The Teams: Tarleton Texans (16-12, 8-9 WAC) vs. Abilene Christian Wildcats (16-12, 8-9 WAC)
Where: Stephenville, Texas
Arena: Wisdom Gym
Day and Time: Saturday, 2 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network (Kyle Crews)
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• Tarleton has won nine of their last 10 games against Abilene Christian, dating back to 2009. The Texans won the first matchup this season on Feb. 12, 73-67.
• This rivalry goes back to 1978. This is the 49th game between these two programs.
• In the first meeting, Tyler Jackson led with 16 points (6-10 FG, 4-6 3PT). Seynabou Thiam achieved a double-double (11 points, 4-4 FG, 13 rebounds, four blocks).
• ACU has a season-long losing streak going at three straight games, all by double-digits.

 
QUICK HITS

• This is the regular season finale for both teams. They enter Saturday with identical records, both 16-12 overall, both 8-9 in Western Athletic Conference play. They are tied-sixth in the WAC. Depending on tiebreakers, these teams could finish anywhere from Nos. 4-9.
• Although Tarleton is not eligible for the WAC Tournament or NCAA Tournament, they could play in other postseason tournaments, if invited.
• The Texans are honoring six seniors Saturday for Senior Day; Lucy Benson, Emily Cunningham, Marissa Escamilla, Kaitlyn Guillory, Malaya Kendrick and Jurnee President. They've combined for 403 games played, 215 starts, 2,189 points, 1,508 rebounds and 460 assists at Tarleton.
• The Texans have won consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 13-22 (three straight).
• Tarleton has already locked up their first winning season since reclassifying to NCAA Division I. With a win Saturday, they'd finish five games above .500, the fourth time in the last five years they'd finish 5+ games above .500, the 15th time in the last 18 years. Before that stretch that began in 2004-05, the Texans hadn't had a winning season in 10 straight years.
• Tarleton has the largest improvement of wins year-over-year in the WAC, now at eight. The next closest is UTRGV with a five-win improvement thus far year-over-year. Dixie State is not considered since they played three games last season.

 
WHO'S HOT

• Lucy Benson – Benson just scored a career-high 17 points, earning her second career double-double with 10 boards and four steals. Out of her 144 career games played, a Texan record, she has gone for her first double-doubles in two of the last four games.
• Iyana Dorsey – Dorsey made her return, her first game since Feb. 16, totaling 16 points (4-6 FG), three assists and two steals in just 19 minutes. She leads the team in scoring at 10.5 PPG (24th in the WAC). In points per 40 minutes, she averages the seventh most in conference at 20.0.
• Malaya Kendrick – Kendrick did it all once again in the last game, posting 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting, four assists, three rebounds and two steals. In the WAC this season, she has the 24th most points (272), the ninth most rebounds (172), the tied-15th most assists (70) and the tied-22nd most steals (35).

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
5: If Western Athletic Conference coaches had one team misconstrued, it's Tarleton. The Texans sit five SPOTS AHEAD IN THE WAC STANDINGS from where they were picked to finish during the preseason, 11th. They have four more conference wins than predicted, seven more wins overall.
 
20: Tarleton beat their last opponent, Sam Houston, by 20 points. It marked their largest victory since beating Arlington Baptist by 81 on Dec. 4. It MATCHED THEIR LARGEST CONFERENCE WIN since joining the WAC, as they beat Chicago State 61-41 last season on Feb. 14.
 
50: The Texans have shot 50+ percent from the field in each of their last two games, both wins, making 52-of-101 (51.5) of their shots. They've shot 50+ percent five times this season, GOING 5-0 IN SUCH GAMES. They're 15-1 when outshooting opponents this year, 1-11 when outshot.
 
0: In Tarleton's last game, they didn't allow a three-point make, the second time this season their opponent finished with 0 THREE-POINT MAKES. Abilene Christian enters Saturday with the second most three-point makes in the WAC (268) and the second best 3PT% (.354).
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
Owning a winning record, the Texans are eligible for postseason play.