ST. GEORGE — The Utah Tech women’s basketball team started the season emphatically on Monday morning.
Five Trailblazers scored in double digits and a large crowd of elementary school children at Burns Arena went home happy after a 116-59 win over La Verne.
The unusual 11 a.m. start time accommodated the youngsters, who got to watch the Trailblazers on a field day outing, and they saw the home team set the mark for most single-game points in program history.
Picked in a coaches’ preseason poll to finish fourth in the Western Athletic Conference, Utah Tech outmatched the Panthers from Southern California in talent, execution and athleticism.
Utah Tech freshman Calyn Dallas drives against La Verne in a non-conference women’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Nov. 6, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Emily Isaacson sank a 3-pointer midway through the first quarter, capping a 20-0 Utah Tech run en route to a commanding 22-5 lead.
Five Trailblazers sank treys in that early run. The home team led 27-13 after the first session.
They followed with a 10-0 outburst to start the second quarter and enjoyed a 52-27 advantage at halftime.
Utah Tech senior Breaunna Gillen, tabbed the preseason WAC Player of the Year, led all scorers with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting. She snared 11 rebounds and dropped eight dimes.
Gillen’s seventh assist in the game, to Maddie Warren for a 3-pointer early in the second half, brought her school-record career total to 400 assists.
Macie Warren scored 19 for the Trailblazers to go along with her 10 assists (a career high) and seven rebounds.
Twin sister Maddie Warren tallied 16 points in the win and freshman Calyn Dallas threw in 15 points in 24 minutes off the bench, sinking all five of her 3-point attempts.
And Maggie McCord rounded out the fabulous five Trailblazers in double digits, finishing with 13 points and six rebounds.
Utah Tech stays at home in its second game, facing Conference USA’s Jacksonville State on Thursday, Nov. 9, at Burns Arena at 7 p.m.
Photo Gallery
Utah Tech’s Maddie Warren sinks a 3 against La Verne in a non-conference women’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Nov. 6, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech’s Emily Isaacson moves the ball against La Verne in a non-conference women’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Nov. 6, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech’s Alyson Deaver shoots against La Verne in a non-conference women’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Nov. 6, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech’s Breaunna Gillen scores 21 against La Verne in a non-conference women’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Nov. 6, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech’s Macie Warren maneuvers for two against La Verne in a non-conference women’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Nov. 6, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech’s Maggie McCord goes to the basket against La Verne in a non-conference women’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Nov. 6, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech freshman Calyn Dallas drives against La Verne in a non-conference women’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Nov. 6, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech’s Breaunna Gillen scores 21 against La Verne in a non-conference women’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Nov. 6, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.