The Teams: Tarleton State Texans (4-10, 1-4 WAC) at Abilene Christian Wildcats (7-7, 3-2 WAC)
Where: Abilene, Texas
Arena: Moody Coliseum (4,600)
Day and Time: Thursday at 6 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network (Clayton Neville)
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the 52nd all-time matchup. ACU owns a 34-17 advantage, dating back to 1978. ACU has won three straight since Tarleton had went 9-1 in the previous 10, from 2009-22.
• ACU just knocked off the WAC's previous No. 1 ranked team, California Baptist, 96-93 in OT. Two Wildcats had double-doubles; Bella Earle (24 pts, 15 rebs) and Meredith Mayes (13 pts, 12 rebs).
• In the WAC standings, TSU is eight and ACU fifth. In the WAC Resume Seeding System, TSU is ninth and ACU sixth.
• ACU is 5-3 at home this year (2-3 on road). They've played the same five WAC opponents as Tarleton has.

 
QUICK HITS

• The Texans are looking to snap a three-game slide and avoid tying their season-long skid of four games. They've went 2-2 over their last four on the road, and 3-3 over their last six road games.
• When Tarleton's offense is clicking, it's resulted in wins. Across the Texans' wins this season, they've averaged 79.5 points on 46.7 percent shooting, including 36.0 percent from distance. In losses, they've averaged 55.4 points on 36.3 percent shooting, 29.7 percent from deep.
• Despite starting 1-4 in WAC play, the Texans still own a top-three defense in the conference. They're third in scoring defense (65.0 PPG), second in opposing field goal percentage (.374) and second in opposing three-point percentage (.285). They also average the most blocks per game (4.4) in the WAC, tied-49th most in the nation.
• Tarleton has allowed the fewest three-point makes in the WAC this year (90). ACU has made the most (130), averaging the 13th most in the nation (9.3) on the sixth most average attempts (28.9).
• The Texans and Wildcats will face each other twice in a two-week span (the other is on Feb. 1).
• Tyler Jackson has historically played well against Abilene Christian. In four matchups with ACU, Jackson has scored 10-plus points each game, averaging 13.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
• Tarleton's true freshman center still leads the team in scoring (10.5 PPG) and rebounding (7.0 RPG), despite only averaging the fifth most minutes on the team (21.5 MPG).

 
WHO'S HOT

• Jakoriah Long: Long has led the Texans in scoring in each of the last three games. Over her past six games, she's averaged 13.8 points, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals compared to 8.0 points, 1.0 assists and 0.4 steals over her first eight games.
• Tyler Jackson: Jackson has started all 14 games for Tarleton State this season, the only Texan with more than 11 starts. She averages the most minutes on the team (28.1 MPG), and has the second highest three-point percentage (.355) among players with 10-plus 3PA.
• Faith Acker: Acker added four points, four rebounds and two blocks in her last outing in 23 minutes. She leads the team in scoring average (10.5 PPG), rebounding average (7.0 RPG) and has the most blocks (11). Against WAC teams she's at 11.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG and 1.0 BPG.

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW

• 8: Through Tarleton's 14 games played this season, they've OUTSHOT THEIR OPPONENT eight times. The Texans are 4-4 this season when outshooting their opponent, and 0-6 when getting outshot.
• 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.
• 9: The Texans are slotted ninth in the latest WAC RESUME SEEDING SYSTEM, which will be used to seed teams for the WAC Tournament in March. The Texans are closest to No. 8 Southern Utah, who is 0.95 points ahead.

 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
Tarleton will be back home for Alumni Day at Wisdom Gym on Saturday at 2 p.m. against UTRGV. The Texans knocked off the Vaqueros in Edinburg earlier this season 72-66.