Western Kentucky’s women’s basketball team is on the road again Thursday night.

The Lady Toppers have already played two road games during their 3-0 start heading into Thursday’s 6 p.m. matchup against Abilene Christian in Abilene, Texas. This game, part of the CUSA-WAC conference challenge series now in its second of two scheduled seasons, is a rematch from last year when WKU (3-0) had to rally back from an 11-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to pull out a 72-68 win at E.A. Diddle Arena.

Last year’s win against the Wildcats also marked a sensational WKU debut for guard Destiny Salary, who missed the Lady Toppers’ first 11 games sitting out as a transfer from Ole Miss. Against Abilene Christian, Salary poured in a game-high 20 points – 14 in the fourth quarter – to spark her team to the comeback win.

WKU coach Greg Collins expects another tough challenge from Abilene Christian (2-3), which already has a road win against CUSA member Florida International.

“We had a great game against them here last year, came down to a last-second shot,” Collins said. “I know they beat FIU on the road earlier this year. They just lost to North Texas, getting ready to play Texas Tech. They’ve got an experienced backcourt, got some new kids in there, some younger kids inside, but just going to play really hard and play together.

” … They’re such an aggressive team. They force a lot of turnovers, great defensive team. A lot of good ball movement, good 3-point shooting team. We haven’t played a team just like that, but a little bit like our exhibition game where they were able to spread the floor out and really shoot the 3.”

The Wildcats are led by a pair of productive guards. Senior Bella Earle is averaging a team-best 15.6 points along with seven rebounds per game, while Preseason All-WAC Team selection Peyton Hull is averaging 15 points and coming off winning the league’s freshman of the year award.

The Lady Toppers counter with five players averaging double-digit scoring, with junior guard Acacia Hayes leading the way at 14.7 points per game along with 5.7 rebounds per outing. Hayes is shooting a blistering 67.9% from the field (19-of-28) so far.

Salary (13.3 points per game), junior forward Zofia Telegdy (11.7 ppg), sophomore guard Mackenzie Chatfield (11.0 ppg) and senior guard Alexis Mead (10.7 ppg) are also scoring at a double-digit clip during the Lady Toppers’ fast start. WKU has a +30.3 scoring differential, averaging 84.3 points while holding opponents to 54 points per game.

“The ball doesn’t stick,” Collins said. “I really feel like there’s a lot of unselfish play and they’re playing together. And as long as they do that, there will be enough praise and accolades for everyone. So we continue to try and make sure we get good ball movement, try to find uncontested shots and trying to make sure that we’re being aggressive but being aggressive together.”

Chatfield, who averaged 0.9 points per game in limited action as a freshman last season, has provided a nice boost off the bench.

“She worked diligently in the offseason, from the spring to the summer back in New Zealand,” Collins said. “And since she’s been here, she’s in the gym relentlessly daily – shooting, working, studying film. And really, she’s kind of settled into playing to her strengths. Not trying to do something (where) either the defense has sped her up or gotten her to do, or something she’s trying to emulate. She’s just relying on her strengths. And so that’s all I’ve asked her to do – just be the best Kenzie.”

Thursday’s matchup against Abilene Christian is the Lady Toppers’ lone appearance in the second year of the CUSA/WAC scheduling initiative, a two-year agreement between the two leagues that began last season. WKU won both of its games in the initiative last season, beating Southern Utah on the road and Abilene at home. The future of the arrangement has not been announced by either conference.

“I think our fans might get a little more interested if it was a little bit more regional,” Collins said of the CUSA/WAC pairings. “It’s a little bit tough, being the West Coast. It’s nice to have a conference challenge, it’s just that there’s not a lot of natural rivalries there and I think the distance makes it a little challenging. Last year we traveled to Southern Utah and that was not an easy trip, just from a travel perspective. I think there’s a lot of good teams in the WAC that we get an opportunity to face and to play. I just think if it were a little more regional it might have a little bit more bite to it.”