The Teams: Tarleton Texans (4-1, 0-0 WAC) vs. Western Illinois Leathernecks (4-1, 0-0 Summit)
Where: Stephenville, Texas
Arena: Wisdom Gymnasium
Day and Time: Saturday, 2 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network on 90.5 FM (Kyle Crews)
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the first ever meeting between these two programs.
• The Leathernecks have started 4-1, their best start since 2017-18 (5-1).
• Western Illinois has scored 100+ points in each of its last two games. It's the Leathernecks' first stretch of triple-digit scoring since 2013-14.
• This is Tarleton's first "D1 vs. D1" non-conference home game.
• Danni Nichols leads Western Illinois in scoring at 17.0 PPG.

 
QUICK HITS

• The Texans have won four straight and five of their last six games, dating back to last season. It's Tarleton's longest winning streak since Feb. 13-26, 2021, and its first five-out-of-six stretch since 2019-20. With a win against Western Illinois, the Texans will have their longest winning streak since Jan. 25-Feb 15, 2020 (seven straight).
• Tarleton won by double-digits against the undefeated College of Charleston Cougars in its last game despite 28 turnovers, allowing 22 offensive rebounds and being outshot by 28 FGA.
• Iyana Dorsey has led the team in scoring in each of the last two contests, bumping her season scoring average from 6.0 PPG to 12.0 PPG. She's scored 42 points over her last two.
• In the last game, Iyana Dorsey scored a career-high 23 points (7-15 FG, 4-9 3PT, 5-6 FT), to go with two rebounds and two steals in just 18 minutes. She had 18 points in the first half alone.
• Starting point guard Malaya Kendrick has led the Texans in rebounding in three of five games. Her 9.4 RPG is third best in the WAC. Only Utah Valley center Josie Williams (13.0 RPG) and California Baptist guard Georgia Dale (9.5 RPG) are averaging more.
• Seynabou Thiam added four more blocks to her yearly total. She has 12 blocks on the season, most in the WAC by three blocks, and is averaging the most in the conference at 2.4 BPG.
• Tarleton has the tied-highest winning percentage in the WAC thus far at .800, along with Stephen F. Austin. The Texans have the longest active winning streak in the WAC.
• The Texans are 4-0 this season when outrebounding opponents, 0-1 when getting outrebounded.

 
WHO'S HOT

• Iyana Dorsey – Dorsey has scored 42 points (21.0 PPG) over her last two games, including a career-high 23 points against Howard Payne. Over the two games she's made 12-of-23 (.522) field goals, 6-of-13 (.462) three-point field goals, and 12-of-14 (.857) free throws.
• Malaya Kendrick – In her last three games, Kendrick has tallied 5+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 1+ steals in each game. She's averaging 9.4 rebounds on the season, the third highest mark in the WAC. She's tied-10th in assists per game at 3.6 APG.
• Seynabou Thiam – Thiam has posted a multi-block performance in four of five games this season, twice swatting four shots in a game. She has the most blocks in the WAC at 12, averaging the most in the conference at 2.4 BPG. She's also averaging 4.8 rebounds per game, shooting 53.8 percent on shots.

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
45: The Texans are averaging 45.2 REBOUNDS PER GAME through five games. They've secured 40+ rebounds in each of their last four games, their longest such stretch since Jan. 24-Feb. 1, 2015. Tarleton is tied-first in the WAC at that 45.2 RPG mark.
 
6.2: The Texans are averaging 6.2 BLOCKS per game, tied for the highest mark in the WAC. They've racked up at least six blocks in four of their five games. At the moment, they're averaging more than double what they averaged last season (2.9 BPG).
 
53: In the last game, the Texans made 53.3 percent of their THREE-POINT SHOTS. It was their best clip in a game since Feb. 27, 2020, at Texas A&M International (55.6). They surpassed their season-high mark of 32.1 percent against Champion Christian on Nov. 13.
 
34: The Texans are forcing their opponents to a 33.5 FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE. Over the past three games, Tarleton opponents have made just 56-of-193 (.290) shots.
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
The Texans will have a week off before their next game, a home contest vs. Arlington Baptist on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. CT.