The Teams: Tarleton Texans (4-2, 0-0 WAC) vs. Arlington Baptist Patriots (2-8, 0-0 NCCAA)
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

• The Texans are hosting their annual Toys for Kids Game, in which fans will receive free admission if they bring a new, unwrapped toy for donation. Tarleton students who bring a new, unwrapped toy for donation will receive a promo code for 1,000 Tarleton Sports Fan Rewards points, presented by National Farm Life.
• This is the seventh meeting between these two programs, all since 2013. The Texans are 6-0 against the Patriots, with an average margin of victory of 39.7 points.
• The Patriots have started 2-8 with an active losing streak of six games. They've scored 557 points and given up 900 points, a difference of -343 (-34.3 points per game difference). They've lost by 50+ points four times, 30+ five times, including a 91-point loss to Stephen F. Austin.
• Last season the Patriots went 23-3 with a 12-2 conference record.

 
QUICK HITS

• In the last game, the Texans had their four-game winning streak snapped, losing just their first game since Nov. 10.
• With a win against ABU, the Texans will begin the season 5-2 for the third time in four seasons. After starting 5-2 in 2018-19 and 2019-20, the Texans went 22-9 and 21-8, respectively. The worst record the Texans have ever had after starting 5-2 is 16-12 (2008-09).
• The Texans have the fifth best record in the WAC at 4-2, just one game back of Nos. 2, 3 and 4.
• Tarleton leads the WAC in rebounds per game (44.3) and blocks per game (6.0).
• For the first time this season and for the second time in two seasons, the Texans lost a game despite outrebounding their opponents. They were 4-0 when outrebounding opponents prior.
• Opponents are averaging just 59.7 points on 33.6 percent shooting this season, including a 27.5 percent clip from downtown. The 33.6 opponent field goal percentage is the lowest in the WAC.
• Malaya Kendrick is doing it all for Tarleton this season, averaging 8.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals. She's one of five players in the conference with 5+ RPG and 3+ APG.
• Seynabou Thiam is averaging the most blocks in the WAC at 2.2 BPG. Her mark would be tied-34th best in all of NCAA Division I, if not for Tarleton's reclassification period.
• The Texans have had the same starting lineup in four straight games, going 3-1 with the group.

 
WHO'S HOT

• Malaya Kendrick – Kendrick led the team in scoring in the last game for the first time with 11 points (5-of-8 FG). She's averaging 8.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals. For context, the last Texan to average 8+ rebounds in a season, yet alone a PG, was Mackenzie Hailey in 2016-17.
• Seynabou Thiam – Thiam leads the WAC in total blocks (13) and blocks per game (2.2). Through six games, her 13 blocks would already be the third most a Texan had in 2020-21 in 25 games. The next closest player to her BPG mark is at 1.6 BPG (Lamar's Nj Weems).
• Jurnee President – Over her last two games, President has made 5-of-6 from downtown, boosting her team-best season three-point percentage to 42.1. That's the 13th best mark in the WAC this season.

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
44: The Texans are averaging 44.3 REBOUNDS PER GAME through six games. They've secured 40+ rebounds in each of their last five games, their longest such stretch since Jan. 26-Feb. 13, 2013. Tarleton leads the WAC at that 44.3 RPG mark.
 
6: The Texans are averaging 6.0 BLOCKS per game, the highest mark in the WAC. They've racked up at least five blocks in five of their six games. At the moment, they're averaging more than double what they averaged last season (2.9 BPG).
 
34: The Texans are forcing their opponents to a 33.6 FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE, the best mark in the WAC. It'd be the 29th best mark in NCAA Division I, if not for reclassification. Over the past four games, Tarleton opponents have made just 73-of-243 (.300) shots.
 
30: The Texans have beaten the Patriots by 30 POINTS or more in each of the last three meetings, and four times of the six meetings. Their largest win against Arlington Baptist was in 2013, in which they won by 68 (104-36).
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
The Texans will have yet another week off in-between games, not scheduled to play until the following Saturday, Dec. 11, at Weber State. The game will be played in Ogden, Utah, at the Dee Events Center. The Wildcats are 2-4 this season, losers of two straight. Those two losses were both of the single-digit variety, however, on the road at UC Davis and at Northern Arizona. The Texans and Wildcats have never matched up before.