Texans Meet Redhawks in Seattle As Both Try to Find WAC Footing

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The teams: Tarleton Texans (11-7, 3-4 WAC) at Seattle U Redhawks (6-9, 1-3 WAC)
Where: Seattle, Washington
Arena: Redhawk Center
Day and time: Saturday, 4 p.m. CT
Streaming platform: ESPN+
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network (Kyle Crews)

ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the third meeting ever between these two teams, both of which took place last year (January 22-23).
• Against the Redhawks in 2020-21, Iyana Dorsey averaged 10+ points in every game, averaging 15.0 points and 2.5 steals.
• The Redhawks just won their first conference game and went on a triple losing streak with a W against Abilene Christian 75-61. Georgia Kehoe led by 17 points (8-12 FG) and eight rebounds.
• Bree Calhoun leads Seattle U in scores (11.5 PPG), assists (4.6 APG), and steals (2.8 SPG).

FAST STRIKES

• Tarleton haven’t lost a straight game this year, posting a perfect 6-0 record after one loss. They have alternated wins and losses in their last eight games since December 22nd.
• The Texans scored 69 points in their last game, their highest-scoring game since December 4 against Arlington Baptist (103). They made 25 of 61 (.410) shots from the field, marking the first time this season they’ve lost by more than 37 percent (now 10-1).
• In the last game, Seynabou Thiam recorded 12 points (4-7 FG), 14 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. This was her third double-double as she missed just one rebound to set her career high. She’s now at 49 blocks a year, just 10 shy of setting a new single-season block record for Tarleton (58 set by Kaelie Butler in 1993-94). In just 18 games, she already has the 14th most blocks in program history, recently surpassing Helena Smith’s 48 swats from 1988-92.
• Iyana Dorsey led the team in the last game with 18 points. It is the seventh time she has led the team as top scorer this season, most games of that kind for the team, overall she leads with her 11.1 points per game. It was her 10th double-digit hit of the year.
• Among WAC teams, Tarleton ranks top-5 in points defense (runner-up, 56.7 PPG), rebounds (runner-up, 38.8 RPG), blocks (runner-up, 4.8 BPG), 3PT% defense (runner-up, 0.278), FG% Defense (3rd). , .361), rebounds allowed (fourth, 34.4 RPG) and steals (fifth, 9.3 SPG).

WHO IS HOT

• Malaya Kendrick – Kendrick had just 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals against the California Baptist. In her last two games, Kendrick has averaged 17.0 points (14 of 28 FG), 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 steals, and played 75 of 80 minutes.
• Seynabou Thiam – In her last four games, Thiam has accumulated 17 blocks, two double-doubles, two 10+ point games, and overall averaged 7.5 points on 12-of-25 shooting (.480), 8.3 rebounds and 4.3 scores blocks. It was all done in 22.5 minutes per game.
• Jenna Dick – Dick continues to shoot out the lights, making 50 percent off the field in her last three games (7 of 14), including 50 percent of three (5 of 10). On the season, Dick has the second-highest three-point percentage in the conference at 45.3, just behind Lamar’s Sabria Dean at 45.5 percent.

NUMBERS TO KNOW
40: The Texans, the No. 2 rebounding team in the WAC, have not allowed any opponent to secure more than 40 REBOUNDS in 13 straight games. This is their longest streak since 13 games in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.

58: The Texans will be hoping to bring their recent shooting into Saturday’s game after going through a fourth quarter in which they scored 58.3 PERCENT FROM THE FIELD (7 of 12). It was her most efficient shooting quarter since the last frame against Utah Valley on Jan. 1 (63.6 percent, 7 of 11).

34: The Texans, who entered their first game against Seattle U on the exact same date last year (January 22), were 3-8 (.273). This year they are 11-7 (.611), a +0.338 difference in win percentage. They have fewer losses year after year despite playing seven more games.

5: Seattle U is in the bottom five in EVERY SHOOTING CATEGORY in the WAC; third worst in FG% (0.393), fifth worst in 3PT% (0.293), and fourth worst in FT% (0.681). Tarleton is the top three in FG% Defense (third, .361) and 3PT% Defense (second, .278).

UP NEXT FOR TARLETON

The Texans return home after three games to face Lamar on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. CT and UTRGV on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. CT. Lamar is 3-3 in conference play, 8-7 overall, while UTRGV is 2-2 in WAC, 6-10 overall.