DENVER – Looking to see how some of the better women's basketball teams in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference have done during the non-conference portion of the schedule?
 
Start by looking at the bottom half of the standings.
 
As the league season starts this weekend, MSU Denver is 2-4, Westminster is 2-4 and Colorado Mesa is 1-5. Those teams were picked to finish fourth, sixth, and fifth, respectively in the pre-season coaches' poll. In its march to the RMAC Tournament title last season, sixth-seeded MSU Denver won at third-seeded Westminster in the quarterfinals and defeated second-seeded Colorado Mesa in the semifinals.
 
"They've played a tough schedule, just like us," MSU Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "And they're similar to us in that they've lost some really good starters from last season."
 
All three of those teams will be looking to get off to strong RMAC starts this weekend, and MSU Denver has the unenviable task of traveling to Westminster for a 5 p.m. game Friday and following it up with a 7:30 p.m. contest Saturday at Colorado Mesa.
 
On Friday, the RMAC's top two scorers square off as MSU Denver's Kendra Parra (21.5 points per game) faces Westminster's Ashley Greenwood (18.3). Able to score at all three levels, Parra leads NCAA Division II in free throws made (41) is second in free throw attempts (47) and ranks 15^th in points per game.
 
And while that matchup garners attention, it will be interesting to note how young players – on all teams – adjust to their first weekend of league play.
 
"I believe they are ready," Haave said of her freshmen. "Some of them are just fearless. This season is a journey, but I really believe they are ready."
 
The Roadrunners are coming off two wins last week after starting 0-4 while playing three teams that were also in the NCAA Division II tournament last season. Three of the losses were by four points (in double overtime), five points and eight points.
 
"We're starting to understand playing with each other, what our roles and expectations are, and we're more comfortable playing together," Haave said. "We're getting better at helping, and knowing when to help, defensively, and we're still working on our timing and rhythm offensively.
 
"A lot of our freshmen have been thrown into the fire and are getting major minutes, and they're adjusting to the speed of the game. We're seeing good growth and we're getting better every day in practice. It's a cliché, but we're taking it one day at a time, and this group is buying in and responding well."
 
Making major strides among the freshmen have been forward Brianna Sealy, averaging 5.3 points and a team-best 6.2 rebounds as a starter, and guard Brooklynn Jones, third in the RMAC in 3-point percentage at 48.0 (12 of 25) while averaging 6.8 points in just 11.3 minutes per game.
 
"Brianna is starting to understand things like post defense and post moves, and the game is slowing down for her a little bit," Haave said. "She's starting to understand the intensity that she has to play at.
 
"And Brooklynn was not afraid of the moment against (Texas) Permian Basin, when we had to hit outside shots against their zone. She caught it and shot it. That's what she does best, and she understands her role. She can be a big factor for us."
 
While Sealy leads an inexperienced cast of post players, Jones is part of an outstanding guard group that has included Parra, former All-RMAC second team player Jaiden Galloway, RMAC all-tournament star Tosjanae Bonds, sharpshooter Brianna Bailey, crafty Mariana Silva Pereira and spunky freshman Ashley Yow.
 
Because of its lack of depth in the post, MSU Denver frequently plays with four guards, but has been able to overcome that by focusing on rebounding.
 
Now that league play has arrived, the intensity will ratchet up.
 
"We have to tighten everything up," Haave said. "There's more accountability and more attention to detail."