RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Interstat) — Hannah Wickstrom scored 24 points to lead UC Riverside to a 64-42 win over Cal State Bakersfield in a women’s basketball game Thursday night at the UCR Rec Center. The Highlanders never trailed, building a 34-23 halftime lead and holding the Roadrunners to just six points in the third quarter. Wickstrom, a guard from Melbourne, Australia, went 10 for 10 from the free throw line. Maya Chocano and Kaylani Polk each added 13 points for UC Riverside, which improved to 5-9 overall. Cal State Bakersfield, which fell to 5-10, shot just 24.2% from the field. Marley Langi and Maria Dias led the Roadrunners with nine points each. UC Riverside capitalized at the line, making 21 of 25 free throws, while Cal State Bakersfield attempted only 16.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Interstat) — A dominant performance from Hannah Wickstrom and a stifling defensive effort propelled the UC Riverside women’s basketball team to a 64-42 victory over Cal State Bakersfield in a Big West Conference matchup Thursday night at the UCR Rec Center. The Highlanders, improving to 5-9 overall, never trailed after the opening minutes, methodically building a lead that grew to as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter. The Roadrunners, who fell to 5-10, were plagued by frigid shooting throughout the contest, a factor from which they could not recover. Wickstrom, a guard from Melbourne, Australia, was the engine for UC Riverside, scoring a game-high 24 points in 35 minutes. She was efficient from the floor and a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, consistently drawing fouls and capitalizing. She added two assists, a block and a steal, orchestrating the Highlander offense and helping to force 16 Cal State Bakersfield turnovers. The story of the game, however, was written on the defensive end and in the shooting percentages. Cal State Bakersfield endured a catastrophic night from the field, connecting on just 15 of 62 attempts for a 24.2 percent clip. Their struggles were magnified from beyond the arc, where they made only 2 of 23 three-point attempts. Despite winning the offensive rebounding battle 11 to 5, the Roadrunners could not convert their second chances, frequently missing shots at the rim. UC Riverside, while not shooting lights out, maintained enough efficiency to pull away. The Highlanders shot 35.3 percent from the field and were a solid 7 of 25 from three-point range. Their biggest advantage came at the free-throw line, where they outscored Bakersfield 21 to 10, making 21 of 25 attempts. The Highlanders established control early, closing the first quarter on a 7-0 run to lead 16-10. They extended that lead to 34-23 by halftime, with Wickstrom scoring 11 first-half points. The Roadrunners’ offense completely stalled in the third quarter, managing only six points on 2-of-17 shooting. That period allowed UC Riverside to push its lead to 45-29 entering the final frame, effectively sealing the outcome. Supporting Wickstrom, Maya Chocano of Toronto added 13 points, while Kaylani Polk of Compton contributed 13 points and four assists. Seneca Hackley provided eight points and strong defensive energy for the Highlanders. Cal State Bakersfield, which entered the game having lost two straight, got six points from Chrishawn Coleman but no player reached double figures. The team’s leading scorer on the season, Dae’Jaidence Kincade, was held to just four points on 2-of-8 shooting. The most important stretch of the game was the latter half of the third quarter, where UC Riverside’s defense completely smothered any hope of a Roadrunner rally. With the score 37-29 and 6:34 remaining in the period, Cal State Bakersfield proceeded to miss its next 10 field goal attempts over a span of more than five minutes. During this offensive drought, which included several turnovers and blocked shots, the Highlanders executed a decisive 8-0 run. The sequence was capped by a Hannah Wickstrom layup off a steal, extending the lead to 45-29 with 1:22 left in the quarter. This run, fueled by relentless defensive pressure, transformed a manageable eight-point deficit into an insurmountable 16-point chasm from which the Roadrunners, given their shooting woes, could not climb back. Statistically, the game underscored UC Riverside’s defensive game plan success. The Highlanders posted an offensive rating of 82.2 points per 100 possessions, while holding Cal State Bakersfield to a season-worst offensive rating of 56.3. Both teams struggled with ball security, combining for 36 turnovers, but UC Riverside’s ability to generate easier points at the line and from a slightly more effective field goal attack made the difference. The announced attendance at the UCR Rec Center was 166. UC Riverside next travels to face UC San Diego on Saturday. Cal State Bakersfield returns home to host Long Beach State, also on Saturday.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Interstat) — Two Big West women’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Thursday when the UC Riverside Highlanders host the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners at the UCR Rec Center. Both teams enter the Jan. 8 contest looking to build on modest win streaks. UC Riverside (4-9) has won its last two games, including a 65-58 road victory over Hawaii on New Year’s Day. Cal State Bakersfield (5-9) had won three straight before dropping its last two, most recently a 59-59 home loss to UC Davis on Jan. 3. The matchup features two of the conference’s standout guards in a potential shootout. UC Riverside is powered by Hannah Wickstrom, who is coming off a spectacular 36-point performance against Hawaii. In her last five games, Wickstrom is averaging 22.8 points, including a 30-point outing in a win over UC Merced on Dec. 30. Cal State Bakersfield will counter with Morgan Hawkins, a key facilitator for the Roadrunners. Hawkins is averaging 11.4 points and 3.0 assists over her last five contests. She logged 36 minutes and dished five assists in the loss to UC Davis, where teammates Marley Langi and Chrishawn Coleman each added 15 points. The Highlanders’ recent surge has been fueled by their offense, scoring 65 and 93 points in their two wins after being held under 63 in their previous seven games. The Roadrunners have shown defensive prowess during their three-game win streak earlier in December, holding opponents to an average of 55.7 points, but have allowed 75.5 per game in their two recent losses. Historically, this series has been closely contested. The teams will meet again in Bakersfield on Feb. 19. Following this game, UC Riverside travels to face UC San Diego on Saturday, Jan. 10. Cal State Bakersfield returns home to host Long Beach State on the same day.