391) record in 230 road games since the 2006-07 season. Under Coach Gustin, the Blazers are 33-71 (.317) away from home, which included a 1-13 mark this year, and a 7-8 road record last season. In addition, Utah Tech is 22-20 (.524) all-time on neutral courts, 5-7 under Coach Gustin.  
 
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. 
 
2025-26 SEASON PREVIEW: Utah Tech returns four starters, along with six total letter winners and three redshirts from last year's squad, which concluded its fifth season of NCAA Division I play with a 6-25 overall record. 
      The Trailblazers posted an eighth-place finish in the WAC Conference standings (1-15), and advanced on to the quarterfinal round of the 2025 WAC tournament.
      Senior point guard Chardonnay Hartley highlights the Blazers' returning class. Hartley started in all 31 games last season and established herself as one of the top passers in the NCAA D-I ranks after she led the WAC and finished sixth-nationally in assists per game (6.4 apg).
      The senior guard closed the year t-ninth nationally in total assists with 198, which were two dimes shy of tying Utah Tech's single season record. She also scored in double figures in 15 of her 31 starts and averaged 10.7 ppg. 
      Fellow senior guard Brie Crittendon also started in all 31 games a season ago and averaged 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per start. Meanwhile sophomore forward Paige Cofer got the starting nod in all 16 WAC games and both conference tourney games and averaged 8.3 points on 41.5 percent shooting and 4.9 rebounds in her first collegiate season. 
      Sophomore guard Ellie Taylor, who was named to the 2024-25 all-WAC freshman team after she averaged 10.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 30 games (25 starts), is also back, but will miss the upcoming season due to injury.
      Utah Tech also welcomed back junior reserve guard Calyn Dallas and junior reserve post player Lauren Crocker. Dallas averaged 2.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in 29 games off the bench a season ago, while Crocker appeared in 24 games and averaged 1.2 points 1.5 rebounds per outing. 
      In addition, redshirt senior guards Macie Warren and Maddie Warren both return, as does redshirt freshman guard Andjela Colic. Maddie Warren was a 2023-24 second team all-WAC selection after she finished the season as the conference's fourth-leading scorer (16.2 ppg) and ranked second in the WAC in made 3-pointers (76). 
      Meanwhile Macie Warren finished the 2023-24 campaign eighth in the conference in scoring (14.3 ppg), second in field goal percentage (.492) and sixth in 3-pointers (47) despite missing the final nine games of that season due to injury.
      The Trailblazers also brought in four newcomers to their program ahead of the 2025-26 season, including one senior and three true freshmen. Utah Tech brought in redshirt senior Nevada transfer Kaylee Borden, along with Utah prep all-state picks in Merceius Mili (Skyridge HS) and Annalyse Shimada (Cedar HS). The Blazers also went the international route by landing a freshman post standout in Rose Boisnel from France. 
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE 2025-26 SCHEDULE: Utah Tech's 2025-26 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."
      The Blazers will play 11 of their first 14 games inside the Burns Arena, beginning with Saturday's game vs. future Big Sky opponent NAU. Utah Tech will also play host to Omaha next Wednesday night.
      Utah Tech will don its road jerseys for the first time on Saturday, Nov. 15, when the team makes the trip north on Interstate 15 to Ogden to square off against in-state rival and future Big Sky foe Weber State.
      The Trailblazers return to the Burns Arena play host to another future Big Sky opponent in Portland State (11/22), before crossing state lines for the first time for their first-ever match-up against Big 12 member Arizona State (11/25).
      Following its trip to Tempe, Utah Tech will close out its non-conference schedule with five-straight home games, starting with a date against former RMAC rival Westminster University(11/29) over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
      Utah Tech will also play host to McNeese State (12/2), former WAC opponent New Mexico State (12/6), and UC Santa Barbara (12/13), before wrapping up the non-conference portion of the schedule against Chicago State (12/17).
      The Trailblazers kick off their sixth, and final, WAC season with the first of two league games played at in-state rival Southern Utah (12/29 and 1/24). 
      Utah Tech will ring in 2026 with a New Year's Day home WAC tilt against WAC favorite Abilene Christian, which will be followed by the first of two home games vs. California Baptist (1/8 and 1/22), and an in-state "Old Hammer Rivalry" home showdown vs. Utah Valley (1/10).
      The Blazers will make the first of three trips to Texas one week later, where they will play the first of two road games at UT Arlington (1/15 and 2/5), followed by a date at Tarleton State (1/17). 
      Utah Tech returns to its home state for four games to close out January, starting with its second games against CBU and at SUU, before again hosting ACU (1/29) and Tarleton (1/31). 
      The Trailblazers embarks on their longest road swing of the year one week later, which starts with their second game at UT Arlington, followed one week later with the first of two games played at Utah Valley (2/12 and 3/7), and a trip to SoCal to face CBU (2/14).
      Utah Tech will play three of its final five regular season games at home, starting with a weekend set against both UTA (2/19) and Tarleton. Then after their final trip to "The Lone Star State" to play at ACU (2/16), the Blazers host SUU for Senior Day on Feb. 28, and will close out the regular season at UVU. 
      The 2026 WAC Women's Basketball Tournament will be held once again at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on March 11-14. 
 
