The Teams: Tarleton State Texans (7-18, 4-12 WAC) vs. Utah Tech Trailblazers (16-11, 10-6 WAC)
Where: Stephenville, Texas
Arena: Wisdom Gym (3,000)
Day and Time: Thursday at 7 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+ (Byron Anderson, Scott Garner)
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network (Clayton Neville)
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the fourth all-time meeting, all since 2021. Utah Tech is 3-0, winning the one in St. George this season on Jan. 27 75-48. In that game, UT turned a 33-30 third quarter lead into 59-34 lead entering the fourth quarter.
• UT has won two straight and seven of their last nine.
• UT is a top-five WAC team on both sides of the ball. UT is third in scoring (74.6 PPG), first in FG% (.445), first in 3PT% (.350), fifth in scoring defense (68.5 PPG), second in FG% defense (.376).

 
QUICK HITS

• With a win, the Texans will earn their eighth victory, which would match their number of wins across the entire season in 2022-23. They already have double the amount of WAC wins (four).
• The Texans are ninth in the WAC standings with four games to go. Eight teams make the WAC Tournament. The Texans are a game back of Nos. 7 Southern Utah and UTRGV, and a half-game up on Nos. 10 Utah Valley and Seattle U. Five teams vying for two spots are within 1.5 games.
• The Texans have lost four straight, their tied-second longest skid of the season. Their longest losing streak of the year was five games from Jan. 4-20.
• The Texans just made 10 threes, a tied-season high mark, shooting 10-of-28 (.357). It was no match for CBU who made 20-of-50 (.400), the tied-third most makes in a game this year.
• Tarleton was just credited with 17 assists on 23 field goal makes at CBU. That's their most assists in a game since Nov. 29, their third most on the year.
• The Texans own one of the top defenses in the WAC. They're third in scoring defense (66.6 PPG), fifth in opposing field goal percentage (.396) and third in blocks (3.6 BPG).
• The whistles have favored the Texans over the past nine, with opponents recording 28 more fouls. The Texans haven't had more fouls than their opponents in any of the last nine games.
• These are Tarleton's final two home games. They're 2-2 over their last four at home.

 
WHO'S HOT

• Jakoriah Long: Long just totaled seven points and seven assists at CBU. Her seven assists marked a new career-high, besting her six dished out against Abilene Christian on Feb. 1. She leads the team in both scoring (10.6 PPG) and assists (2.2 APG).
• Andjela Bigovic: Bigovic just tallied 13 points and six rebounds at CBU. She's scored 10+ points twice over her last three games after scoring 10+ points just once over her previous 14 games. Over her last four, she's made 7-of-13 (.538) from beyond the arc.
• Miannah Little: Little just tallied nine points, five rebounds and three assists. Over her last eight games, she's averaged 12.8 points and 2.9 rebounds. During that span, she's only missed two free throws, shooting 24-of-26 (.923) from the stripe.

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW

• 2: Over the past three games, the Texans have started two players in the backcourt who each HAIL FROM WACO, TEXAS. Head coach Bill Brock spent 19 years coaching in Waco, 18 at Baylor and one at McLennan CC. Four of the five Texan starters in the last game are Texas natives.
• 40: The Texans have forced their opponent to SHOOT UNDER 40 PERCENT 13 times in 25 games this season. The 13 already marks their second most such games in their NCAA Division I era.
• 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 have a pivotal WAC game against Southern Utah on Saturday at 2 p.m. That will also mark Senior Day, as Tarleton State celebrates their lone senior student-athlete, Teresa Da Silva.