GUNNISON, Colo. – After winning five of their last six, Western Colorado University Women's Basketball returns to the court this Friday. The Mountaineers are at Colorado State University – Pueblo for a 5:30 p.m. game before traveling to New Mexico Highlands University for a 5 p.m. game against the Cowgirls.
 
The games against CSU-Pueblo and NMHU are the first of four games on the road for Western. This season, the Mountaineers are 2-0 on the road and 4-0 against teams at neutral sites.
 
Western (8-3, 4-3 RMAC) has won five of their last six games, including a 60-49 win over South Dakota School of Mines & Technology last Saturday at home.
 
The last time Western started the season with eight wins through the first 11 games was during the 2007-08 season. It's only the sixth time in program history, dating back to the 1978-79 season, that the Mountaineers began a season with an 8-3 record. Three of those teams – 1978-79, 1980-81 and 1986-87 – reached the national tournament.
 
The Mountaineers have started the conference season with a 4-3 record and sit tied for fifth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings.
 
Western boasts one of Division II's top defenses. The Mountaineers are holding teams to an average of 53.1 points per game, which ranks seventh best in the nation and second best in the RMAC. Opponents are shooting a mere 33.1 percent from the field against Western, which ranks third best in Division II and first in the conference.
 
Helping keep opponents from entering the scoring column is Western point guard Tammarrah Gothard. The senior leads the team in steals and assists, while averaging 7.4 points per game and recording the second-most rebounds with 30. Gothard's 36 steals this season leads the RMAC and is tied for 30^th in Division II. Her 3.2 steals per game also leads the conference and ranks 13^th in the nation.
 
Samantha Coleman is leading the Mountaineer scoring attack. Coleman is averaging 11.2 points per game and has reached double figures in Western's last four games. The sophomore is averaging 50 percent (21-of-42) shooting from beyond the arc.
 
Friday will be the 69^th meeting between Western and CSU-Pueblo (8-5, 6-1 RMAC). The Thunderwolves hold a 42-26 series lead and won both of last season's meetings.
 
CSU-Pueblo enters the weekend having won six of their last seven, including the last three straight. The Thunderwolves are in sole possession of third place in the RMAC standings. This season, the Thunderwolves are 3-1 at home in Massari Arena.
 
CSU-Pueblo averages 71.4 points per game, third best in the conference. However, the Thunderwolves' average margin of victory is just over one possession at 3.6.
 
Khiya Adams and Jennah Knafelc lead CSU-Pueblo in scoring. Adams is averaging 14.6 points per game and leads the conference with a 56.1 percent (78-of-139) shooting percentage. Knafelc is averaging 14.5 points per game.
 
Saturday, the Mountaineers travel to Las Vegas, New Mexico for the 79^th game against New Mexico Highlands. Western leads the all-time seriers 41-37. The two teams split the season series a year ago, 1-1.
 
NMHU (3-11, 1-6 RMAC) enters the weekend on a four-game slide. The Cowgirls are tied for 14^th in the RMAC standings. At home this season, NMHU has a 2-3 record.
 
The Cowgirls host Colorado Mesa University on Friday night.
 
The sixth leading scorer in the RMAC is NMHU's Jordyn Lewis. Lewis is averaging 15.6 points per game.
 
Those unable to attend this weekend's games can follow live online by clicking the links provided above.