The Teams: Tarleton State Texans (1-4, 0-1 WAC) at UTRGV Vaqueros (0-6, 0-1 WAC)
Where: Edinburg, Texas
Arena: UTRGV Fieldhouse (2,700)
Day and Time: Saturday at 2 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network (Clayton Neville)
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the eighth all-time meeting, all since 2021. The Vaqueros own a slight advantage in the series, 4-3, including a 2-1 record in Edinburg. Last year each team won at home.
• This is the second conference game for each team, both in search of their first WAC win.
• Teresa Da Silva averaged 17.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 3.0 APG last year against the Vaqueros.
• There are two former Texans on UTRGV's roster, Iyana Dorsey and Nyajah Mitchels.
• Despite starting 0-6, UTRGV has been close, losing by an average of 7.2 PPG over the last five. 

 
QUICK HITS

• With a win, the Texans will snap a four-game skid. Their first three losses were by fewer than 10 points (including road games at Texas Tech and New Mexico), and they were tied with SFA after three quarters on Wednesday before falling by 13.
• With a win, Tarleton would earn their first conference road opener victory since 2016-17, when they won their Lone Star Conference road opener at Western New Mexico 62-42 on Dec. 8.
• Saturday marks Tarleton's first road game in nearly three weeks, last played Nov. 12 at UNM. 
• On Wednesday, freshman Faith Acker made her collegiate debut and shined, finishing with a team-high 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting, seven rebounds and three blocks.
• Tarleton just outshot SFA 28-of-54 (.519) to 23-of-62 (.371). They've lost consecutive games despite outshooting their opponents. The Texans are shooting 46.3 percent this season, the tied-best mark in the WAC and tied-42nd in the country. Tarleton shot 37.5 percent last year.
• The Texans have featured a unique starting lineup three times in five games, the same one over the first three and new ones over the past two. Only Tyler Jackson has started all five games.
• Tarleton's bench has been the best in the WAC at 30.6 PPG, 24th best in the country.
• Before Wednesday, Tarleton had shined in fourth quarters, combining to win the frame 91-56 on 34-of-62 (.548) shooting. They lost their first fourth quarter on Wednesday 30-17 on 42.9 percent shooting.

 
WHO'S HOT

• Faith Acker: In her collegiate debut, Acker just led the team in scoring (16, 7-11 FG), rebounding (seven) and blocks (three). She missed the first four games of the season due to injury after recording a double-double (18 points, 6-12 FG, 11 rebounds, two blocks) in Tarleton's final exhibition game.
• Miannah Little: Since earning her first starts of the year, Little has back-to-back double-digit scoring games. Last game she had career-highs in points (13, 5-6 FG), rebounds (five) and assists (four). She played 55 minutes over the last two after 25 minutes the first three.
• Lexi Bull: Bull has made consecutive starts and has turned in her best stretch of the season, averaging 7.5 points on 6-of-9 (.667) shooting, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists. She leads the team in field goal percentage (.706) and is a perfect 2-of-2 from distance over the last two games.

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW

• 9: The Texans have a wide variety of shooters, already seeing nine players through five games DRAIN MULTIPLE SHOTS FROM DISTANCE. Nine is already their most players with 2+ 3PM in a season since 2020-21.
• 5.2: Tarleton leads the WAC right now in BLOCKS PER GAME at 5.2, tied-27th most in the nation. This is coming after a season they averaged 2.4 blocks per game, 10th in the WAC, tied-262nd in the country.
• 12: Of Tarleton's 15-woman roster, the Texans have three returners and 12 newcomers. Their 12 NEWCOMERS ARE TIED FOR THE MOST among all NCAA D1 programs, along with Utah State and fellow WAC program UT Arlington.
• 6: Of Tarleton's 15-woman roster, six ARE INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS, the tied-eighth most on a D1 roster this season. The Texans are represented by the United States (nine), the U.K. (two), Brazil, Montenegro, Norway and Poland.

 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
The Texans will play their rescheduled game at Northwestern State on Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT in Natchitoches, Louisiana. This game was originally scheduled for Nov. 16, but was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols within the Lady Demon program.