DENVER – Much has been made of MSU Denver's difficult non-conference schedule in women's basketball.
 
But the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference portion of the slate hasn't exactly been easy, either.
 
That continues this weekend as the Roadrunners make another long road trip to play Fort Lewis at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Adams State at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
 
Not only did the Roadrunners play their six-game non-conference schedule against teams that are a combined 52-16, their first two RMAC road games were against Colorado Mesa and Western Colorado, teams that are a combined 15-5 overall while going 9-1 in league games (the loss was by Western against Mesa).
 
Now MSU Denver (4-7 overall, 3-2 RMAC) plays at Fort Lewis, which is merely 8-2 overall and 4-1 in the RMAC.
 
"It's another long trip, and that always makes it hard," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "Fort Lewis has been a historically tough place for us to play. I think our kids will be hyped up for it. It's a great challenge for us coming off the break."
 
MSU Denver, 3-0 at home in league play, has been off since a 76-67 win over Chadron State on Dec. 21.
 
Fort Lewis leads the RMAC in scoring (71.7 points per game) and rebounding margin (plus 10.8), and is second in scoring defense (56.6 points per game), second in scoring margin (plus 15.1) and second in field goal percentage defense (32.6).
 
"They are a transition team," said MSU Denver assistant coach Alexa Hardick, who is in charge of the scouting report for the game with the Skyhawks. "We'll need to slow them down some and not give them easy buckets."
 
Meanwhile, Adams State has struggled this far and enters the weekend 1-10 overall and 1-4 in the RMAC.
 
MSU Denver is hoping to build momentum ahead of home games next weekend against two more difficult foes in Dixie State (8-3, 3-2) and Westminster (10-1, 5-0).
 
In league play, the Roadrunners rank second in steals at 9.6 per game and third in assists at 14.6. Those areas are the strong suits of point guard Jaiden Galloway who is second in the RMAC in league games in both assists (6.0 per game) and steals (3.6).
 
Haave said earlier this week that the team came back from its holiday break ready to go.
 
"Everyone has looked refreshed, with their batteries recharged," Haave said. "Great energy, great competitive spirit."