RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Interstat) — A surging UC Santa Barbara looks to avenge a recent loss and solidify its standing when it visits UC Riverside in a Big West women’s basketball matchup Thursday. The Gauchos (18-8, 9-4 Big West) enter the UCR Rec Center having won two of their last three, but with a clear memory of their 69-62 home loss to the Highlanders just two weeks ago on Feb. 12. That result is part of a challenging stretch for UCSB, which has dropped three of its last five contests. UC Riverside (9-18, 5-8), despite its sub-.500 record, has proven capable of pulling off upsets, most notably in the teams’ first meeting. The Highlanders have struggled for consistency, however, alternating wins and losses over their past five games. The spotlight will be on a compelling guard duel. UC Santa Barbara’s Skylar Burke, coming off a 16-point, 6-rebound effort in a loss to Hawaii, will be a key facilitator. For the Highlanders, all attention is on Hannah Wickstrom, who torched the Gauchos for 27 points and 5 assists in the February win. Wickstrom is on a scoring tear, averaging 28.3 points over her last three games, including a 31-point performance at UC Davis on Saturday. The Gauchos, who sit near the top of the conference, aim to avoid a regular-season sweep and rebound from a low-scoring offensive output against Hawaii. UC Riverside seeks to build momentum at home and climb the league table, relying heavily on Wickstrom’s explosive offense. Tipoff is set for Thursday night. UCSB visits UC San Diego on March 7, while UC Riverside travels to Cal State Northridge on Saturday.