ST. GEORGE, Utah (Interstat) — In a tense Western Athletic Conference rematch defined by defensive stands and a decisive final push, the California Baptist women’s basketball team held off a persistent Utah Tech squad for a 67-61 victory on Thursday night at Burns Arena.

The Lancers, who had defeated the Trailblazers by eight points just two weeks prior, improved to 12-8 overall and 3-2 in WAC play. Utah Tech, despite a game-high 23 points from dynamic guard Kaylee Borden, fell to 6-11 and 1-4 in the conference.

The most critical phase of the contest unfolded in the fourth quarter. California Baptist entered the final period clinging to a precarious 45-48 deficit, having been outscored 15-14 in the third. The Lancers immediately unleashed a 12-3 run to start the quarter, seizing control with a combination of stifling defense and timely shooting.

The surge began with an Emma Johansson putback and was quickly followed by a three-pointer from Sofia Alonso. After a Johansson block led to a transition opportunity, Khloe Lemon drilled another three-pointer, giving the Lancers a 56-51 lead with 8:28 remaining. Alonso capped the run with a layup, forcing a Utah Tech timeout as the California Baptist advantage grew to 58-51.

Utah Tech, led by Borden’s relentless scoring, refused to fade. The Trailblazers chipped away, closing the gap to 59-57 on a Lauren Crocker layup with 4:22 left. The game then descended into a gritty, possession-by-possession battle over the next two minutes, with both teams struggling to score.

The Lancers finally broke the drought when Grace Schmidt tipped in a missed shot to extend the lead to 61-57 with 5:38 to play, a margin that felt significant in the low-scoring affair. Utah Tech managed only four more points the rest of the way, all from the free-throw line, as the California Baptist defense locked down. The Trailblazers missed their final five field goal attempts, including three three-point tries in the last 30 seconds while trailing by two possessions.

California Baptist’s victory was a balanced effort. Khloe Lemon scored 16 points, including two crucial free throws with 12 seconds left to ice the game. Emma Johansson was a force inside, contributing 15 points, four blocked shots and several key rebounds. Lauren Olsen added 14 points, and Sofia Alonso provided a vital spark off the bench with nine points, all in the second half.

For Utah Tech, Borden’s 23-point performance came on 9-of-22 shooting, and she added four assists. Paige Cofer scored 11 points, and Lauren Crocker finished with nine points and nine rebounds. The Trailblazers were hampered by 19 turnovers, which the Lancers converted into 18 points.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring eight lead changes. Utah Tech led 16-14 after one quarter and took a 33-31 lead into halftime, thanks largely to Borden’s 13 first-half points. California Baptist stayed close through the interior presence of Johansson and Schmidt, setting the stage for the pivotal fourth-quarter rally.

The Lancers’ defense was particularly effective in containing Utah Tech’s offense down the stretch, holding the Trailblazers to 13 points in the fourth quarter on 4-of-15 shooting. California Baptist also won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Utah Tech 42-35, with 15 of those rebounds coming on the offensive end leading to 13 second-chance points.

California Baptist now travels to face Utah Valley on Saturday. Utah Tech will head to Cedar City for a matchup with Southern Utah, also on Saturday.