USC Women, Losers of 4 Straight, Face Cal State Long Beach Today

The USC women’s basketball team, which has lost 4 games in a row, will play host to Cal State Long Beach today at 3 p.m. at Loyola Marymount.

USC (4-8) was beaten by UCLA, 76-62, Thursday night, the first Bruin win over the Trojans since 1985. The current slump is the longest in the tenure of USC Coach Linda Sharp.

USC center Cherie Nelson returned after a 2-game suspension for disciplinary reasons. Nelson, who before her suspension was the No. 3 scorer in the nation with an average of 27.8 points a game, got only 15 points Thursday.

The 49ers (9-4), coming off 2 wins on the road, have dropped steadily in the polls. They are ranked No. 11 this week, after being ranked as high as No. 2 in preseason polls.

Long Beach continues to be led by its guards. Traci Waites is averaging 18.9 points and Penny Toler is at 18.8.

Senior forward Cheryl Dowell, who missed a game because she was late for practice, is back in the 49er starting lineup.