The Teams: Tarleton Texans (3-2, 0-0 WAC) at Western Illinois Leathernecks (1-4, 0-0 Summit)
Where: Macomb, Illinois
Arena: Western Hall
Day and Time: Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: Western Illinois Website
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network (Jimmy Christopher)
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the second meeting between these two programs. Both squads were 4-1 entering last year's matchup on Nov. 27, with Western Illinois prevailing in Stephenville 58-54.
• Western Illinois just snapped its nine-game losing streak with a 59-45 win at Chicago State on Nov. 21. The nine-game skid matched its longest losing streak since February-December of 2020.
• Western Illinois is allowing 74.4 points per game, 39th most in the nation out of 349 teams.
• The Leathernecks have one player averaging double figures -- Jada Thorpe is at 10.2 PPG.

 
QUICK HITS

• Tarleton is in search of its first road win of the season, 0-2 thus far, although both losses were at Power Five programs Vanderbilt and Nebraska. The Texans have finished .500+ on the road in three of their last four seasons.
• In last year's matchup, the Texans held Western Illinois to 29 points on 23.1 percent shooting through the first three quarters. This year Western Illinois is averaging 60.4 PPG on 35.0 percent shooting compared to Tarleton's 69.2 PPG on 42.8 percent shooting.
• In the last game, Tarleton came fairly close to upsetting Nebraska on the road, as the first three quarters were separated by four points or fewer. Tarleton trailed by just five with seven to play.
• Teresa Da Silva scored a career-high 24 points on 11-of-25 shooting at Nebraska, adding team-highs in assists (five) and steals (two), playing all 40 minutes. It was her second 20+ point game.
• Tarleton has gotten its scoring punch from Teresa Da Silva (15.4 PPG) and Tyler Jackson (11.8 PPG). Da Silva ranks sixth in the WAC in scoring, while Jackson is 19th.
• Game-over-game Tarleton got the free throw line 27 fewer times over their past two. On Nov. 18 vs. College of Charleston, Tarleton had 33 free throw attempts, their most in a game since 2020-21. At Nebraska, officials put them at the line just six times.
• Tarleton is one of four WAC teams with a winning record this year (GCU, SFA, Utah Tech).

 
WHO'S HOT

• Teresa Da Silva – Da Silva scored a career-high 24 points in the last game, playing in all 40 minutes. That's the most points scored by a Texan in a single-game in two seasons, when Marissa Escamilla dropped 24 points on Chicago State on Feb. 14, 2021.
• Tyler Jackson – Jackson just barely had her career-long seven-game streak of scoring in double figures snapped in the last game. She still had nine points on 3-of-7 shooting. This year, Jackson is at 11.8 PPG and 3.0 RPG in 27.8 MPG. Last year she averaged 4.8 PPG and 1.4 RPG in 17.6 MPG.
• Elise Turrubiates – Turrubiates has recorded at least one steal and block in each of the five games this season. She leads the team in total blocks (seven) and is third in total steals (eight). She's also shooting a team-high 52 percent from the field (13-of-25) and leads the team in rebounding (4.8 RPG).

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
70: The number 70 has been the mark to reach for Tarleton. They've scored 70+ in three of five games this year, resulting in three wins. When scoring 70+ points over the past two seasons, they've went 9-0, and they're 14-1 in the Division I era when SCORING 70+ POINTS IN A GAME.  
 
5: Tarleton is in the WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE TOP-FIVE in five major categories -- the Texans are fourth in scoring, fourth in steals, fourth in three-point percentage, fifth in field goal percentage and fifth in opposing field goal percentage.
 
2: Tarleton has two players IN THE TOP-10 IN ASSISTS PER GAME in the conference, with Mayra Caicedo and Teresa Da Silva each leading the team at 3.8 APG, tied-eighth in the WAC. Tarleton is one of three teams with two players in the top-10.
 
12: Tarleton has been more of a second half team through five games. In second halves, the Texans have averaged 40.6 points, compared to 28.6 points in first halves, a difference of 12 points on average SECOND HALF OVER FIRST HALF.
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
The Texans will ramp game action up more regularly starting with their next one, vs. Weber State on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. CT at Wisdom Gym. It's Ugly Christmas Sweater Night at the game, so fans are encouraged their most obnoxious, over-the-top ugly Christmas sweaters they own.