CEDAR CITY, Utah - Back-to-back road games are in store for the Southern Utah women's basketball team this week. First up, the Thunderbirds will travel to St. George to face in-state rival Utah Tech on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. MT. Then, SUU heads to Riverside, California, to take on California Baptist on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. MT.

GAME INFO

Southern Utah vs. Utah Tech

    Date: Thursday, Jan. 18

    Tip-off: 7 p.m. MT

    Live Stream | Live Stats

Southern Utah vs. California Baptist

    Date: Saturday, Jan. 20

    Tip-off: 2 p.m. MT

    Live Stream | Live Stats

HEAD COACH TRACY MASON SAYS

"Utah Tech and Cal Baptist are two great teams that are going to push in transition and shoot the three. We've got to buy in to containing them and being a great team defensively, and on the other end we have to be consistent and execute better. We've had some unfortunate circumstances this year, but that's just part of the game. We have to work harder and smarter."

WAC STANDINGS

The Western Athletic Conference is different from most conferences when it comes to seeding its teams, as the standings factor in non-conference play into its rankings.

Southern Utah currently holds the eighth seed in the conference. 

This week the Thunderbirds will face the Trailblazers and Lancers, who rank fifth and second overall respectively.

WAC RESUME SEEDING SYSTEM WBB UPDATE (JAN. 8, 2024)

TOP T-BIRDS

• Megan Smith led the Thunderbirds and the Western Athletic Conference in many statistical categories before suffering a season ending injury against UTEP. Smith ranked first overall in the WAC in field goal percentage (.556) and blocked shots (1.73), while being the second highest scorer in the conference with 16.2 points per game. Smith was one of four players in the WAC to record 30 points in a game, as she delivered a 30 point performance against Alaska Fairbanks earlier this season.

• Senior guard Daylani Ballena has stepped up to lead the team, averaging 14.6 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.0 steals each contest.

• Freshman Ava Uhrich has emerged as a prominent scorer for SUU and is fresh off of setting a new career-high with 19 points against Stephen F. Austin. Uhrich averages 13.1 points per game and has scored in double-figures in 11 of her 14 appearances for the Thunderbirds. In addition, Uhrich pulls down a team-best 7.3 rebounds each game.

• Samantha Johnston contributes significantly for the T-Birds, recording a team-high 1.1 steals to go along with 7.7 points and 3.1 assists per contest.

LAST TIME OUT

Southern Utah vs. Stephen F. Austin

First Half

The Ladyjacks took a 9-0 lead to start the game. The Thunderbirds were able to weather the storm, as Daylani Ballena erupted for six early points to spark a 8-2 run that trimmed the 'Jacks lead to 11-8 with 5:21 left in the first quarter. A flurry of layups from Ashley Banks and Ava Uhrich allowed the Thunderbirds to stay within striking distance, 17-14, late in the quarter. Stephen F. Austin used a 5-0 stretch to take a 22-14 advantage heading into the second period of play.

The two teams traded buckets in the second frame. Uhrich caught fire for the T-Birds, pouring in eight of her 12 first half points as SUU outscored SFA 13-12 in the period. The Ladyjacks held a 34-27 lead at the break.

Second Half

Southern Utah shot 58.3 percent from the field in the third quarter, with Ballena leading the attack with seven points in the period. The Thunderbirds opened the period with an 8-7 stretch to get within six, 41-35, with 7:05 on the clock. That was as close as the T-Birds would get, as the Ladyjacks would close the quarter with a 13-7 run to go up 54-42 approaching the fourth quarter.

The Thunderbirds relied on a balanced scoring effort in the final period. Four T-Birds connected on a field goal to fuel the team's offense, but it wasn't enough as the Ladyjacks would go on to claim a 68-53 victory.

SCOUTING REPORT: UTAH TECH TRAILBLAZERS

• Utah Tech is currently 8-8 on the season with a 2-3 effort in Western Athletic Conference play.

• The Trailblazers average 74.9 points per game, while limiting their opponents to only 69.3 points.

• Maddie Warren (15.2 ppg) leads four Trailblazers in double figure scoring.

• Breaunna Gillen leads the team in rebounds (6.7) and assists (4.9). 

SCOUTING REPORT: CALIFORNIA BAPTIST LANCERS

• The Lancers own a 13-2 record, including a 5-1 mark in WAC play.

• CBU scores 77.5 points each contest, while holding its opponents to 69.1 points.

• Chloe Webb highlights the attack for California Baptist, leading the squad in points (20.4), rebounds (7.9), assists (3.2), and steals (2.9) each game.

HISTORY

• Southern Utah is 4-0 all-time against Utah Tech.

• The Thunderbirds have a 2-1 record against the Lancers.

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