Preview: Chicago State vs. Tarleton State

Series History vs. Tarleton State

Chicago State and Tarleton State have never played.

Storylines

Nice to Meet You: Chicago State faces the Tarleton State University Texans for the first time ever this weekend at the Jones Convocation Center. The Texans were admitted to the WAC on July 1, 2020 following 26 years at the Division II level. Tarleton enters sporting a 4-12 record, most recently losing back-to-back games at Grand Canyon. Iyana Dorsey and Marissa Escamilla have driven the Texans' scoring, with Emily Cunningham leading the way from behind the arc, shooting at a nearly 40% clip from three-point range.

Back on Even Ground: After a weekend series at 5,000-foot elevation in Orem, Utah against Utah Valley, Chicago State returns home after a pair of losses. On February 5, the Cougars trailed by just a point with 4:59 left but couldn't tamp down a late Wolverines charge and lost, 61-53. The next night, Chicago State held a lead through the first 18:30 but fizzled late to lose, 56-46. Christina Britter (Dunlap, IL/Dunlap ) scored 11 points in each game, while Wynter Webb (Atlanta, GA/Mill Creek ) dropped in 12 and 14.

McBeast: In her Division I debut season, Nadia Thorman-McKey (Evanston, IL/Evanston Township) has powered Chicago State's offense. The Evanston, Illinois native has posted double-figures in four games, including a pair of 20-point outbursts January 22 and 23 at California Baptist. Thorman-McKey leads the Cougars in scoring (13.2 points per game) and in total rebounds (44).

Christina, Crushing It: After not scoring in double figures through her first six games, Christina Britter (Dunlap, IL/Dunlap ), a junior transfer from Northern Illinois, has set or tied a career high in scoring in each of her last three games. Britter scored 11 points and snagged six rebounds in each of Chicago State's weekend games at Utah Valley.

Come In and Stay Awhile: Iffy Okoye, a junior transfer from Virginia Union, became eligible in December to play based on an NCAA Division I Council vote granting a blanket waiver to allow all Division I transfers to play this year. Okoye, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, made her debut December 21 at SIUE and asserted herself off the bat, leading all Cougars with 12 points and eight rebounds. After sitting out against California Baptist, Okoye then emerged to grab 27 rebounds in two games against Seattle U. She also scored 12 points on January 29.

Wynter in Chicago: With 12 nand 14 points during the weekend's two gamse at Utah Valley, Wynter Webb (Atlanta, GA/Mill Creek ) paved the way for the Cougars' offense. She drilled three treys in Orem and converted all five of her free-throw attempts.

Cleaning the Glass like Windex: Britter and Thorman-McKey have owned the offensive glass during the young season. The duo has coralled 37 offensive boards in nine games. With 12.2 offensive rebounds per game, the Cougars rank fourth in the WAC.

Croatian Sensation: Through seven games, Dubrovnik, Croativa-native Ana Haklicka (Dubrovnik, Croatia/Touristic and Catering School ) has asserted herself as the Cougars floor general. The first-year point guard logged 39 of 40 minutes in the team's opener and has scored 13 points in three of the first nine games. With 22 total assists, she also leads all Cougars.

Tres for Segues: Freshman Laura Segues (Castelloli, Spain) has drilled seven three-pointers this season, leading the Cougars from beyond the perimeter. The Castelloli´, Spain-native scored 13 points on January 23 against California Baptist, a career-high. All 13 points came in the second half, during which the Cougars outscored the unbeaten Lancers, 32-24.

Complete Chicago State Game Notes

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