Preview: Iowa Hawkeyes at Southern California Women of Troy

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The fourth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes, riding a nine-game winning streak, will face a Southern California team seeking a signature victory when the teams meet in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday at Galen Center.

Iowa (18-2) has not lost since a Dec. 20 defeat at Connecticut, showcasing a balanced attack during its run. The Hawkeyes are coming off a dominant 91-70 victory over Ohio State on Sunday, where three players scored at least 18 points. Forward Hannah Stuelke led the way with 18 points and 15 rebounds.

Stuelke has been a consistent force, averaging 16.1 points and 7.4 rebounds over her last seven games. Her recent stretch includes a 22-point effort against Michigan State and an 18-point, 8-assist performance against Oregon.

Southern California (11-9) has struggled against a tough schedule, dropping six of its last eight games. The Women of Troy fell 73-67 at Michigan on Sunday despite a 26-point, 10-rebound effort from guard Kara Dunn.

Dunn has been a bright spot, averaging 22.6 points over her last seven contests. She scored 29 in a win over Purdue on Jan. 18 and has topped 20 points in five of those games.

This matchup, organized by the Big Ten, pits Iowa’s high-powered offense against a USC team that has shown resilience but has faltered in close games, including one-point losses to Minnesota and Maryland this month.

The Hawkeyes have excelled in road environments, with key victories at Maryland and Indiana during their streak. USC is 7-4 at home this season, with notable wins over Purdue and Nebraska.

Iowa’s next game is at UCLA on Sunday. Southern California hosts Rutgers on Sunday.

Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Thursday at Galen Center.