Preview: Tarleton State at Utah Valley in WAC Women’s Basketball Showdown VINEYARD, Utah (Interstat) — A pair of teams seeking momentum to open the new year will meet Thursday when the Tarleton State Texans visit the Utah Valley Wolverines in a Western Athletic Conference women’s basketball matchup at the UCCU Center. The Texans (7-5) enter 2026 on a winning note, having defeated Texas-Arlington 66-57 on Monday. Tarleton State has shown resilience, playing in four overtime games already this season, posting a 2-2 record in those contests. Utah Valley (6-5) looks to rebound from a difficult 82-51 road loss at California Baptist on Monday. The Wolverines have been strong at home this season, boasting a 4-1 record in Vineyard, with the lone loss a narrow 59-56 defeat to Idaho State on Dec. 20. A key matchup will feature Tarleton State’s Kyriana Jones against Utah Valley’s Tessa Chaney. Jones, coming off a 13-point performance in 34 minutes against UTA, has been a consistent contributor. Chaney leads the Wolverines’ offense and is fresh from scoring 12 points in the loss to Cal Baptist. Tarleton State’s recent success has been fueled by balanced scoring. In the win over UTA, Jakoriah Long matched Jones with 13 points, while Elodie Lutbert added 11 points and a notable five blocked shots. Utah Valley’s offense will aim to rediscover its early-season form after being held under 60 points in three of its last five games. The Wolverines’ defense, however, has kept them competitive, allowing an average of just 58.2 points in their six wins. This contest opens the WAC schedule for both programs. The Texans will continue a tough road swing at California Baptist on Saturday. Utah Valley remains at home to host Abilene Christian that same day. Thursday’s tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST at the UCCU Center.