ST. GEORGE, Utah — Jaeden Brown scored a career-high 31 points, but Utah Valley fell at Utah Tech, 68-58, on Saturday in the Old Hammer Rivalry game between the in-state foes.
Brown followed up her 20-point, 20-rebound performance in Thursday's win over Grand Canyon by going 14-for-19 from the floor while also grabbing 10 rebounds for her third straight double-double.
Ally Criddle added 12 points for the Wolverines (4-9, 1-1) who saw their modest two-game win streak snapped in UTU's first-ever win over the UVU in the two programs' NCAA Division I era.
Utah Tech had four players score in double figures, led by 19 from Amber Kartchner. Emily Isaacson added 16 points and nine rebounds, Maggie McCord had 10 points and 10 boards, and Breaunna Gillen also scored 10 for the Trailblazers (9-4, 1-1). Utah Tech outrebounded Utah Valley 47-35 and had 14 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second chance points.
The Trailblazers — who entered the game in the top 10 in both 3-point attempts and makes in the country — hit five in the first quarter en route to an 18-8 lead after 10 minutes. UVU led 6-5 after Criddle hit a jumper but Utah Tech closed the quarter on a 13-2 run behind four of those makes from three.
Utah Tech scored five quick points to begin the second, including another 3-pointer from Isaacson, and eventually ran it to seven straight to build a 25-8 lead before
Kaylee Byon hit a jumper to snap the scoring drought for UVU. Byon had four points in the second, as did Brown, and the Wolverines trimmed what was a 28-10 deficit to nine, 30-21, late in the quarter. Gillen extended it back to 11 with a driving layup right before time expired and the Blazers led 32-21 at the break.
The 3-point shots continued to drop for Utah Tech in the third, with four makes — including two from McCord — in the first five minutes to make it 46-28, matching the biggest lead of the game to that point. Brown kept Utah Valley within striking distance, scoring the team's first 14 points of the quarter including a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:47 left. She and Byon hit consecutive buckets to make it 51-37 but just like before the half, Gillen scored right before time expired and the Blazers led 53-37 after three.
Down 55-37 early in the fourth, Brown converted a 3-point play and Criddle hit a three to get the Wolverines within 12, 55-43, with 7:25 to, but that was answered with Utah Tech's 12th make from three on a make from Averi Papa. Utah Valley would get no closer until Brown scored right before the final horn.
Brown scored 23 of her 31 points in the second half while posting the Wolverines' first 30-point game of the season. It was 11 points more than her previous career high, which was matched on Thursday against GCU. She averaged 25.5 points and 15.0 rebounds on 23-for-31 shooting for Utah Valley in the two games during the week. The 14 made field goals are the most from a UVU player since the 2009 season and Brown becomes just the second player to make at least 14 in a game along with All-American Robyn Fairbanks, who did it 11 times during her career.
UVU will play two home games in WAC play next week, with New Mexico State coming to the UCCU Center for a Wednesday contest that tips at 6 p.m. The Wolverines will also host California Baptist on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m.
