GUNNISON, Colo. --- The Western Colorado women's basketball team for just the second time since the RMAC Tournament began in 1992 will host a conference tournament game as the No. 2 seed Mountaineers host No. 7 Dixie State 6 p.m. Tuesday in the opening round of the RMAC Tournament at Paul Wright Gym.

It's the best seed the Mountaineers have had in the RMAC Tournament in their history with the previous best being No. 4 in 2012 - the only other time WCU has hosted, a 64-59 win over Colorado School of Mines. It's also the only season the Mountaineers have won a game in the RMAC Tournament as WCU beat MSU Denver (the No. 1 seed) in the semifinals before falling in the finals to Fort Lewis (WCU is 2-9 all-time in the RMAC Tournament).

This will be the first meeting in the RMAC Tournament between the Mountaineers and Trailblazers.

PREVIOUS MATCHUPS THIS SEASON
The Mountaineers and Dixie State split their season series with WCU falling on the road 68-54 on Jan. 25 with London Pavlica putting up 16 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals for the Trailblazers. WCU returned the favor two weeks later in Gunnison as the Mountaineers led by 22 points heading into the fourth quarter before winning 61-49 - led by 18 points and four 3-pointers from Taytem Coleman.

MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THE WEEK | SEASON STATS
WCU increased its win streak to seven games Friday as it defeated RMAC regular-season champion and 24th-ranked Colorado Mesa 59-52 - a game the Mountaineers led by 17 points in the fourth quarter. The win was also important for regional purposes as WCU entered the game ranked fifth in the South Central Region and the Mavericks fourth.

Samantha Coleman leads the Mountaineers in scoring at 10.8 points per game and 59 3-pointers (ninth in the RMAC) to go along with 4.8 rebounds per contest. Hannah Cooper is second in scoring on the team at 9.6 points per game while leading the team in assists (3.1 - 10th in the RMAC) and steals (1.3). Gabie Doud is averaging 9.3 points, a team-high 5.8 reounds and 1.1 steals while Katie Dalton is averaging 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks (sixth in the RMAC).

The Mountaineers continue to be led by their defense as they are second in the RMAC in points allowed (53.8), field goal percentage defense (34.7 percent) and turnovers forced per game (17.3) and first in 3-point percentage defense (25.6 percent).

The Mountaineers at Paul Wright Gym - the highest collegiate gym in the nation at 7,723 feet (in comparison, Dixie State is located at 2,700 feet) - are 11-0 this season, outscoring opponents by 13.5 points per game, outrebounding teams by 7.5 per game and holding opponents to 51.4 points per contest.

DIXIE STATE HEADING INTO THIS WEEK | SEASON STATS
The Trailblazers are coming off a 72-69 loss Friday at Westminster (the No. 3 seed in the RMAC) in a game they trailed 42-30 at the half before tying it up at the end of the third quarter, but falling in the fourth late. London Pavlica led DSU with 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists while Ali Franks and Madi Loftus added 13 points apiece.

Franks leads the team in scoring at 13 points per game to go along with 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Loftus is also averaging double figures at 11.1 points and has a team-high 66 3-pointers (fifth in the RMAC). London leads the team in rebounding (6.8), assists (4.2) and steals (1.3) to go along with 8.3 points per contest.

DSU is sixth in the conference in scoring (65.2) while it's seventh in points allowed (59.9). The Trailblazers are fifth in the RMAC in 3-pointers per game (7.5) while they are sixth in 3-point percentage (32.5 percent).