DENVER – The MSU Denver women's basketball team is back in action for two games again this week, and of course they won't be easy ones.
 
The young Roadrunners are 0-4 after playing three teams that competed in last year's NCAA Division II Tournament, and while this week's opponents didn't play in the NCAAs last year, they are both off strong starts this year.
 
MSU Denver plays Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Colorado Christian and then plays Friday at home in a 2 p.m. matchup with Texas-Permian Basin. The game with league opponent Colorado Christian will be played as a non-conference game.
 
Colorado Christian was picked to finish 11^th in the 15-team RMAC after going 9-18 last year, but has won three straight games since losing its opener at perennial Division II power Lubbock Christian (Texas), ranked Nos. 23 and 18 this season. Regan LoConte, a transfer from Division II Quincy (Ill.) is averaging a team-best 10.8 points per game and is one of five players who have played in all four games while averaging at least 8.0 points.
 
"They're really well-balanced, their off to a great start, they're at home, and they're going to be hungry," MSU Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "They like to run and they have good shooters. If we can control tempo, rebound well and defend the 3-pointer … we can score, we've just got to put the other things together."
 
Texas-Permian Basin was picked to finish 13^th in the 16-team Lone Star Conference after going 8-20 last season, but is 2-1 against RMAC teams so far, including an impressive 72-54 victory over perennial RMAC power Colorado Mesa. Holly Hemmeline leads the Falcons with 12.7 points per game and is one of four players who have appeared in all three games while averaging at least 9.0 points. The Falcons also play Monday against Sul Ross State (Texas).
 
"They're a much-improved team," Haave said. "They're very athletic. So it'll be important to take care of the basketball against a defense (1-3-1 zone) that we're not used to seeing. They get the ball up the floor, too."
 
For the Roadrunners, three of their four games have been decided by eight points or less, including Saturday's 97-93, double-overtime loss to Northwest Nazarene (Idaho).
 
Guard Kendra Parra leads the RMAC in scoring at 21.3 points per game, and the undersized Roadrunners have shown strong perimeter play as a young group of post players is developing.
 
"We're building towards our conference season," Haave said. "We've played good teams. We can use these games as dress rehearsals for the conference season."