OREM, Utah — Utah Valley University got within striking distance late, but Utah Tech University thwarted any hopes of a comeback in a 73-59 contest in the Old Hammer Rivalry on Saturday in the UCCU Center.
 
The Wolverines (3-4, 0-2) trailed by 14 after three and closed to within five in the fourth, but the Trailblazers (5-2, 1-0) recovered from a slow start to make 14 shots from beyond the arc over the final three quarters en route to the conference win.
 
Kylee Mabry had a career-high 17 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals while Kaylee Byon finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists for UVU. Maddie Warren led all scorers with 19 points and also pulled down eight rebounds as she and her sister, Macie, combined for 17 fourth-quarter points for Utah Tech. Macie Warren finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds, scoring nine of her 12 in the final quarter of play.
 
Jenna Dick spurred an early run in the fourth for Utah Valley. She buried her first three on the opening possession of the fourth and, after a jumper from Byon, hit another triple to put eight quick points on the board two minutes into the fourth to make it 50-44. Mabry later cut it to five, 56-51, with two free throws.
 
The Wolverines trailed by seven, 62-55, when Macie Warren hit a big 3-pointer to push the lead back to 10 with 2:29 remaining. Byon made a corner three with 1:27 left but that was answered with another Warren three from the top of the circle to make it 68-58 with under one minute to go.
 
After missing its first 11 shots from beyond the arc, Utah Tech had a stretch during the middle quarters of nine makes in 15 attempts from three to build a double-digit lead in the third. The Trailblazers made 4-for-8 from three in the third and outscored Utah Valley 24-12 to take control of the game.
 
The Wolverines limited their first-half turnovers to just five but had four more in the first three minutes of the third. That, combined with Utah Tech's accuracy from the field doomed Utah Valley. The Trailblazers scored the first 11 points of the third and, after Liana Kaitu'u scored for UVU to stop the run, got another 3-pointer to take a 40-26 lead. UTU hit five of its first seven attempts from three to start the third.
 
Utah Tech shot 37.9% for the game (22-for-58), but after a 1-for-16 opening quarter—which included 0-for-11 from three—the Trailblazers hit 50% (21-for-42) over the final three quarters. The Wolverines were 5-for-11 from the floor and got four points from Tessa Chaney off the bench in the first to take an 11-6 lead after one.
 
The Trailblazers scored seven straight to start the second, with a Calyn Dallas three giving UTU its first lead, 13-11, early in the second. UVU got to the line with Amanda Barcello and Halle Nelson both knocking down two from the line, but eight straight points by the Trailblazers was extended to an 11-2 spurt and a 24-17 lead for the visitors. The Wolverines closed the half with seven of the final nine points to close within two, 26-24, at the break.
 
Nelson finished with seven rebounds and a career-high three blocks for UVU while Breaunna Gillen scored 13 points and dished out eight assists for UTU. Utah Valley finished 21-for-50 (42%) from the field and both teams turned the ball over 13 times. The Wolverines got 44 of their 59 points from the bench.
 
Utah Valley will now head to Pocatello for a non-conference at Idaho State next Wednesday before returning to the UCCU Center to host Utah State on Saturday, Dec. 9. The Wolverine wonʻt resume WAC play until January.