The Illini women's basketball team left for their two-game West Coast trip with lofty aspirations.

"We want W's," senior Aminata Yanni said prior to the Illini's departure for California. "We want to come back undefeated."

Instead, the Illini return home to Champaign today twice defeated. The Illini's losing streak slid to three games after losses to UC-Santa Barbara and UCLA over the weekend. Illinois (1-3) lost 67-61 to No. 11 Louisiana Tech on Nov. 24 in Champaign to start the skid.

"I think it was beneficial," head coach Theresa Grentz said of the California trip. "We may not have gotten the scores we wanted. But I really think there are a lot of things we can take away from it.

"Every night you have to be prepared. We are learning to focus."

The Illini's start against UCLA on Sunday didn't demonstrate the focus Grentz had hoped for. They got the national exposure they've been looking for this season with a nationally televised game on Fox Sports Net. But they couldn't handle the Hollywood spotlight.

Illinois dug a 35-22 halftime deficit and started the second half with only one score in the first five minutes. UCLA extended its lead to 41-24 and never relented. UCLA won 68-56.

"We weren't hitting on all the cylinders we needed to," Grentz said.

The Illini's early troubles against the Bruins may have been a result of the lingering effects from a 70-59 loss to UC-Santa Barbara on Friday night, Grentz said.

Against UC-Santa Barbara the Illini couldn't hold an eight-point lead in the game's final 15 minutes. The 16th ranked Gauchos extended their home-winning streak to 27 games with their 70-59 win.

Junior guard Tiffanie Guthrie has done everything possible to help halt the Illini's three-game skid. She led all scorers with 23 points and 11 rebounds against Louisiana Tech.

On the West Coast trip, Guthrie combined for 38 points and 16 rebounds in two games.

"She's been outstanding," Grentz said. "I'm really happy for her."

Illinois' lone win came in its opener against Division II Wayne State, 85-50.

Next for the Illini is a trip to Chicago Thursday night to face DePaul.