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STEPHENVILLE – In a matchup of two regional playoff teams from last year, Tarleton State will host St. Mary's Tuesday night at 6 p.m. in Wisdom Gym to begin the 20th year of TexAnn basketball in the NCAA.
 
AT A GLANCE
Game Time: 6 p.m. CST
Records: Tarleton State TexAnns, 0-0 (0-0 LSC); St. Mary's Rattlers, 2-0 (0-0 LSC)
Game Coverage: Live Stats and Video will be available by clicking on the appropriate icon at the top right corner of TarletonSports.com or by visiting the Women's Basketball Schedule at TarletonSports.com.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Tarleton and St. Mary's have met annually since the start of the decade with the TexAnns winning two of three since 2010. The series began in 1986 and saw just three meetings prior to Tarleton joining the NCAA. Since 2000, however, the teams have met 10 total times. The Rattlers own the all-time series 10-3 and Tarleton is 2-3 all-time against them since Ronnie Hearne took over the program in 2003.
 
PRESEASON AWARDS
After back-to-back seasons as the preseason favorites, Tarleton was picked to finish third in the annual preseason rankings by the Lone Star Conference in 2013-14. The team received 188 total votes, placing them two shy of second place. They also received three first-place votes. Kiara Wright dominated the LSC Preseason Player of the Year vote, earning 18 of 25 total votes. Wright is the second TexAnn in school history to be named the conference Preseason Player of the Year, joining Shelby Adamson in 2011.
 
TARLETON IN HOME OPENERS
Tarleton is 28-6 in home openers since 1979, including wins in 18 consecutive. Tarleton has not lost the season's first game at Wisdom Gym since its NCAA inaugural season of 1994. This is the second time Tarleton has hosted St. Mary's in a home opener, earning a 70-65 win to begin the 2011-12 home schedule.
 
WELCOME BACK, KIARA
Tarleton senior Kiara Wright is back for her final season with the TexAnns after putting together, arguably, the greatest individual season in Tarleton's history. After averaging 18.6 points and 14.0 rebounds - which led the nation - she was named a first-team Daktronics All-American, a WBCA All-American, South Central Regional Player of the Year, first-team all-region, LSC Player and Co-Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference. She also recorded four 30-point games, five 20-rebound games and the first two 20-20 games in Tarleton's NCAA history.
 
MILESTONE WATCH
With 14 points, Kiara Wright will pass Kristen Curtis for 18th on the school's all-time scoring list and with 17 rebounds, she will pass Kaelie Butler for fourth on the school's all-time list.
 
SCOUTING THE RATTLERS
St. Mary's is the reigning Heartland Conference Champions and has started out strong this season, going 2-0 last Friday and Saturday at their home tournament. They defeated Texas A&M-Kingsville by eight in the season opener before handing Angelo State a 51-40 loss Saturday. They are led by Jackie Woods and Morgan Pullins with 20 and 14 points per game, respectively. The Rattler duo is shooting a combined .510 (26-51) from the floor and .400 (6-15) from the 3-point line. Pullins is also averaging 14.5 rebounds per game.
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
Tarleton will host its first annual TexAnn Tip-Off Classic this weekend, beginning a second straight game against an NCAA regional playoff opponent from last year. The TexAnns host Fort Lewis at 5 p.m. Friday night and Lubbock Christian at 5 p.m. Saturday in Wisdom Gym.