STEPHENVILLE, Colo. – The Western women's basketball team opens the regular season on the road, travelling to Stephenville, Texas for the Conference Challenge hosted by Tarleton State University. On Friday, Western takes on the host Tarleton State with the tip set for 4 p.m. MST. On Saturday, the Mountaineers will play the Pioneers of Texas Woman's University at 11 a.m MST.

Against the TexAnns, the Mountaineers face an opponent that has seen preseason tests in Baylor University and Texas Wesleyan splitting between the two. After a Lone Star Conference championship last season, the TexAnns were selected third in the LSC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Tarleton forward, Mackenzie Hailey was selected as the LSC Preseason Player of the Year and looks to lead the TexAnns Friday.

In Saturday's game against Texas Woman's University, Western finds the sixth ranked team in the LSC. The Pioneers have one exhibition game, a tight loss with D1 North Texas, under their belts as they head into the game with the Mountaineers. Against North Texas, TWU managed the game well with consistent scoring throughout the game. In the loss, guard KJ Stastny led her team with 12 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists.

The Mountaineers come into the 2017-18 season with nine new players on the roster. The new look Mountaineers were picked 12^th in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Coming off scrimmages against Denver University and Western Nebraska University, the Mountaineers will face their first tests in Texas as a young squad develops their in game chemistry.

For those who want to catch the action from Texas this weekend, both games will be streamed live here.