GUNNISON, Colo. --- The Western Colorado women's basketball team gets their 2020-21 season underway at home as they host Black Hills State 5:30 p.m. Friday and Chadron State 5 p.m. Saturday at Paul Wright Gym.

No spectators will be allowed at either game - or at any contest at Paul Wright Gym through Dec. 31.

MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THIS WEEK/SEASON | 2019-20 SEASON STATS
The Mountaineers got their first taste of action last week as they traveled to Boulder to take on Colorado in an exhibition matchup for Western, falling to the Buffs 77-50. After struggling from the field in the first half, the Mountaineers found their rhythm in the second half were only outscored 38-35 over the final 20 minutes - including outscoring the Division-I Buffs 20-13 in the fourth quarter. Taytem Coleman led the Mountaineers with 12 points while Samantha Coleman had 11 points.

As for heading into this season, Western is coming off of one its best seasons in program history, going 20-7 overall (third-most wins in school history), 18-4 in the RMAC (most wins conference wins in program history) and earning the Mountaineers' first berth into the NCAA Tournament (which was canceled due to COVID-19 precautions).

The Mountaineers head into this season picked second in the RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Earlier this week, the Mountaineers were ranked fifth in the first D2SIDA South Central Regional Poll and picked up votes in the D2SIDA National Poll.

Western returns four of five starters and six of their seven top scorers from a year ago - losing Gabie Doud and her 9.3 points per game to graduation (though she's still part of the team as a student assistant coach). The Mountaineers have three All-RMAC Second Team members returning in senior Samantha Coleman (10.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 60 3-pointers), senior Katie Dalton (8.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.0 bpg) and sophomore Hannah Cooper (9.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.4 spg) - with Cooper also being named RMAC Freshman of the Year. Junior guard Taytem Coleman returns after starting 25 of 26 games a year ago and averaging a team-best 32.8 minutes per game to go along with 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks as does heavy contributers in seniors Jessie Erickson (6.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 spg) and Jadyn Kanzler (5.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg).

Also returning for the Mountaineers is Gabi O'Connor (2.9 ppg), Mikaela Parker (2.3 ppg), Courtney Humbarger (1.8 ppg) and Phylicia Bacon (0.5 ppg). Two newcomers join the team in 2020-21 in Utah State-Eastern transfer Emmery Wagstaff (averaged 11.8 points per game in two All-Region seasons at USUE) and true freshman Nadia Trevizo-Medina.

The Mountaineers were paced by their defense in 2019-20 as they ranked in the top 20 nationally in points allowed per game (54.2 - 10th), field goal percentage defense (35.1 percent - 20th) and 3-point percentage defense (26.2 percent - 13th).

BLACK HILLS STATE HEADING INTO THIS SEASON | 2019-20 STATS
The Yellow Jackets are coming off of a 17-11 season in 2019-20 that saw them go 14-8 in the RMAC and take fifth place - losing in the first round of the RMAC Tournament. BHSU returns three starters from that team in leading scorer Racquel Wientjes (16.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.3 spt, 40.6 3FG%), second-leading scorer Morgan Ham (14.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and Ashlee Beacom (4.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.4 spg).

The Yellow Jackets were picked to finish fifth in the RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll and are receiving votes in the D2SIDA regional rankings.

CHADRON STATE HEADING INTO THIS SEASON | 2019-20 STATS
The Eagles went 4-24 last season, including 5-17 in the RMAC to finish 14th in the conference - ahead of Adams State and New Mexico Highlands. CSC returns two starters from last year in Taryn Foxen (16.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.7 spg) and Jori Peters (8.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.0 spg), but only one other player that averaged more than 2.0 points a game last season.

The Eagles were picked to finish 14th in the RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll - ahead of NMHU and just behind No. 13 Adams State.

