RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Interstat) — The Gonzaga Bulldogs look to rebound from a narrow defeat when they visit the struggling UC Riverside Highlanders in a nonconference women’s basketball game Sunday at the UCR Rec Center. Gonzaga (6-5) enters having lost two of its last three, including a 68-66 heartbreaker to Arizona State on Tuesday. The Bulldogs have been led by the hot hand of guard Lauren Whittaker, who poured in 24 points in that loss. Whittaker has scored 19 or more points in six consecutive games, averaging 23.0 points per contest during that stretch. Her standout performance was a 27-point, five-rebound, three-assist effort in a close loss to Indiana on Nov. 28. UC Riverside (2-8) seeks to halt a two-game skid after falling 61-52 at Utah on Wednesday. The Highlanders have struggled offensively, failing to reach 60 points in seven of their 10 games. Guard Seneca Hackley provides a scoring spark, coming off a 19-point performance against the Utes. However, consistency has been an issue; she was held to six and seven points, respectively, in the team’s two prior games. The matchup pits Gonzaga’s potent offense, fueled by Whittaker, against a UC Riverside defense that has allowed an average of 62.9 points per game. The Bulldogs’ recent results show a pattern of tight contests, with four of their last five games decided by six points or fewer. For UC Riverside, a victory would represent a significant upset and a momentum boost before Big West Conference play begins next month. The Highlanders will need to contain Whittaker and find more consistent offensive production beyond Hackley to challenge a Gonzaga team accustomed to closer finishes. This is the final nonconference tune-up for both squads before holiday breaks. Gonzaga opens West Coast Conference play at home against Loyola Marymount on Dec. 28. UC Riverside hosts NAIA opponent UC Merced on Dec. 30 before its Big West opener at Hawaii on Jan. 1. Tip-off is set for Sunday afternoon in Riverside.