The Teams: Tarleton Texans (7-12, 1-7 WAC) at Southern Utah Thunderbirds (11-7, 7-0 WAC)
Where: Cedar City, Utah
Arena: America First Event Center
Day and Time: Saturday at 3 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network (Jimmy Christopher)
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the first all-time meeting between these two programs.
• Southern Utah is the lone remaining WAC team undefeated in conference play at 7-0. The Thunderbirds hold a one-game advantage in the standings over Stephen F. Austin.
• Southern Utah has won seven straight and eight of their last nine. They're on their longest regular season winning streak since 2014, and their longest win streak overall since 2010.
• Cherita Daugherty leads SUU in scoring at 14.8 PPG; Lizzy Williamson averages a double-double at 10.5 PPG and 10.7 RPG.

 
QUICK HITS

• Tarleton has lost three straight and nine of their last 10, including five straight road games. It's their longest road losing skid since opening their D1 era with six straight road losses in 2020-21.
• The Texans allowed just four points in the third quarter by Utah Tech in the last game, forcing eight turnovers, a 2-of-10 clip from the field and zero three-point makes. It was the tied-fewest points Tarleton has allowed in a quarter this year, matching four in the fourth by Arlington Baptist in the season opener on Nov. 9.
• Nyajah Mitchels scored a team-high 12 points in the last game, her sixth 10+ point game of the year, her first since Jan. 7. She's had eight career such games in her two years at Tarleton.
• Tarleton's Teresa Da Silva and Southern Utah's Cherita Daugherty are two of five players in the WAC this season with five or more 20+ point games. Both are tied-third with five each. Da Silva is eighth in the WAC in scoring average at 14.4 PPG, while Daugherty is sixth at 14.8 PPG.
• The Texans allow the sixth fewest points per game in the conference at 66.7 PPG. They're also sixth in the WAC in turnovers forced per game at 18.7.
• Mayra Caicedo is tied-seventh in the WAC in assists per game at 3.9. No Texan has finished a season with that high of an average since Morgan Ashmore had 4.1 APG in 2012-13.
• Tarleton committed eight fouls in the last game, their fewest since Jan. 22, 2022, at Seattle U (seven).
• First halves have foreshadowed outcomes; Tarleton is 6-1 when leading at half, 1-11 when behind.

 
WHO'S HOT

• Nyajah Mitchels – In the last game, Mitchels had a team-high 12 points (5-11 FG), adding three rebounds. She owns the best shooting percentage on the team at 52.0 percent, currently the highest mark by a Texan in their D1 era. Among WAC players with 30+ FGA, she's 13th in FG%.
• Teresa Da Silva – Da Silva just logged her 14th double-digit scoring game of the year in her 19th game played. She's top-two on the team in scoring (14.4 PPG), rebounding (3.9 RPG), assists (2.9 APG), steals (1.3 SPG) and blocks (0.5 BPG). She also leads the team in 3PT% at .387 (min. 15 3PA).
• Jenna Dick – Dick just drilled three three-point makes in the last game, her most since making three against Ball State on Dec. 19. In her D1 career, Dick is exactly a 40.0 percent three-point shooter, making 182-of-455 across her two seasons at Tarleton and two years at Eastern Washington.

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
7: In Tarleton's last game, officials sent the TEXANS AND TRAILBLAZERS TO THE FREE THROW LINE just a combined seven times. Tarleton made 2-of-3, their fewest FTM in a game since Jan. 22, 2022, at Seattle U (two), and their fewest FTA since Nov. 22, 2016, at St. Mary's (two).
 
4: Sitting at 274 points this year with 10 games left, Teresa Da Silva needs four more to match the MOST SCORED BY A TEXAN ALL OF LAST SEASON (Malaya Kendrick at 278). She's at 14.4 PPG. The last Texan to finish with a scoring average that high was Mackenzie Hailey in 2019-20 (16.0 PPG).
 
3: Tarleton is in the middle of a three-game stretch facing the top-three RANKED TEAMS ATOP THE WAC WBB RESUME SEEDING SYSTEM. They just played No. 3 Utah Tech, they'll play No. 2 Southern Utah on Saturday and then No. 1 Stephen F. Austin this upcoming Thursday.
 
17: Whether on the winning side or losing end, Tarleton has had very few close games either way this season. In fact, 17 of their 19 games have been DECIDED BY DOUBLE FIGURES, with 14 of those 17 decided by 15+ points.
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
Tarleton will be back at home for two games starting on Purple Thursday against Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m. CT. The Texans will give away 500 free T-shirts for fans in the bottom section of Wisdom Gym. Fans must be sitting in the bottom section to receive a shirt.