Preview: UC Riverside at Long Beach State in Big West Women’s Basketball

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — Two Big West Conference teams seeking momentum will meet Thursday when the UC Riverside Highlanders visit the Long Beach State 49ers in a women’s basketball matchup at Walter Pyramid.

The Highlanders (6-13, 3-4 Big West) enter having lost three straight, including a 68-81 defeat to UC Davis on Saturday. Despite the team’s struggles, guard Hannah Wickstrom has been a consistent offensive force. She is averaging 26.4 points over her last seven games, including a 36-point performance at Hawaii on Jan. 1 and a 30-point effort at UC Irvine last Thursday. Wickstrom scored 21 points in a 77-59 home win over Long Beach State just two weeks ago on Jan. 15.

The 49ers (2-17, 1-6) have found wins scarce, with their only victory in the last 10 games a 62-61 nail-biter over Cal State Northridge on Jan. 17. They are coming off a 56-72 loss at UC Santa Barbara. Guard Khylee Pepe, who scored 17 points in that contest, is a key player for Long Beach State. She was held to 10 points in the earlier loss to Riverside.

While both teams reside in the lower half of the conference standings, the Jan. 15 result suggests UC Riverside holds the advantage. The Highlanders dominated that game, leading wire-to-wire and holding Long Beach State to 32.8% shooting from the field.

The rematch will test whether the 49ers can find an answer for Wickstrom’s scoring and improve their offensive efficiency at home, or if the Highlanders can snap their skid and complete the regular-season sweep.

Following this game, UC Riverside travels to face Cal Poly on Saturday. Long Beach State heads to Hawaii for its next contest.