ABILENE, Texas (Interstat) — A surging Abilene Christian squad looks to solidify its standing when it hosts struggling Utah Tech in a Western Athletic Conference women’s basketball matchup Thursday at Moody Coliseum. The Wildcats (19-8, 9-5 WAC) enter as heavy favorites, boasting a potent offense led by standout guard Payton Hull. Hull is averaging 26.4 points over her last five games, including a 36-point outburst in a win over Tarleton State on Feb. 14. She scored 11 points in the teams’ first meeting this season, a 54-46 road win for ACU on Jan. 29. Utah Tech (8-17, 4-10) arrives with momentum from a 76-55 rout of Tarleton State on Saturday, one of its best performances of the season. The Trailblazers will lean on forward Brie Crittendon, who posted a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds in that victory. Crittendon was held to just three points in the January loss to Abilene Christian but has been a consistent scorer otherwise, averaging 18.1 points over her last seven contests. The Wildcats have dominated the recent series, winning the last two meetings by an average of 19 points. They sit near the top of the WAC standings, while the Trailblazers are near the bottom. ACU’s balance is key; in its recent loss to Southern Utah, Erin Woodson added 19 points and Breanna Davis dished four assists alongside Hull’s 30-point effort. For Utah Tech to pull an upset, it will need another strong collective effort like Saturday’s, where Kaylee Borden (18 points, six assists) and Paige Cofer (10 points, 11 rebounds) provided crucial support. Containing Hull, however, remains the primary challenge for a Trailblazers defense that allows 66.2 points per game. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST Thursday. Abilene Christian hosts Utah Valley on Saturday, while Utah Tech returns home to face Southern Utah the same day.