On a four-game losing streak, an opportunity to start fresh may be just what the UCLA women’s basketball team needs.

The Bruins will open up Pac-12 play with a clean slate Dec. 29 and Dec. 31 when they first face Cal and then No. 4 Stanford at the John Wooden Center.

Despite the return of junior guard/forward Markel Walker, UCLA has lost four straight games to tough opponents including No. 6 Tennessee and LSU.

They dropped both contests during their recent trip to Philadelphia, Walker’s hometown, on Dec. 20 and 22. The Bruins lost to Temple 59-53 and to St. Josephs 64-60.

In their past two games, UCLA has had trouble establishing a lead in the early minutes of the game.

The only lead the Bruins held all weekend was a 2-0 advantage over Temple after the first 21 seconds of the game. The Owls scored the next five points and never trailed after that.

Against St. Josephs, UCLA was playing catch-up from the beginning. The Hawks built an early 4-0 advantage and did not let go of their lead for the rest of the match.

The Bruins begin Pac-12 play against two teams that have been very successful against their non-conference opponents.

All three of Cal’s (9-3) losses this season have come against ranked teams, including a heartbreaking 61-60 defeat to No. 22 Texas. The Golden Bears have proved they can hang tough with the best, losing by three points or less in all of their defeats.

Cal is coming off an 80-39 drubbing of Dartmouth.

The Cardinal (9-1) have pulled out crucial victories during their non-conference schedule, winning big against No. 6 Tennessee at home and against No. 22 Texas on the road.

Stanford’s high-powered offense has often proven too much for their opponent to handle and the team has scored 90 points or more seven times throughout the season.

The Cardinal’s only loss was a 68-58 defeat to No. 2 Connecticut after being held by the Huskies to their lowest point production of the year.