FROM WAY DOWNTOWN....BANG: Utah Tech has hit at least one 3-pointer in 293-straight games, and has reached double figures in made 3-pointers 11 times 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 fact, the Trailblazers have reached double figures in made 3-pointers 29 times in their last 63 games dating back to the 2023-24 campaign, and have knocked down at least 10 treys in 114 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 501 of its 504 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 503 of 504 games during its NCAA era.
 
RETURNING TRAILBLAZER PLAYER NOTES
* - Hartley's 198 assists last season were only two assists shy of tying Utah Tech's single season record (200 - Gillen, 2022-23).
* - Hartley is two dimes shy of becoming just the sixth player in the program's NCAA era to reach the 200-assist plateau. 
* - Hartley scored in double figures in 15 of her 31 starts with three 20-plus point outings, highlighted by a collegiate career high of 28 points along with 12 assists in a home win over Weber State (11/16/24).
* - Hartley tied Utah Tech's single game record for assists with 13 and had 14 points in the Blazers' home victory over Seattle U (1/16/25).
* - Hartley was among the nation's leaders in at the foul line, tying for 25th-nationally in free throw attempts (201), and t-87th in free throws made (117). 
* - Crittendon scored in double figures in nine games, highlighted by a collegiate career-high 16 points with three 3-pointers vs. Pittsburgh (12/21/24).
* - Crittendon recorded her first collegiate double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds in a home win over Seattle U (1/16/25).
* - Crittendon went 6-of-6 at the line and knocked down three treys as part of a 15-point outing vs. UTEP (12/14/25).
* - Cofer scored in double figures in six games in her debut season, highlighted by a career-high 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting with four 3-pointers and a career-high 11 rebounds at California Baptist (3/1/25) … 
* - Cofer poured in 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting with three treys and five boards vs. UT Arlington (2/1/25).
* - Dallas poured in a season-high 10 points with a pair of 3-pointers in a season-long 25 minutes at New Mexico State (11/7/25).
* - Crocker just missed her first collegiate double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds in her Trailblazer debut vs. Northern New Mexico (11/4/24).
* - Crocker recorded WAC season highs of four points and four rebounds at Utah Valley (2/19).
* - Mad. Warren begins her final season ranked sixth in program history in both scoring average (14.4 ppg) and 3FG percentage (.336), and is t-ninth in career made 3FG (98). 
* - Mad. Warren earned second team all-WAC honors in 2023-24 after she finished the regular season as the conference's fourth-leading scorer (16.16 ppg).
* - That season, Mad. Warren ranked second in the WAC in 3FGM (76) and ninth in FG% (.425).
* - Mad. Warren started in all 31 regular season games in 2023-24, and scored in double figures in 26 of those outings, including 17 of 20 WAC games, highlighted by a career-high 27 points in a home win over Tarleton State (1/27/24).
* - Mad. Warren led the team with nine 20-plus point outings overall that season.
* - Mac. Warren begins her final season ranked third in program history in 3FG percentage (.376), seventh in FG percentage (.465), seventh in FG made (247) and 11th in 3FG made (96).
* - Mac. Warren finished the 2023-24 season ranked in the WAC's top-10 in scoring (8th, 14.3 ppg), FG percentage (2nd, .492) and 3FG made (6th, 47), and was 19th in rebounding (5.4 rpg) despite missing the final nine games of the season due to injury.
* - Mac. Warren scored in double figures in 16 of her 23 starts with five 20-plus point outings, highlighted by a season-high 27 points in home win over Seattle U (1/4/24).
 
ABOUT THE NORTHERN ARIZONA "LUMBERJACKS": Northern Arizona opened the 2025-26 season on a sour note as the Lumberjacks dropped a 77-59 road decision at New Mexico this past Tuesday night.
      Redshirt freshman Naomi White (5-9), who transferred to NAU from Grand Canyon, led all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-24 shooting with six 3-pointers in the loss, while senior guard Audrey Taylor (5-9) poured in 10 points with a pair of treys of her own to go with three steals. 
      NAU returned only two players and added 13 newcomers to its 2025-26 roster, with Taylor serving as the only 'Jack on the current roster to have played for the program last season.  
 
NEXT UP FOR THE TRAILBLAZERS: Utah Tech continues its season-opening homestand next Wednesday night, Nov. 12, when the Trailblazers welcome Omaha to the Burns Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. (MT).