WBB: Ups and Downs, Torn ACL's and So Much More for Utah Tech Women in 2023-24
Utah Tech finished the transition with a bang, and looks ahead to their first full year of NCAA Division I membership, and March Madness eligibility
Resilient.
Oxford Dictionary defines this adjective as the quality of being able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions or situations.
In 2023-24, the Utah Tech women’s basketball team showed that trait in abundance.
The Trailblazers battled injuries to post a fourth place regular season finish with 18 total wins, and a WAC tournament quarterfinals appearance.
What injuries, you may ask?
Well, true freshman Kastyn Young suffered a torn hip labrum before the season even began.
Emily Isaacson suffered a torn ACL just three games into the season.
Macie Warren suffered a second ACL tear to end her season prematurely.
Madie Warren suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the regular season finale against SFA, forcing Warren to miss the WAC Tournament quarterfinal against UT Arlington.
And to top if off…Amber Kartchner never stepped on the floor for the Trailblazers in 2023-24 after starting all 31 games in 2022-23.
Along with the season-ending injuries, WAC Preseason Player of the Year Breaunna Gillen also missed time due to a concussion.
So, to finish fourth place in a rather loaded Western Athletic Conference was pretty remarkable for JD Gustin’s team.
The Trailblazers recorded the first win over a Power Conference opponent in program history with a 92-86 victory over Oregon on December 19 as part of the Trailblazer Classic.
It spoiled the return home for Ducks coach Kelly Graves who attended Dixie High School, just 1.5 miles from Burns Arena.
In conference play, the Trailblazers recorded season sweeps against UT Arlington, who beat them in Las Vegas, and defending champion Southern Utah.
Utah Tech also got a Senior Day win against Stephen F. Austin to preserve a first round tournament bye.
Utah Tech’s active players missed a total of 88 games last season as a result of injuries.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Trailblazers coach JD Gustin said in Las Vegas at the WAC tournament. “We had big game after big game despite everything going on, and got wins that maybe we weren’t supposed to get along the way. It was a season I’ll never forget, and the best leadership in my 25 years of coaching.”
While the Trailblazers get Emily Isaacson back for one more campaign, Breaunna Gillen and Maggie McCord both finished their careers as Trailblazers in 2023-2024.
Gillen was a First Team All-WAC selection at season’s end while Maddie Warren earned All-WAC Second Team honors.
“It felt like a reoccurring nightmare,” said Gillen with regards to the injuries. “But whoever was out there gave everything they had, and that’s all I asked of myself and our team.”
Gillen finished her career first in four different Trailblazer categories including: points, assists, games played and started, along with field goals made and attempted.
Gillen was also in the top-5 in three other categories, and top-10 in three others while setting the school’s overall career scoring mark between both men’s and women’s teams.
Meanwhile, McCord was second in three career categories including games played, total 3-pointers made and attempted, and 3-point percentage. McCord was fourth in total rebounding and in the top-10 in three other categories.
“In a couple of years I hope to see a 15 and 20 hanging from the rafters,” Calyn Dallas said of her upperclassman leaders. “I’m just super thankful for the time I’ve gotten with them and I strive to be like them.”
According to JD Gustin, Maggie McCord is working to become a police officer in the Nashville, Tennessee area, and Breaunna Gillen has chosen to forego playing in Europe to become a Nurse Practitioner.
“We aren’t trying to replace them,” Gustin said. “You can’t replace them. We just hope others have learned from them….they set the bar high at Utah Tech.”
Over the past two seasons, Gillen, McCord, and Isaacson along with the Warren twins, have helped Utah Tech win 19 games in 2022-23, and 18 games in 2023-24.
Now, that Utah Tech is a full Division I member, the Trailblazers hope to push that win total even higher.