California Baptist University
Utah Tech
WBB Preview: CBU Heads to the Beehive State for First Conference Road Trip
1/7/2026 9:42:00 AM | Women's Basketball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University women's basketball team will look to remain perfect in conference play this week as they travel to the Beehive State to take on the Utah Tech Trailblazers and the Southern Utah Thunderbirds.
The Lancers enter the week a perfect 3-0 in the Western Athletic Conference standings after sweeping its three-game homestand against Utah Valley, UT Arlington, and Tarleton State last week in the Fowler Events Center.
The first game of the week will be on Thursday evening as they compete against the Utah Tech Trailblazers at Burns Arena. The Trailblazers dropped both of their conference openers last week against two of the top teams in the conference, Abilene Christian and Southern Utah. Uta Tech is currently 5-7 overall this season and is being led by Head Coach JD Gustin, who is coaching his 10th season in St. George. Coach Gustin has entrusted the reins of his offense to Nevada transfer Kaylee Borden, who is currently third in the WAC in scoring at over 15 per contest and has scored 20+ points in four games this season already.
The final game of the week will potentially be a battle of unbeatens in conference play as the Lancers venture to Cedar City, Utah, to take on the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds currently hold the best overall record in the WAC at 10-4 and opened conference play with a perfect 2-0 record, winning against Utah Tech and UT Arlington. SUU will host Utah Valley before the Lancers come to town for the Saturday showdown. Southern Utah is being led by true sophomore Sierra Chambers, who is second in the conference in scoring at 16 per game and scored a career-best 28 points this season in a win over New Mexico State.
The Thunderbirds boast a top-ranked offense and rebounding team this season. SUU is in the top 50 in the NCAA in rebound margin, defensive rebounds, offensive rebounds, and total rebounding. Offensively, the Thunderbirds are 42nd in the NCAA in scoring offense and #1 in the WAC at 77 points per contest, and are also top 15 in the country in free throws made per game at over 16 per contest.
Coming off a 3-0 week, the Lancers will look to continue their early conference success led by their perimeter success and prowess on the glass. CBU is 9th in the NCAA in three-point attempts per game at nearly 30 per contest and is also 36th in the country in makes at almost nine per game. Last week, the Lancers poured in 37 triples in three wins, including knocking down a season-high 15 triples in the wins over Utah Valley and Tarleton State. CBU is also a top-ranked rebounding squad in the country this season, ranking 10th in the NCAA in defensive rebounding (31.1 per game) and 34th in total rebounding (42.56 per game).
A large part of CBU's opening week success was the play of freshman Lauren Olsen, who swept the WAC weekly awards as the Player/Newcomer of the Week. Olsen scored over 20 points in all three victories, including 23 points against UT Arlington. The Douglas, Wyoming native, shot well over 50% from the field and the perimeter during the week and is fourth in the conference in scoring at over 15 per contest.
MATCHUP INFO:
GAME 1: at Utah Tech
WHEN: Thursday, January 8 at 6 PM PT
WHERE: St. George, Utah- Burns Arena
WATCH: ESPN+
GAME 2: at Southern Utah
WHEN: Saturday, January 10 at 1 PM PT
WHERE: Cedar City, UT- America First Events Center
WATCH: ESPN+
