ST. GEORGE, Utah (Interstat) — California Baptist used a strong second half to defeat Utah Tech 75-67 in a Western Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Burns Arena. The Lancers trailed by three at halftime but outscored the Trailblazers 23-17 in the third quarter to take control. Shawnee Nordstrom led California Baptist with 16 points, while Khloe Lemon added 18 and Lauren Olsen scored 16. Maddie Warren paced Utah Tech with 16 points. California Baptist improved to 10-7 overall. Utah Tech fell to 5-8. An announced crowd of 512 attended the game.

ST. GEORGE, Utah (Interstat) — In a Western Athletic Conference clash defined by defensive pressure and opportunistic scoring, the California Baptist women’s basketball team grinded out a 75-67 victory over Utah Tech on Thursday night at Burns Arena. The Lancers, who improved to 10-7 overall, never trailed but were persistently challenged by the Trailblazers, who fell to 5-8. The game was ultimately decided by California Baptist’s superior defensive activity and its ability to capitalize on extra possessions, overcoming a subpar shooting performance. California Baptist built its foundation on a disruptive defensive effort, amassing nine steals and eight blocked shots while forcing 13 Utah Tech turnovers. The Lancers converted those miscues into 11 points and dominated the offensive glass with 15 rebounds, leading to numerous second-chance opportunities. This compensated for a 38% shooting night from the field, as the Lancers attempted 13 more shots than the Trailblazers. Utah Tech, which shot a more efficient 39.7% from the floor and 39.1% from three-point range, stayed within striking distance largely due to the perimeter shooting of Maddie Warren and Andjela Colic. Warren finished with 16 points, including four three-pointers, while Colic provided a spark off the bench with nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from deep. The Trailblazers’ offense, however, was hampered by a stark disparity in ball movement, registering only three assists as a team compared to California Baptist’s nine. The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the third quarter. Leading 34-30 at halftime, California Baptist opened the second half with a decisive 11-2 run. The surge was fueled by a trio of three-pointers — one from Lauren Olsen and two from Shawnee Nordstrom — that stretched the lead to 45-36 and forced a Utah Tech timeout just over two minutes into the period. This burst provided the Lancers with a cushion they would maintain for the remainder of the contest. Utah Tech responded with resilience, closing the gap to 54-52 late in the third quarter after a layup and a free throw from Lauren Crocker. But the Lancers answered immediately, as Nordstrom sank a three-pointer just before the quarter expired to push the lead back to five points entering the final frame. That sequence typified the night: every time the Trailblazers threatened, California Baptist found a timely response. Nordstrom, a guard from Hamilton, New Zealand, led all scorers with 16 points, while backcourt mate Khloe Lemon added 18 points, including several crucial baskets in the fourth quarter to stifle Utah Tech’s final pushes. Olsen, from Douglas, Wyoming, contributed 16 points and was a steadying presence throughout. The Lancers also received a significant defensive contribution from Emma Johansson of Jonkoping, Sweden, who recorded five blocked shots and four assists. For Utah Tech, Warren’s 16 points led the way, supported by 13 points from Paige Cofer of Eagle, Idaho, and 10 points apiece from Crocker of Calgary, Canada, and Kaylee Borden of Anadarko, Oklahoma. The Trailblazers struggled from the free-throw line, making just 12 of 19 attempts, a shortfall that proved costly in a tight game. California Baptist’s offensive rating of 105.4 points per 100 possessions edged out Utah Tech’s 94.3, reflecting the Lancers’ ability to generate more scoring chances despite lower shooting percentages. The win gives California Baptist its third consecutive victory in conference play. The announced attendance at Burns Arena was 512. California Baptist travels to face Southern Utah on Saturday. Utah Tech remains at home to host Utah Valley on Saturday.

ST. GEORGE, Utah (Interstat) — A surging California Baptist women’s basketball team looks to extend its win streak when it visits Utah Tech in a Western Athletic Conference matchup Thursday night at Burns Arena. The Lancers (9-7, 3-0 WAC) have won three straight, including decisive conference victories over Utah Valley, UT Arlington and Tarleton State. Utah Tech (5-7, 0-1) seeks to rebound from a tough start to league play, having fallen 81-51 to Abilene Christian in its WAC opener on Jan. 1. California Baptist’s recent success has been fueled by the dominant play of forward Filipa Barros. Over the last three games, all wins, she has averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds and 4.7 assists, including a 19-point, 11-rebound, five-assist performance in the 80-68 win over Tarleton State on Saturday. Lauren Olsen added 20 points in that contest, and Emma Johansson anchored the defense with nine rebounds and three blocks. The Trailblazers will counter with guard Maddie Warren, their leading scorer in the loss to Abilene Christian with 17 points. Warren has been a bright spot, averaging 13 points over her last two games, but Utah Tech has struggled defensively, allowing an average of 79.5 points in its last two outings. California Baptist’s streak follows a challenging non-conference slate that included losses to Power Five opponent Nebraska and regional foes UC Irvine and UC San Diego. Utah Tech’s non-conference schedule featured a win over Chicago State but losses to Arizona State and Southern Utah. The Lancers’ offense has found its rhythm in WAC play, averaging 82.3 points during the streak after being held under 60 in three of their previous four games. Containing Barros, who impacts the game in multiple facets, will be the primary challenge for a Utah Tech team looking to protect its home floor and secure its first conference victory. Thursday’s game is the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs. They will meet again in Riverside, California, on Feb. 14. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST.