ST. GEORGE — Road trips to the Northeast and to South Beach in Florida highlight away contests while the Utah Tech women’s basketball team will face a pair of Power 5 conference schools at home.
That’s what the Trailblazers will face, according to their 2023-24 schedule, which was announced Wednesday in a press release. Utah Tech will have a full slate of 20 games in the Western Athletic Conference.
Coming off a record-setting season with 19 wins – the highest single-season win total during coach J.D. Gustin’s seven-year tenure on the Utah Tech bench – the Trailblazers hope the schedule will help the program continue to build momentum as a Division I squad.
“We’ve worked hard on this schedule and believe it gives us the right competitive balance that prepares us for the WAC season,” Gustin said in the press release.
The Trailblazers open the season Nov. 6 at Burns Arena versus La Verne University. They’ll stay at home for their second contest, against Jacksonville State, on Nov. 9.
Then Utah Tech hits the road for five games, beginning with a trip down I-15 to face two-time defending Mountain West Conference champion UNLV on Nov. 14.
“We have a ton of respect for our DI opening opponent in Jacksonville State, and then a tough road game at UNLV creates a challenging opening week,” Gustin said.
The Trailblazers will enjoy Thanksgiving in New England with games at New Hampshire (Nov. 22) and at Stonehill College (Nov. 25).
Christmas break will find Utah Tech at home, hosting its first in-season tournament as a DI program, the Utah Tech Trailblazer Classic Dec. 19-21.
Next up will be PAC-12 power Oregon Dec. 19 at 2 p.m., followed by Big XII and NCAA tournament qualifier Oklahoma State Dec. 20 at 2 p.m.
“Both programs are exceptional and our players are definitely looking forward to that level of competition,” Gustin said. “We hope our community comes out and supports this exciting and unique event.”
After completing its non-conference schedule in Miami against Florida International on Dec. 30, Utah Tech will play out the remainder of its WAC schedule after the New Year.
Rivalry games against Southern Utah University will be played Jan. 18 in St. George and Feb. 8 in Cedar City.
The WAC women’s basketball tournament will take place in Las Vegas, dates and times to be announced.
Overall, Utah Tech finished 19-12 last year including a fifth-place finish in the WAC at 10-8.
Women’s soccer inks assistant coach
In other Utah Tech Athletics news, new women’s soccer head coach Lexi Brown announced that her husband Tyler Brown has signed to be an assistant coach for the team, according to a Thursday press release.
“I am very excited about the addition of Tyler Brown to our staff here at Utah Tech,” Lexi Brown said in the release. “He has the coaching background and personality that make him a perfect fit for Utah Tech and I know he will aid in the continued success of this program.”
Tyler Brown played collegiately at Utah Valley and has previous coaching stops at Gonzaga and Eastern Washington. He also coached Utah FC for three years and Inferno FC in Post Falls, Idaho, for one.
“His extensive knowledge of the tactical side of the game will be important in planning training sessions, developing players and game management,” Lexi Brown said. “Tyler is a remarkable relationship builder and dynamic recruiter which will be incredibly important to the future of Utah Tech women’s soccer.”
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