LAST SEASON VERSUS BHSU, CHADRON STATE
The Mountaineers lost to BHSU on the road last season, 49-47, as Western was outscored 12-3 in the final quarter to fall by two points. Katie Dalton led the Mountaineers with 14 points. Western defeated CSC at home last season, 69-43, as the Mountaineers jumped out to a 33-16 lead at the half and a 52-27 lead after three quarter to cruise to the win. Hannah Cooper and Jadyn Kanzler each had 14 points to lead Western.

WESTERN COLORADO NOTES

- MOUNTAINEERS PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN RMAC (FULL STORY)
The Western Colorado women's basketball team was selected second in the RMAC Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll. The Mountaineers - who picked up three first-place votes - finished behind defending RMAC champion Colorado Mesa in the preseason poll - the Mavericks getting eight first-place votes and 189 points total - while Western finished two points ahead of Westminster, which picked up four first-place votes. Westminster was followed by Colorado School of Mines, Black Hills State and then South Dakota Mines - the same exact order of finish the top six teams finished in the RMAC in 2019-20.

- MOUNTAINEERS IN THE REGIONAL RANKINGS, PICK UP VOTES IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
In the first regional and national rankings by D2SIDA this season, Western finds their name in both polls as the Mountaineers are No. 5 in the D2SIDA South Central Regional Rankings while they picked up votes in the Division II D2SIDA National Rankings.

- MOUNTAINEERS IN SEASON OPENERS
The Mountaineers are 13-29 all-time in season opener, including falling last season on the road to Western Washington, 69-66. Friday's home season opener will be the first time Western has started a season at home since 2006-07 when the Mountaineers beat Chadron State, 80-54. The Mountaineers are 6-5 all-time when starting the season at Paul Wright Gym.

- ELEVATED SUCCESS FOR MOUNTAINEERS AT HIGHEST COLLEGIATE GYM IN THE WORLD IN 2019-20
The Mountaineers last season went 11-1 at Paul Wright Gym - the highest collegiate gym in the world at 7,723 feet.

- S. COLEMAN RANKS FOURTH ON MOUNTAINEER 3-POINT ALL-TIME LIST
Senior Samantha Coleman continues to move up the Western all-time 3-pointer list as she currently has 154 - good for fourth in program history. Coleman is six 3-pointers behind Nikki Trujillo (160 - 2008-12), 15 behind Jen Knight (169 - 1993-97) and is 27 behind the all-time record of 181 set by Brooke Pendergraft (2008-12). 

Coleman - who is also fourth on the all-time 3-pointers attempted list with 427 - also has a chance to become the ninth player in Western history to reach 1,000 career points as she has 829 points. She can reach the top 10 in all-time scoring if she can surpass Taryn Brennan's 958 points. She also ranks in the top 10 in 3-point percentage (36.1 percent - sixth) and free throw percentage (76.8 percent - fifth).

- DALTON SITS SEVENTH ON WESTERN ALL-TIME BLOCKS LIST
Senior Katie Dalton moved up to seventh on the all-time Western blocks list with 65 - two behind Val Elliott for sixth on the all-time list. Dalton can move up several spots on the list this season, but likely won't reach the school and RMAC record of 319 set by Kris Ellerby (1984-88).

- COOPER BECOMES FIRST WESTERN RMAC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR IN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Sophomore Hannah Cooper became the first Western Colorado women's basketball player in program history to earn RMAC Freshman of the Year since the conference started handing out the award in the sport in 1996-97. Cooper led the Mountaineers in assists (3.2) and steals (1.4), was second in scoring (9.7) and third in rebounding (4.3).

- WESTLING MOVING UP MOUNTAINEER WINS LISTS
As Lora Westling enters her fifth season at the helm of the Mountaineers, she's already cemented herself as one of the winningest coaches in program history. Her 52 career victories is fourth in program history, behind James Hahn (113 - 1982-92), Phile Swille (69 - 1978-82) and Latricia Trammell (65 - 2007-12). Her 42 RMAC wins rank third in program history - behind Hahn (62) and Trammell (48).

Westling currently has led the Mountaineers to back-to-back winning seasons - the first time the program has accomplished that since James Hahn did it in 1985-86 and 1986-87.