CEDAR CITY, Utah - After losing to Tarleton State in each of their last two matchups, the Southern Utah women's basketball team looks to turn the tables with a home game at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18 in the America First Event Center.
Head Coach Tracy Mason said:
"Tarleton State is a very tough team, and I have no doubt they'll come ready to play on Wednesday. We're incredibly grateful to be at home with this being a shorter week, but we'll have to be locked in and ready for a battle on our home court."
Game Details
Who: Southern Utah (17-8, 9-4 WAC) vs Tarleton State (12-12, 6-7 WAC)
When: Wednesday, February 18, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: America First Event Center
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: HERE
Matchup History
- Southern Utah will look to snap a seven-game losing streak against the Texans. The Thunderbirds have not defeated them since the 2022-2023 season.
- This year, in their first road game against Tarleton State, SUU struggled in an 81-55 rout. Sophomore Sierra Chambers tallied 16 points while junior Ava Uhrich brought down 15 boards.
- Although they couldn't fend off a Texans comeback, Southern Utah fared much better in a neck-and-neck 59-57 second effort in Stephenville, Texas. Freshman Devyn Kiernan had an impressive game, racking up 16 points while shooting 60% from the three-point line.
The Thunderbirds
Since their last showdown with Tarleton State, the 17-8 Thunderbirds pulled off a stunning 85-70 upset over California Baptist on the road and a gritty 78-67 win over UT Arlington at home. Their 9-4 Western Athletic Conference record puts them two games behind a conference-topping CBU team and only one game behind Abilene Christian. If they can manage to pass either team, they would likely secure a postseason bye.
SUU's scorching offense has resurged after its two high-scoring victories. They rank first in the WAC in points scored with 73.4 per game, rebounds with 42.3 per game, and three-point field goal percentage at 32.9%.
On top of that, they slot in second in the conference in field goal percentage at 42.5%, free throw percentage at 73.8%, and assists with 15.1 per game. Needless to say, the Thunderbirds have put together a phenomenal year in spite of being ranked last in the preseason polls.
The Thunderbirds boast three scorers in the WAC's top ten and two rebounders in the conference's top three. Chambers leads the scoring attack with 15.1 points per game, and Uhrich follows close behind with 13.5. However, junior Brooklyn Fely has come into her own as of late, averaging 14.4 points per conference game.
Fely's 31-point double-double against CBU last week garnered her Newcomer of the Week honors for the fourth time this year. She has reached nine double-doubles on the year, which places her one behind the WAC-high Filipa Barros of the Lancers.
Scouting Report
Tarleton State Texans
The 12-12 Texans have found a consistent stronghold on the middle ground of the WAC, ranking fourth of seven teams. While Southern Utah couldn't seem to get the better of them on the road, they will look to shake things up with a home matchup. Tarleton State enters Wednesday's game following a 72-67 loss at home against the ACU Wildcats.
While they haven't been particularly incredible on offense, Tarleton State has found success on the defensive side of the ball. They allow only 64.2 points per game and bring down 40.8 rebounds per game.
Senior Gia Adams leads Tarleton State's scoring with 11.8 points per game, but freshman Elodie Lutbert has emerged as a young star for the Texans. She averages 10.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and two blocks per game (third in the WAC).
Tickets
Season tickets, mini packages, and single-game tickets are now available! Get yours today by visiting tbirdtickets.com.
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