GUNNISON, Colo. – Western State Colorado University women's basketball team returns home this weekend after a four-game road trip. The Mountaineers will be looking to improve their conference standings as only seven games remain in the 2015-16 season.
 
Western (4-13, 2-13 RMAC) will host Metro State University Denver (9-12, 7-8 RMAC) at 5:30 p.m. tonight in Paul Wright Gym before a matchup with UC-Colorado Springs (15-6, 11-4 RMAC) at 5 p.m. in Paul Wright. It will be Western's first meeting of the season with both teams.
 
Friday night is faculty and staff appreciation night as women's basketball will honor specific Western faculty and staff members that have helped these student-athletes throughout their careers. Saturday's game against MSU Denver is Super Bowl Saturday as fans are encouraged to wear Denver Broncos or Carolina Panthers gear to the game. Fans will receive $1 off admission if they are wearing their team's gear.
 
The Mountaineers enter Friday's game sixth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's Mountain Division. Western is trying to bounce back after falling to Colorado Mesa University the weekend before.
 
Sophomore guard Taylor Long (So., Moreno Valley, California) continues to lead the Mountaineers in scoring. Long is averaging 13.6 points per game, which ranks ninth best in the RMAC. The guard also leads the team in assists at 44 and steals at 22.
 
MSU Denver comes to Gunnison sitting fifth in the RMAC's Rocky Division standings. The Roadrunners are coming off two wins last weekend. MSU Denver defeated Western New Mexico University and New Mexico Highlands University at home, snapping a four-game losing streak.
 
MSU Denver's Hannah Stipanovich sits just ahead of Long in the RMAC scoring rankings. Stipanovich averages 14.3 points per game, which ranks eighth in the conference.
 
UC-Colorado Springs will face rival Colorado State University – Pueblo on Friday night before traveling to Gunnison. It will be the first of four games on the road for the Mountain Lions. UCCS has won their past five games and sit second in the RMAC's Rocky Division.
 
The Mountaineer defense will need to be very aware of UCCS' Brittany Hernandez on Saturday night. Hernandez leads the conference in scoring, averaging 21.2 points per game.