STEP RIGHT UP
    The TexAnns will head to Kingsville this weekend to take on the Javelinas in the second meeting between the two this season.  Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.  Tarleton is 20-2 and10-0 in the LSC, while TAMUK is at the other end of the spectrum with a 3-20 record and 1-10 in the conference.  The TexAnns are 8-1 on the road this year and 4-0 in road conference contests.

INTO THE RANKINGS
    Tarleton was ranked No. 19 in the most recent USA Today/ESPN NCAA Division II poll, in accordance with the American Basketball Coaches Association.  This marks the highest ranking for TexAnn program since moving to Division II.  The TexAnns were ranked No. 21 last week and have been in the Top 25 for the past six weeks.
    The TexAnns were also ranked No. 2 in the most recent South Central regional poll released Wednesday.  They trail only Northeastern State in the region.  This also marks the highest ever regional ranking in the program's history.

MAKING HISTORY
    The TexAnns clinched at least a share of the Lone Star Conference South Division title with their win over West Texas A&M on Feb. 16.  This marks the first time in program's history that Tarleton will at least get a part of the regular season title.
    With the win, the TexAnns also clinched a spot in the LSC tournament.  It marks the eighth straight season that Tarleton will be postseason-bound.

LEADING THE TEXANNS
    Leading the way offensively for Tarleton is Shelby Adamson, who averages 16.3 points, 3.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game.  Morgan Stehling follows with 10.5 points per game, while Brittnie Haley adds 8.8 points per game.
    Kiara Wright leads the TexAnns with 7.3 boards each contest, with Kelsey Benford chipping in 6.2 rebounds per game.

TEXANN SHOOTING
    Tarleton is averaging .431 from the floor, .317 from the three-point arc and .681 from the charity stripe.  In conference play, the TexAnns are shooting .452 from the floor, .319 from deep, and .678 from the line.

SHOOTING DEFENSE
    The TexAnns are holding opponents to .379 from the field, .324 from behind the arc and .630 from the line.

OUTING THE OPPONENTS
    Tarleton is outscoring foes 73.5 to 58.7 and outrebounding them 37.3 to 35.0 this season.

NOW ON SPECIAL
    The TexAnns are 10-0 in the LSC South Division this year.  They need just one more win to tie the record for conference wins in school history, set in 2005-06 when Hearne's team went 11-3.

VETERAN LEADERSHIP
    Tarleton junior guard was named LSC Defensive Player of the Week this week for the third time this season.  
    Adamson played a major role in the TexAnns' two win last week, guarding both Incarnate Word and Eastern New Mexico's dangerous point guards. Adamson held the two players to a combined 1-for-12 in the two games, while helping Tarleton hold opponents to just 36.6 percent from the field and 60 points on average. She also chipped in 10.5 points per game and eight assists over the two-game stretch. Her defensive prowess is a big reason the TexAnns are 20-2 on the year.
    She joins Wright as a three-time POW, while Kelsey Benford has been named twice this season.

IN THE CONFERENCE
    The TexAnns are No. 2 in the Lone Star Conference in scoring defense (58.8) behind Northeastern State (54.4).  The TexAnns are No. 1 in the LSC in scoring margin (+14.8) and are No. 3 in the league in scoring offense (73.5) behind Central Oklahoma (75.8).
    Tarleton is No. 1 in turnover margin (+5.59) after being No. 1 with 9.7 steals per game.  The TexAnns are No. 3 in assist/turnover ratio (0.9).
    The TexAnns are also No. 1 in offensive rebound percentage (.376), and No. 5 in blocks (3.3).

INDIVIDUALS IN THE LSC
    Shelby Adamson is No. 7 in the Lone Star Conference in scoring (16.3) while Kiara Wright is tied at No. 9 in rebounding (7.3) and Kelsey Benford is No. 17 (6.2).
    Adamson is tied at No. 1 in steals per game (2.3) and No. 6 in assists (3.9), while Sonya Sundberg is No. 1 in assist/turnover ratio (2.0) and No. 8 in assists (3.6).  Benford is also No. 4 in blocks per game (1.5).  

SCOUTING THE JAVELINAS
    A&M-Kingsville is just 3-20 on the year and losers of their last six games.  The Javelinas have also lost 13 of their last 14 contests.  TAMUK is 1-10 in the LSC South and just 1-4 at home in those games.
    Overall, the Javelinas are shooting 36.3 percent from the floor, 30.8 percent from behind the arc, and 67.7 percent from the charity stripe.  They average 58.9 points per game, a full 14.6 points lower than Tarleton.
    Novella Thomas leads TAMUK with 10.4 points per game, followed by Chelsea Solis with 9.2 points each contest.  Victoria Gonzalez leads the Javelinas with 9.3 rebounds per game, to go along with 8.6 points.

TAMUK IN THE LSC
    TAMUK is towards the bottom in the majority of the statistical categories, including last in scoring offense (58.9) and No. 15 in scoring margin (-12.7).
    The Javelinas do however lead the conference in blocked shots, with over 3.7 blocks per game and 85 total on the season.
    Individually, Gonzalez is third in the LSC with 9.3 boards per game and No. 8 in field goal percentage (.493).

ALL-TIME SERIES
    TAMUK leads the all-time series 18 games to Tarleton's 14, but it is the TexAnns that won the earlier contest this season, 81-61 in Stephenville.
    Tarleton has also won 11 of the last 13 meetings between the two.

WINNING SEASONS
    The TexAnns have clinched another winning season with the success of the 2010-11 team.  Tarleton has recorded seven straight winning seasons - all under head coach Ronnie Hearne.  Hearne and the TexAnns went 15-15 in his first season at the helm, giving him eight consecutive non-losing seasons as head coach of the TexAnn program.
    Last year, the TexAnns claimed Hearne's first 20-win season, finishing 23-7 overall.  This season, Tarleton has done that yet again with their 20th win coming on Feb. 16 in a double-overtime game with West Texas A&M.

POSTSEASON DREAMS
    The TexAnns have made the last seven Lone Star Conference Championship Tournaments, and this year's team just recently clinched the eighth trip in as many seasons.  With Tarleton's win over the Lady Buffs, they secured at least a share of the regular season South Division title and in turn, a trip to the LSC tournament in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on March 2.
    Last season, the TexAnns secured the program's first postseason victory in NCAA Division II with a 71-66 win over Texas Woman's in the first round.  Tarleton lost to Northeastern State in the semifinals, 74-62.
    Tarleton has made two NCAA Division II South Central Region appearances, 2006 and 2010.  The TexAnns are looking not only to return to the regional in 2011, but they want to win once they get there – which would be another first in the program's history.
    Last year, the TexAnns were defeated by eventual national champion Emporia State in the opening round of the regional tournament, 90-71.

ON AIR
Saturday's game can be seen by all Tarleton fans through the Live Video Showcase.  Texan fans can turn on the radio broadcast and listen to KSTV 93.1 FM.

Fans can also follow along with the live stats, courtesy of A&M-Kingsville's website.