RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Interstat) — Two Big West women’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Saturday when the Cal State Northridge Matadors visit the UC Riverside Highlanders.

Both teams enter the 7 p.m. PST contest at the UCR Rec Center with identical 7-win records in a season defined by narrow defeats. The Matadors (7-14, 2-6 Big West) are coming off a 65-50 home victory over Cal Poly on Thursday, snapping a seven-game skid. The Highlanders (7-15, 3-5) fell 82-78 in overtime to Cal State Fullerton the same night, their fourth loss in five games.

The matchup features two of the conference’s standout guards in contrasting forms. UC Riverside’s Hannah Wickstrom is on a historic scoring tear, averaging 28.1 points over her last seven games. She poured in a career-high 35 points in the overtime loss to Fullerton, marking her sixth 30-point performance in that stretch.

Cal State Northridge will counter with Erika Aspajo, a key facilitator whose scoring has fluctuated. After a 20-point effort in a loss to UC San Diego on Jan. 31, she was held to eight points in the win over Cal Poly but contributed four assists in 37 minutes. The Matadors’ victory was fueled by Mariona CosMorales (12 points, 7 assists) and Jite Gbemuotor (15 points).

Recent history shows both teams are capable of tight contests. Three of UC Riverside’s last five losses have been by six points or fewer, including a three-point defeat at Long Beach State. Cal State Northridge suffered a one-point loss at Long Beach State on Jan. 17.

The Highlanders won the first meeting this season, 65-58, in Northridge on Jan. 3. Wickstrom led all scorers with 24 points in that game.

With the Big West tournament seeding at stake, Saturday’s game represents a critical opportunity for either squad to string together consistency. UC Riverside will look to leverage Wickstrom’s explosive offense and home court, while Cal State Northridge aims to build on its most complete defensive performance of the conference season, which held Cal Poly to 50 points.

The teams will complete the regular-season series in Northridge on Feb. 28.