Preview: Cal Poly Mustangs at Southern California Women of Troy

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The Southern California Women of Troy look to rebound from a ranked defeat when they host the struggling Cal Poly Mustangs in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Galen Center.

USC (7-3) enters off a 79-51 home loss to Connecticut last Saturday, which snapped a four-game winning streak. The Women of Troy, led by guard Kennedy Smith, have otherwise been dominant at home, winning by an average of 38 points in their other four victories in Los Angeles.

Smith averages 10.7 points and 4.1 assists per game. She scored 16 points against the Huskies and had 13 points and four assists in a win over Washington on Dec. 7.

Cal Poly (2-7) seeks to end a four-game skid, most recently a 62-49 home loss to Idaho State on Dec. 13. The Mustangs have faced a difficult schedule, with five of their seven losses coming against teams with winning records.

The Mustangs will rely on guard Charish Thompson, who has been a bright spot during the losing streak. Thompson is averaging 15.4 points over her last five games, including a 19-point, six-rebound effort against Idaho State.

Southern California’s defense, which allows just 54.7 points per game at home, will be tested against Thompson. USC has forced an average of 18 turnovers per game during its home stand.

This is the final tune-up before Pac-12 play for USC, which visits California on Sunday. Cal Poly continues a road swing before its Big West Conference slate begins in January.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST at Galen Center.