SC NOTEBOOK: CONFIDENCE IS ON THE LINE.

Byline: Scott Wolf Daily News Staff Writer

USC's confidence has taken a hit during its current three-game losing streak, but the Trojans are not ready to write off the season, especially with UCLA visiting the Sports Arena on Wednesday.

``We've lost three in a row, so maybe guys are losing a little confidence,'' guard Quincy Wilder said. ``But we're not done. We're not going to quit. We'll turn it around.''

Wilder, who transferred to USC from Highline Community College in Des Moines, Wash., is experiencing the longest losing streak since he began playing organized basketball.

``Never in my life have I lost three games in a row,'' he said. ``But the Pac-10 is the toughest conference in the country. It's not unbelievable that you can lose three games; you just have to be ready to play.''

Home-court disadvantage: After winning nine straight games at the Sports Arena, USC has dropped three straight at home.

``It hurts because we tried to establish in the preseason that home is home and we didn't want to lose any home games in the Pac-10,'' forward Greg Lakey said.

Lakey, who scored a career-high 17 points against Cal, said he hasn't been discouraged by his lack of playing time recently. He entered the Cal game averaging just seven minutes of action in Pacific-10 Conference play.

``I didn't want to be sad,'' Lakey said. ``I've had good confidence throughout the year and I've just tried to be ready to give the team a spark.''

Shooting woes: Center Brian Scalabrine thinks one reason the Trojans have shot poorly the past two games is the team has played at the Sports Arena.

USC's starting guards were 4 for 26 from the field the past two games.

``I think guys like Larry (Ayuso) and Adam (Spanich) shoot better when we play on the road, because they get fired up when the crowd is against them,'' Scalabrine said.

Clark apparently finished: USC women's guard Kristin Clark has not had surgery, but her career is apparently over after she tore knee ligaments. Clark has almost nothing of the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee remaining, and though she has considered wearing a brace, the chances of her playing this season are extremely unlikely. She has sat out USC's past four games. Clark needs one more 3-point field goal to become USC's all-time leader.