GUNNISON, Colo. --- The Western Colorado women's basketball team has two huge home games this week as they battle for postseason eligibility and positioning as they host Dixie State on Friday and Westminster on Saturday.

The Mountaineers at 11-4 sit in a three-way tie for third place in the conference with Fort Lewis and Colorado School of Mines, a game back of second-place Westminster and two games up on Dixie State and Black Hills State. Tied for the eighth spot is South Dakota Mines and MSU Denver at 8-7 - meaning as of today there are nine teams above .500 but only eight spots for the RMAC Tournament with seven games to go.

Along with getting closer to securing a spot in the tournament, this weekend is important for WCU in terms of staying in the top four and getting to host in the opening round of the RMAC Tournament as the Mountaineers are 6-0 at home this year (winning each game by double figures).

PREVIOUS MATCHUPS THIS SEASON
The Mountaineers faced Westminster and Dixie State on the road with WCU defeating then-ranked No. 15 Westminster 45-44 in a game it led by 13 points heading into the fourth on Jan. 24 before going on the road and falling at Dixie State 68-54 on Jan. 25 - snapping the Mountaineers' six-game winning streak.

MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THE WEEK | SEASON STATS
WCU for the second week in a row split on the road - defeating Colorado Christian 60-49 on Friday behind 14 points from Samantha Coleman before falling at Regis 56-52 despite 16 points from Katie Dalton.

Gabie Doud leads the Mountaineers in scoring (10.2) and rebounding (6.1) while also averagin 1.2 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. Samantha Coleman is second in scoring at 9.6 points per game while she's hit a team-best 41 3-pointers. Hannah Cooper is third in scoring (9.4), leads the team in assists (3.3) and is second in steals (1.4). Dalton is averaging 8.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and a team-best 1.0 blocks.

Defense continues to pace the Mountaineers as they are second in the RMAC in points allowed per game (53.7 - 11th in the nation), field goal percentage defense (35.1 percent - 22nd in the nation) and 3-point percentage defense (25.9 percent - 13th in Division II).

DIXIE STATE HEADING INTO THIS WEEK | SEASON STATS
The Trailblazers split on the road last weekend, falling at Fort Lewis 65-56 on Friday before beating Adams State 65-39 on Saturday.

Ali Franks continues to lead DSU in scoring at 13.3 points per game to go along with 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals per contest. Madi Loftus is averaging 11.7 points per game and has hit a team-best 53 3-pointers while London Pavlica is averaging 8.7 points per game while leading the team in rebounding (6.8), assists (4.1) and steals (1.4).

Dixie State is averaging 67.2 points per game (fifth in the RMAC) while allowing 60.0 points per contest (seventh). The Trailblazers are second in the RMAC in field goal percentage (40.8 percent) while fifth in field goal percentage defense (37.2 percent). DSU is also second in 3-pointers made per game (7.9).

WESTMINSTER HEADING INTO THIS WEEK | SEASON STATS
The Griffins split last weekend on the road, beating Adams State 63-47 on Friday and falling to Fort Lewis 74-72 in overtime on Saturday as the Skyhawks hit a shot with a second left to win the game - their second loss in their last four games (including the loss to Western the week before) after losing just two of their first 17 games.

Westminster has a trio of players averaging 13 points or more per game - led by Mariah Martin at 16.3 points to go along with a team-best 4.2 assists and 3.4 rebounds. Hunter Krebs is averaging 16.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while Sarah McGinley is the team's top 3-point threat - averaging 13.3 points per game while shooting 45.7 percent from 3-point range and hitting a team-best 53 3-pointers.

The Griffins are fourth in the RMAC in scoring at 67.7 points per game while they are third in points allowed per game at 58.4. They lead the RMAC in field goal percentage (46.7 percent - nearly six percent higher than the No. 2 team in the conference) and 3-point percentage (38.3 percent - four percent better than the No. 2 team).