The Teams: Tarleton Texans (6-5, 0-0 WAC) vs. Abilene Christian Wildcats (6-5, 0-0 WAC)
Where: Stephenville, Texas
Arena: Wisdom Gym
Day and Time: Thursday at 5 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network (Jimmy Christopher)
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the 50th all-time meeting between these two programs, although just the third over the past 10 seasons. They played twice last season, splitting the pair. The road team won each game.
• ACU has won two of the last three in the series after Tarleton won eight straight from 2009-12.
• Like Tarleton, ACU is also 6-5. They are undefeated at home (5-0) and winless on the road (0-4).
• ACU is on a season-long two-game winning streak following a season-long two-game slide. They beat Nicholls and McMurry by a combined 70 points.

 
QUICK HITS

• The Texans are 5-0 at home to start the season for the first time since 2013-14. They started that year 9-0 inside Wisdom Gym.
• Tarleton has lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, both coming at the Puerto Rico Clasico. They nearly overtook the 8-2 Ball State Cardinals, falling in overtime 80-77. Then against the 9-3 Richmond Spiders, Tarleton was outscored 25-2 in the first quarter, but came back to get within eight late, falling 55-43.
• The Texans are done with non-conference play this year, finishing 6-5. Over the past two seasons in non-conference play, Tarleton went 14-8 (.636).
• Tarleton and ACU help the WAC open conference play Thursday, with 12 of 13 teams in action. The pair have the tied-fourth best overall record in the WAC, behind SFA, GCU and Utah Tech.
• A win for the Texans Thursday would be their first win in a conference opener since 2018-19.
• The Texans just scored a season-low 43 points on 26.6 percent shooting. Over the past two seasons, the Texans have shot under 30 percent four times. In their follow-up games, Tarleton went 4-0, averaging 71.0 points on 44.3 percent shooting (101-of-228).
• Tyler Jackson performed well against ACU last year. In the win, she had 16 points (6-10 FG, 4-6 3PT) and three assists, adding 10 points, three rebounds and two assists in the season finale.

 
WHO'S HOT

• Mayra Caicedo – Caicedo just posted eight points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Over her past two games, both at the Puerto Rico Clasico, she averaged 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals. She's tied-seventh in the WAC in assists per game at 3.7 (with Teresa Da Silva).
• Starr Omozee – Omozee just tied her season-high in scoring at six points on 3-of-3 shooting, adding four rebounds and a block in 19 minutes. Over her past four games she's posted 6.5 RPG, and is now second on the team in field goal percentage at .483.
• Nyajah Mitchels – Mitchels just led the Texans in rebounding in the last game with seven, adding six points. She had her top two rebounding games of the season both at the Puerto Rico Clasico, averaging 8.0 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 7.5 rebounds overall during the set.

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
26: Tarleton just forced 26 turnovers in their last game, their SECOND MOST FORCED IN A GAME this season. The Texans are fifth in the WAC in turnovers forced per game (19.0). Abilene Christian is ninth at 15.5 per.
 
3: On both ends of the court, the Texans are THIRD IN THE WAC IN THREE-POINT PERCENTAGE, shooting 31.6 percent from long range while forcing a 27.5 three-point percentage. ACU is ninth in three-point percentage (.283) but have the second most three-point makes in the conference (87).
 
6: Tarleton is one of six teams in THE WAC WITH A WINNING RECORD, owning the tied-fourth best at 6-5 along with ACU. In the latest WAC WBB RESUME SEEDING SYSTEM, Tarleton was sixth, while ACU was 10th.
 
8: Teresa Da Silva is in the TOP-EIGHT IN THE WAC in two major categories. She's fourth in scoring at 16.0 points per game, and tied-seventh in assists per game at 3.7.
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
The Texans will spend New Year's Eve at the metroplex for a bout with new WAC foe UT Arlington. The Texans and Lady Mavericks will square off on Saturday at 4 p.m. CT at College Park Center.