TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (February 12, 2019) - The No. 20 Salt Lake Community College women's basketball team is facing a critical week of games.

The Bruins are tied at the top of the Scenic West Athletic Conference, hoping to push their streak of consecutive regular-season titles to six straight. Salt Lake has owned the SWAC since the 2013-14 season, currently sitting at 7-2 atop the league standings with Snow College. SLCC is facing a critical week of matchups ahead, with two games this week - Southern Idaho on the road Thursday and Snow College at home on Saturday in the program's annual "Sophomore Night".

SLCC coach Betsy Specketer said the importance of this week's games isn't lost on her players.

"This is a huge week ahead for us," she said. "There's a really good chance that the conference champion and the number one seed in the upcoming region tournament will be decided this weekend."

Thursday's game at Southern Idaho will present more challenges than meet the eye, in spite of CSI's record of 4-4 in league play. The Golden Eagles downed Salt Lake to start league play in December, earning a narrow 62-60 win in Twin Falls. Southern Idaho opened league play with a record of 3-1, downing both SLCC and Snow to start league play, but is currently on a two-game losing streak entering Thursday's matchup.

While Southern Idaho is a program that has experience numerous bumps in the road, Snow College is solidly trending upward with a seven-game winning streak. The Badgers started 0-2 in league, falling to Southern Idaho and SLCC, before rattling off seven wins with five of those victories being by double-digits. Snow has the league's best defense, holding opponents to just 37 points-per-game.

Specketer said this week's success will be based upon strong fundamental play.

"For us to contend, defense and rebounding are absolute must-haves and will be our focus as we prepare," she said. 

Thursday's game at Southern Idaho is scheduled to a 5:00 p.m. start, with Saturday's home game against Snow College planned for a 3:00 p.m. start. The Bruins will honor sophomores Maya Smith, Miki'ala Maio, Tyra Carr and Emma Villas-Gomis as part of the program's "Sophomore Night" festivities.