Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Tarleton State University Athletics

FlukerUTAPreview

Women's Basketball Grant Cohen

Tarleton Women’s Basketball begins 2025, WAC play at UTA Saturday

ARLINGTON, Texas – Tarleton Women's Basketball plays its first game of the 2025 calendar year by starting Western Athletic Conference play at UT Arlington Saturday at 2 p.m. at the College Park Center. 

The game will be available to watch on ESPN+ and fans can listen to Clayton Neville's radio call on Tarleton Sports Network. Neville will have a 30-minute pregame show starting at 1:30 p.m. and a 30-minute postgame show will follow each game. 

MATCHUP NOTES
  • Separated by 100 miles, Tarleton and UT Arlington will meet for the 11th time in program history on Saturday. UT Arlington leads the series 9-1, with Tarleton seeking its first win over the Mavericks in the Division I Era. 
  • Tarleton enters WAC play in fourth place while UT Arlington holds the fifth place spot in the league.
  • A win for Tarleton would give the Texans their first win at UTA and first five-game win streak in the Division I Era. 
LEADERS OF THE WAC
  • Entering WAC play, Tarleton currently leads the conference in five categories: Field Goal Percentage Defense (35.7%), Free Throw Percentage (74.3%), Rebounding Margin (7.2), Defensive Rebounds Per Game (26.8) and Scoring Defense (54.5). 
  • The Texans are currently second in the WAC in Bench Points Per Game (22.5), Rebounds Per Game (38.8) and Three Point Percentage Defense (27.2%). 
  • Tarleton is third in the WAC in Blocks Per Game (3.5) and Free Throws Made Per Game (11.4). 
  • Predicted to finish sixth in the WAC in the preseason poll, Tarleton enters conference play in fourth place with a 9-6 record. They have the third-most non-conference wins in the WAC. 
  • If the regular season ended today, the Texans would be the No. 4 seed in the WAC Tournament and face UT Arlington in the quarterfinals on March 13. The Texans were the No. 7 seed in last year's WAC Tournament, advancing to the quarterfinals with a first round win over Abilene Christian. 
DOMINATING DEFENSE
  • The Texans' defense has made life difficult for opposing offenses this season. Holding its opponents to just 54.5 points per game, Tarleton is 24th in the nation in scoring defense and leads the WAC in that category. 
  • Tarleton forces its opponents to just over 35.7% shooting, currently 28th in the nation in that category. 
  • The Texans have held four opponents to under 50 points in a game this season, going 4-0 in those contests. 
  • Tarleton's season-low for opponent points came against St. Mary's (TX) (12/21), who shot just 19% for 31 points. It was the fewest points Tarleton has allowed to the opposition since Dec. 4, 2021 (22 vs. Arlington Baptist).
  • Head Coach Bill Brock following the final non-conference game against Texas Southern (12/30): "We held somebody to under 30% shooting again, and that's pretty darn good. That means your defensive effort is there and I'm proud of that."
BENCH BOOST
  • Tarleton State has had a major lift off its bench this season, most recently against Texas Southern (12/29) with 20 points. 
  • The Texans scored 37 points against St. Mary's (TX) (12/21) and also grabbed 31 of Tarleton's D1 record-setting 59 rebounds. 
  • Tarleton State's bench scored a season-high 56 points to help the Texans to the 99-34 win over LeTourneau (12/7). It is the most bench points by the Texans since Dec. 4, 2021 (70 vs. Arlington Baptist).
  • Freshman guard Grace Booth recorded her first collegiate double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Guards Niki Van Wyk (11 points) and Kyriana Jones (10 points also added double-digit scoring numbers off the bench against LeTourneau (12/7).
  • Tarleton State has a record of 6-2 under head coach Bill Brock when the Texans' bench scores at least 30 points. 
  • The Texans are 6-1 this season when the bench comes up with at least 20 points. Tarleton is 2-0 in 2024-25 when the bench scores at least 40 points. 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Niki Van Wyk

#3 Niki Van Wyk

G
5' 7"
Senior
Kyriana Jones

#4 Kyriana Jones

G/F
5' 10"
Junior
Grace Booth

#12 Grace Booth

G
5' 10"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Niki Van Wyk

#3 Niki Van Wyk

5' 7"
Senior
G
Kyriana Jones

#4 Kyriana Jones

5' 10"
Junior
G/F
Grace Booth

#12 Grace Booth

5' 10"
Freshman
G