RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Interstat) — A surging UC Irvine women’s basketball team will visit a struggling UC Riverside squad to open Big West Conference play on Thursday. The Anteaters (6-2) enter on a five-game winning streak, including an 82-48 rout of Colgate on Saturday. Jada Wynn led the way with 18 points and six assists, while Hunter Hernandez added 14 points. The Highlanders (1-5) snapped a five-game skid with a 64-47 victory over Cal Lutheran, also on Saturday. Hannah Wickstrom scored a career-high 30 points in that win. UC Irvine’s offense has averaged 76.2 points during its streak. UC Riverside has been held under 60 points in four of its five losses this season. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. PST at the UCR Rec Center. It is the first of two regular-season meetings; the teams will play again in Irvine on Jan. 22. UC Irvine visits Cal State Northridge on Saturday. UC Riverside hosts Cal Poly the same day.