TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (February 5, 2020) - The Salt Lake Community College women's basketball team suffered its first conference defeat last weekend but the Bruins will have little time to hang their heads this week.

SLCC will host a pair of Scenic West Athletic Conference foes this week, starting the week with a titanic matchup with USU Eastern on Thursday. Salt Lake and USU Eastern are both tied at the top of the league standings, sitting with a 6-1 record as the second portion of Scenic West play ends. SLCC will also host Colorado Northwestern on Saturday.

Bruins coach Marcilina Grayer said now is the time for her players to push forward, especially considering the stakes of Thursday's matchup.

"Losing is always hard, however it teaches you greater lessons then winning does," she said. "Losing truly highlights areas that we need to work on. This week we have to circle the wagons and get better."

USU Eastern and Salt Lake have been on a collision course all season for the league's top spot, with the Eagles holding an overall record of 21-3 and receiving votes in the latest NJCAA poll. USU Eastern is on a four-game winning streak, with their only loss coming against Salt Lake earlier this season, 61-56. Colorado Northwestern is winless in Scenic West play, with a game at Snow College on Thursday serving as the starter for their week's action.

Grayer said this week's games are critical for Salt Lake as the postseason draws ever nearer.

"There are tough games ahead this week against (USU Eastern) and also Colorado Northwestern, who plays really hard and has gotten better each game," she said. "We are looking forward to the battle this week."

Salt Lake's game with USU Eastern will tip off at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, with the CNCC game on Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. Both games will be played inside the Lifetime Activities Center.