DENVER – In its last four road games dating to Dec. 9, the MSU Denver women's basketball team is 1-3, with the losses by a total of eight points.
 
At home in that same time frame, the Roadrunners are 0-4 while losing by an average of 14.3 points.
 
Still, this weekend's trip for games at Adams State and Fort Lewis appears pretty daunting on paper.
 
"Good teams, and the travel, and the places we play, it's hard," MSU Denver coach Haave said. "But we seem to play better on the road. So maybe it will be good to get away."
 
Tip times are Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
Adams State is 14-6 overall and 9-3 for fourth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Fort Lewis is 11-8 and 8-5 for seventh.
 
MSU Denver, in its most difficult stretch in years, is trying to find some answers.
 
Its recent play on the road has been encouraging and included two losses decided on opponent free throws with less than five seconds to go – one of those against nationally-ranked Colorado School of Mines.
 
"In some of those games, we didn't have anything to lose," Haave said. "At home, I feel like we think we have to win. But we just have to focus on the things we need to do and let the process play itself out – and I know that sounds like a cliché. We need to not think about the big-picture and more about 'What do I need to do on this possession to be successful?'"
 
Adams State has risen from an extended stretch spent near the bottom of the RMAC into one of the league's top teams over the past two seasons.
 
"Adams is really tough," Haave said. "They're going to speed us up, they're going to force turnovers, they're going to run and do all that. We have to take care of the ball and rebound well."
 
Fort Lewis is also making strides to move from the middle of the RMAC pack to closer to the top.
 
"Fort Lewis has a matchup zone and a press and tries to force turnovers as well," Haave said. "Taking care of the ball is going to be big all weekend long."
 
MSU Denver is 3-14 overall and 2-10 in league play, and is looking to make progress over the last 10 games of the regular season.
 
"Our focus this week is to be together, offensively and defensively," Haave said. "We all need each other. We need to play together and help each other in order to get better. That's the goal the next few weeks -- what can we do to get better and to keep setting a foundation to build upon, to become the best team to we can be?
 
"We want to have as much fun together, as a group, that we can. It's a challenge at times. It's hard when you haven't seen the results from your hard work. I know the results will come at some point, but I just don't know when."