DENVER – One unexpected loss has put the MSU Denver women's basketball team in an unsteady situation heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
 
Ranked fourth in the South Central Region of NCAA Division II last week, the Roadrunners not only lost on the road to a quality team from Westminster, they were also upset at home – in overtime – to a UCCS team that is fighting to qualify for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament.
 
Combined, the defeats contributed to cause MSU Denver to cascade to ninth in the regional rankings this week. Eight teams qualify for the NCAA Division II regional tournament, so the Roadrunners have some work to do this weekend and during next week's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament.
 
"Now it's time to talk about it," MSU Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "We want to put ourselves in the best position to go the NCAA Tournament, and right now we would be out – and deservedly so. We've earned it (dropping out of the top eight), and we've got to earn it back."
 
This weekend is no easy trip, with games Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Chadron State and Saturday at 4 p.m. at Black Hills State.
 
Chadron State is only 7-17 overall and 5-14 in the RMAC, but is dangerous at home.
 
Black Hills State is 15-8 overall and is tied for fourth (by percentage) in the RMAC at 14-5. The Yellow Jackets ended an eight-game MSU Denver winning streak on Jan. 29 at the Auraria Event Center in a 62-53 decision.
 
"I expect us to rebound (from Saturday's loss to UCCS) with a sense of urgency," Haave said. "We can't take either of these games lightly. And that starts Friday. Chadron is very tough on its home floor. We have to come out and do what we do."