The Teams: Tarleton State Texans (2-6, 1-1 WAC) at McNeese Cowgirls (4-7, 0-0 SLC)
Where: Lake Charles, Louisiana
Arena: Legacy Center (4,242)
Day and Time: Saturday at 1 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network (Clayton Neville)
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the first matchup between Tarleton State and McNeese. This is the third straight game the Texans face a team from the Southland Conference (Northwestern State, Incarnate Word). 
• Saturday will mark McNeese's third game in five days. Tarleton hasn't played since Sunday.
• McNeese has played just one close game this year. Of their 11 games, one has been decided by fewer than 15. Seven have been 30-plus point games, five 40-plus, four 60-plus, three 70-plus and two 80-plus.
• McNeese gets to the line often, averaging the 12th most FTA in the country at 24.0 per.   

 
QUICK HITS

• This is the start of a four-game road trip for the Texans that goes through Jan. 4.
• This is the second of three games in Louisiana for the Texans this month alone. They played at Northwestern State on Dec. 6 and will play at New Orleans on Monday.
• The Texans have allowed fewer than 60 points in consecutive games for the first time since opening last season against two NAIA programs. During this current stretch, opponents have shot 40-of-114 (.351) from the field.
• Texans' opponents haven't shot 40 percent or better from the field in five straight games, the longest stretch Tarleton's defense has forced poor shooting since Dec. 13-Jan. 1, 2021-22.
• Despite being 2-6, the Texans still have an average scoring margin of plus-2.5, averaging 64.8 PPG to their opponents' 62.3 PPG. They have a .432/.351 advantage in field goal percentage, .319/.268 in three-point percentage.
• The Texans just featured the same starting lineup in consecutive games for the first time since the first three contests. Only Tyler Jackson has started all eight games.
• Tarleton is third in the WAC in scoring defense this year, allowing just 62.3 points per game. They force the lowest opponent field goal percentage in the WAC, tied-38th lowest in D1, at .351.
• Tarleton has a player in the top-20 in the WAC in scoring, rebounding and assists. Teresa Da Silva is 19th at 11.6 PPG, Faith Acker is seventh at 7.0 RPG, and Nykesha Sanders is 15th at 2.6 APG.

 
WHO'S HOT

• Teresa Da Silva: Da Silva is once again the Texans' leading scorer at 11.6 PPG. She's led the team in scoring three times in her seven games played, recording her sixth 10-plus point game of the season on Sunday. In her 35 games at Tarleton, Da Silva has scored in double figures 26 times.
• Faith Acker: Through four games, Acker has already proven to be one of the top players in the WAC, and she's only a freshman. Acker is second in the WAC in blocks (1.8 BPG), seventh in rebounding (7.0 RPG) and 24th in scoring (10.5 PPG). She's had five-plus rebounds each game.
• Elise Turrubiates: Turrubiates continued her strong rebounding and shooting in the last game, grabbing six boards, going 3-of-5 from the field. She's second on the team in rebounding (5.9 RPG) and shooting (.571). She's secured five-plus boards in seven of eight games, shooting 50-plus percent from the field six times.

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW

• 29: The Texans just allowed a SEASON-LOW REBOUNDS (29). It's the third time in their D1 era they've allowed fewer than 30 rebounds to a fellow D1 opponent; at Lamar (25, Feb. 26, 2022) and at Chicago State (25, Feb. 14, 2021).
• 1: Despite missing two post players the first eight games, the Texans have showed off their new size this year to the tune of 5.0 blocks per game. That is FIRST IN THE WAC and tied-27th in the country. Three are averaging at least one block per game (Acker, Andjela Bigovic, Vitoria Carvalho).
• 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.
• 9: The WAC unveiled its second tabulation of the WBB WAC RESUME SEEDING SYSTEM RANKINGS on Tuesday. Tarleton is slated No. 9 after being No. 6 in the initial rankings. The system employs an algorithm based on performance and rewards WAC members who face stronger schedules.

 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
The Texans will play their final game before a week-long Christmas break. It will be a Monday morning road game at New Orleans, set for an 11 a.m. CT tip-off at Lakefront Arena.