California Baptist University
Tarleton State University
WBB Preview: CBU Preps for Texas Two Step in Stephenville and Abilene
2/3/2026 12:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University women's basketball team is gearing up for its first trip to the Lone Star State of the season as they prepare for conference matchups with the Tarleton State Texans and the Abilene Christian Wildcats.
The Lancers enter the week at the top of the Western Athletic Conference standings at 8-1, with their only loss coming at home in early January to the ACU Wildcats. CBU is currently on a three-game winning streak and is coming off a 28-point blowout of the UT Arlington Mavericks at home on Saturday afternoon.
The first game of the week will be a road contest at the ECCU Center to face the Tarleton State Texans. The Texans are currently in fourth place in the conference at 5-4 and will face the ACU Wildcats in a midweek contest on Tuesday before hosting the Lancers. The Texans have been one of the hottest teams in the conference over the past few weeks, winning three of their last four matches. In the earlier matchup this season, the Lancers bested the Texans 80-68 at the Fowler Events Center behind a DI-era record shooting performance from the perimeter. CBU connected on 15 of its 24 attempts from three (54.5%), outscoring the Texans by 24 in the win. CBU is 8-1 overall in the all-time history between the two teams, with its only loss coming last season in Stephenville.
The second of the two matchups this week will be a big one as CBU looks to avenge its only conference loss this season in a showdown with the ACU Wildcats on Saturday. The Wildcats are in second place at 6-2 and have the best overall conference record at 15-6. Both of ACU's conference losses came on the road in Utah to Southern Utah and Utah Valley, respectively. In the earlier loss, the Lancers had a historically cold afternoon from three, shooting just 2-for-25. ACU's defense has been one of the best in the NCAA this season, ranking in the top 20 in steals, turnover margin, and turnovers forced per game.
The Lancers boast one of the best rim protection defenses in the country and one of the top rebounding teams. CBU is 8th in the nation in blocks at six per contest and is fourth in the NCAA in defensive rebounding per game at 31 per game. A significant reason for CBU's relentless defense is the play of Emma Johansson and Filipa Barros. Johansson currently leads the NCAA in total blocks with 67 and is second in blocks per game at 3.05 per contest. Barros has been one of the best rebounding guards in the nation, ranking second among guards in total rebounds and third in rebounds per game.
MATCHUP INFO:
GAME 1 at Tarleton State:
WHEN: Thursday, February 5 at 5 PM PT
WHERE: ECCU Center- Stephenville, TX
WATCH: ESPN+
MATCHUP INFO:
GAME 2 at Abilene Christian:
WHEN: Saturday, February 7 at 11 AM PT
WHERE: Moody Coliseum- Abilene, TX
WATCH: ESPN+
