GUNNISON, Colo. – Western State Colorado University women's basketball is back in action this weekend. The Mountaineers host Western New Mexico University and New Mexico Highlands University in a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contests.
 
Western (3-6, 1-6 RMAC) will face WNMU (5-7, 3-4 RMAC) at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and NMHU (2-9, 0-7 RMAC) at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
 
The Mountaineers enter the weekend after losing two on the road to start the new year. Western fell to Chadron State College on Jan. 2 before Regis University handed the Mountaineers a loss on Jan. 3.
 
Currently sixth in the RMAC Mountain Division, Western is two games back from the fifth place WNMU Lady Mustangs. The Mountaineers are looking for their first victory over WNMU in two tries. The last Western win over WNMU came last season on Dec. 13 in Gunnison.
 
Sophomore guard Taylor Long (So., Moreno Valley, California) continues to lead the Mountaineers in scoring, averaging 13.4 points per game.
 
While the Lady Mustangs' leading scorer, Desiree Smith, is only averaging 9.6 points per game, WNMU has four players averaging eight points or more.
 
Saturday's opponent, NMHU, will first travel to Colorado State University – Pueblo on Friday before making the trip to Gunnison. The Cowgirls are still in search of their first conference victory of the season. Western defeated NMHU 63-38 earlier in the season.
 
Western's defense will have to be alert against NMHU's leading scorer, Michelle Traynham. Traynham is averaging 14.6 points per game, which ranks sixth best in the RMAC.
 
Admission to both games will be free of charge to all fans, with the donation of a non-perishable food item.
 
Bring your non-perishable to the game, donate it at the main entrance to Paul Wright Gym and watch the Mountaineer basketball squads in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
 
All canned food items will be donated to the Gunnison Country Food Pantry. Fans are encouraged to bring any of the following items to Saturday's game: dried pasta and spaghetti, peanut butter, jam and jelly, cereal, oatmeal, instant or regular, variety of canned beans, canned corn, tomatoes and vegetables, canned chicken or tomato soup, canned tuna, and canned chili. Non-perishable and perishable food can also be dropped off at Gunnison Country Food Pantry (GCFP) on Monday and Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., excluding holidays. Donations can also be arranged with a phone call to GCFP.
 
For fans unable to attend this weekend's games, live stats and free live streaming video will be available online. Also follow Mountaineer Athletics on Twitter (@WSCUMountaineer) to receive live in-game updates.